Missouri Tent Meeting and Church Organizing Report
By R. J. Lawrence
OUR tent-meeting in Gridley Co., closed under unfavorable circumstances. One man and his wife commenced to keep the Sabbath before we left, and I learn from Bro. Butler that two families have commenced since. Sept. 30, I came to Civil Bend, and spent one day with Bro. Levi Long. Found him much interested in the truth, and ready to labor as the way opens. He and Bro. Rogers had arranged to commence lectures south of Hamilton, the week following; but Bro. Rogers being taken sick, their meetings are delayed. Came to Wathena, Oct. 9. Found things in a discouraging condition. Out of four meeting-houses, and these occupied only a part of the time, they could not get one to hold meetings in, nor any other building, so that meetings had ceased when I visited them. They expressed a desire for meetings, and an interest in the truth. So after a week we obtained the Disciple house, and commenced meetings. Organized a church of six members; S. B. $20 a year. These are all poor. Also organized a church west of Palermo of sixteen members; S. B. $118.40. Oct. 30, baptized old sister Saxton, a sister of Bro. Schellhous of Michigan. She was eighty years and eighteen days old. She has been many years a member of the church of England. She wanted to be baptized two years ago, but through the influence of some of her children she delayed it. She has one son and one daughter that keep the Sabbath. Last summer she walked down the ravine, and finding a place where the water ran over a little fall into a basin below, she said she wanted to be baptized there. Her son and myself fixed the place, and on the above mentioned day, she and another sister fifty-five years old, who had been a member of the Methodist church for many years, were baptized in the presence of several of their friends. The good old sister expressed her joy that she had been enabled finally to perform a duty that had been resting upon her for sometime. She lives with her son that keeps the Sabbath. I came to this place last Thursday. Expect to spend two weeks at Parallel, Riley Co.; then two or three weeks at Burr Oak, Jewel Co.; then to Bull City, Osborn Co., to stay as long as duty may demand. There are brethren at all of these places that want meetings, and some of them want to be organized. This I think is necessary. I know of brethren that are qualified to preach this message, that cannot go out for want of means. Their families are dependent on their daily labor for a support. One month from home would leave their families to suffer. It is written, He that will not provide for his own has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. One tenth of the calls for labor cannot be filled for want of laborers; and the laborers cannot go out for want of means. So let the several bodies of Sabbath keepers that should, be organized, and the means brought together, so as to sustain those who can labor. Marysville, Mo., Nov. 3, 1872.