Clark Co., Ill by G. W. Colcord

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 5, 1872

Clark Co., Ill.

By G. W. Colcord

Bro. Bliss has reported to Dec. 2. Sunday, Dec. 10, Eld. Howland, of the M. P. church, publicly opposed us in Clark Center. Bro. B. reviewed him in the evening. Next evening, the elder, in endeavoring to withstand us, accused some of his sisters in the church of the intellectual and moral deficiency mentioned in 2 Tim. 3:6. Evidently, he “overshot the mark.” The sequel has verified the truthfulness of Ps. 76:10, “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain,” and 2 Cor. 13:8, “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.”

Bro. B. replied to his harangue before the congregation was dismissed. Some of the accused ones have declared they would never again sit under the sound of Eld. H.’s voice.

Sunday, Dec. 17, listened to an effort put forth against the Sabbath in Blue Grass church, six miles north of Clark Center, by one Eld. Gregg, of the Disciple denomination. Replied at evening in Brosman School-house.

The 18th, took notes of two sermons, preached by the same man, the last of which contained so many warm expressions and epithets that many in the congregation really seemed to turn eyes of pity upon me! The 20th, the Lord gave me freedom in reviewing his unrighteous effort.

Feb. 5-9, engaged in discussing the questions of Man’s Condition in Death, Destiny of the Wicked, Binding Force of the Fourth Command, The First-day Sabbath (so called), and the Kingdom of Dan. 2:44—is it now established?

Bro. Bliss took issue with Eld. Houston, of the Disciple church, on the first two, and last, questions, and I tried to defend the truth on the third and fourth. Eld. H. brought forth no new argument, unless it be his idea of an intermediate law which was in force only from the cross to Cornelius’ conversion; since which time we are to keep the law of Christ! Debate was held in Mill Creek chapel, six miles south of Marshall. We pray the Lord to help honest souls to see and obey present truth.

Since our last report, we have spoken about eighty times; in all, we have attended one hundred meetings.

The debate closed our third series of meetings in this county. Organized a Sabbath-school and Bible-class in Clark Center, of more than twenty grown persons and a promising class of children. Since coming to this part of the State we have obtained eight subscribers for the REVIEW, nine for the Reformer, and four for the Instructor. While some waver, others are becoming firm. G. W. COLCORD. Marshall, Feb. 29, 1872.