p. 6 | Decatur City, Iowa

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 5, 1871

Decatur City, Iowa.

By Dudley Marvin Canright; George Ide Butler

SUNDAY, Aug. 27, we closed our meetings in this place, after a stay of three weeks. We gave in all twenty-four discourses. The weather was fine most of the time, and the interest and attendance were much better than we expected. Moses Hull commenced his career in this section some thirteen years ago. About twenty-five came out under his preaching, but he soon left them; and after various trials and difficulties some of them went back, several moved away, and others died, so that their number was reduced to eight. No minister had visited them for years. Of course the cause was in a low condition. However, the few kept up their Sabbath meetings as best they could. During the past year, several embraced the truth here.

Our meetings at Leon, five miles distant, seemed to awaken a new interest here, so we came, expecting to stay but a few days only. We have had good freedom preaching the word usually, and on the whole, feel glad we came. Eighteen more have taken a decided stand upon the Sabbath, making a company of about thirty. Most of these are in whole families. We sold some books, and obtained several subscribers for our periodicals.

It was soon apparent that we needed a meeting-house. A subscription was started; and in a very short time, enough was raised to build a small house of worship, about 24x32. Work has already commenced upon it, and we expect to have it up and finished in a very short time. This encourages us much. We think it will give permanency to the cause here.

We do not remember to ever have met so bitter and unkind treatment from ministers in any place as we have here. It seems as though they would thoroughly exhaust the English language in finding epithets bad enough for us, and the spirit they manifested was full as bad as their words. They have preached against us several times, and we have reviewed them every time. As is usual, they have only hurt their own cause. Their lack of usual ability was made up of strong assertions, and a very free use of smut and blacking.

Our expenses thus far this summer have been comparatively nothing. Bro. Caldwell of this place moved to Leon, boarded us while there, met all our expenses; then brought us home with him, and he and others did the same thing by us here. We are glad for their sakes that God has raised up brethren here to encourage them in this field, where they have held on so long alone. As soon as we can have time, we hope to raise up other churches near by here, as there are very promising openings.

To-morrow we move our tent twenty miles north to Osceola on the railroad. The people of that place have repeatedly sent not only urgent calls, but petitions with hundreds of names signed, for us to come there. This is in the center of some six or seven churches, and only a day's drive from the farthest, hence it is an important point for us to establish a church. We go, hoping in the Lord and the prayers of our brethren.

D. M. CANRIGHT, GEO. I. BUTLER.