Bro. T. J. Butler's Affairs.
By George I. Butler
The time has come when it seems to be duty to make a statement to the friends of the cause of this brother's temporal affairs, so that in some way he may be relieved from the embarrassments under which he is now laboring, and thus be able to do more good in the Lord's vineyard. It is well known to the old subscribers of the REVIEW, that Bro. Butler formerly labored in Ohio in the cause of present truth, and was there highly esteemed by the brethren as a faithful and efficient laborer. But about the time that the subject of organization was entered into by our people, some questions concerning the name our people should take, arose, in which there was a difference of opinion, and out of which trials grew which resulted in alienation and discouragement, till finally Bro. Butler got into such darkness that he made no profession of religion, and for a time ceased to observe the Sabbath. If any one will take the pains to look up the back numbers of the REVIEW, they will find an article from the pen of Bro. White, giving an account of the causes which led to this step, from which it appears that the blame was not by any means all on the head of Bro. B., but was partially brought about by the injudicious course of some ministers and members of the church. Soon after this, he moved to the State of Missouri and engaged in farming for the support of his family. But although often addressed by those who were working against our people, who wished to get his aid for the same purpose, he never could be persuaded to say anything against the doctrines held by us, or engage with them. Thus for some eight or ten years he remained aloof from us, his faithful wife all the while holding on to the Sabbath, trying to train up the children to respect it, and crying earnestly to God by day and by night that he would turn her husband's mind once more unto his testimonies. She held on by faith against darkness and all kinds of discouragements. Meantime the providence of God seemed to work against all the plans he laid for the accomplishment of worldly purposes. Now a terrible and almost unprecedented flood destroyed his finely growing crops, then the drought cut short his prospects. He was laid up many months by sickness; and, in short, although he labored exceedingly hard, he did not succeed. As I have heard him relate how one stroke after another thwarted his best-laid plans, I could but think that the Providence that shapes our ends, rough hew them as we will, had had something to do in all these matters. He felt that he was struggling against Providence, and at last surrendered, and made up his mind that he would again take hold and try to serve God with all his heart. This was last winter. Bro. Butler was living in Grundy Co., Mo., on a farm of nearly one hundred and sixty acres. He had become embarrassed. The farm was mortgaged, and was about to be foreclosed. Bro. B. felt very anxious to devote his time and talents once more to the work of God which he had so long neglected, and no longer remain entangled in these worldly matters. Under these circumstances, he wrote to the president of the Publishing Association a statement of his circumstances, and his desire to labor and redeem the time, &c., and stated that, as the farm was in danger of falling into the hands of speculators by being sold for about half its value on the foreclosure of mortgage, he should much prefer that this should fall where it would benefit the cause, rather than into the hands of the world, and if the Association could advance the money and pay off the claims, he should cheerfully give all the remainder, after payment of his honest debts, to the Association. Desirous of helping Bro. B. out of his embarrassments, the General Conference Committee thought best to have me visit the premises and see what could be done. Accordingly, I visited Bro. Butler last March, and had the pleasure of forming the acquaintance of himself and family. To the best of my judgment, it seemed proper that the money should be advanced, as it seemed to me certain that the farm was worth considerable more than all the debts that stood against it, and that it would be a great pity that this should all fall to the benefit of speculators; so I took the responsibility of advising accordingly. And as the Publishing Association could not legally hold property in the State of Missouri, Bro. White, with his usual anxiety to help others in their difficulties and embarrassments, generously borrowed the money on his own responsibility, and forwarded nearly $1800.00 to Missouri, with which the former mortgages were paid off, and the present trouble postponed till some way out could be found, taking, of course, security on the farm during the meantime. And thus the matter has stood till the present moment, Bro. Butler making great efforts to sell the farm and thus get the matter straightened up, but hitherto without success. During the past summer, the farm has been rented; and, as is well known to the readers of the REVIEW, Bro. Butler has been out laboring in the field in company with Bro. Lawrence in the tent. I am glad I can say that God has blessed that labor, and quite a number of souls have taken their stand upon God's blessed truth. I am happy to say also that I hear from Bro. Lawrence and other trustworthy private sources, testimony that fully satisfies me that Bro. Butler has thrown his heart into the work, and has given abundant evidence of his determination to be a faithful man in the vineyard of the Lord. He is now out in new fields laboring alone, and expects to give his whole time to the work. We feel glad, especially for the sake of the cause, to welcome this dear brother once more to the work. May God greatly bless his efforts to the salvation of many souls. I have now come to the special point which has been the cause of making the foregoing statements. What can be done to relieve Bro. Butler from his temporal embarrassments? Any one can see that it must be very embarrassing to a man of honor to have so large a burden of indebtedness hanging over his head, and others burdened by this, and the debt all the time increasing, the wife and small children burdened with the cares during his absence, and the many things needing to be done, neglected on account of his absence. I know from personal knowledge that this has been a fearful weight upon Bro. Butler, and at times has almost crushed him, connected as it is with the past. But his companion has encouraged him to go out, cheerfully bearing her part, so grateful is she that he can once more labor in the cause of God. I would that the wives of some of our ministers could visit that family as I have, and observe the spirit of self-sacrifice and the willingness to forego ease and comforts in order that the head of the family might be out doing the Master's will. Perhaps they might feel rebuked at the spirit of murmuring which, I am sorry to say, is sometimes seen with them. As this is a matter intimately connected with the prosperity of the cause in this weak Conference, we think it duty to speak of this farm, so that if any reader of the REVIEW thinks of settling in that portion of the country he might be induced to purchase it, and thus relieve Bro. Butler's embarrassment. This farm consists of one hundred and fifty acres of prairie, and eight of timber. All the prairie is fenced, and all under cultivation but eighteen acres. It is fenced into three different enclosures, and the fencing is excellent. There are twenty acres of timothy meadow. There are two hundred young, bearing apple trees on it, and one hundred smaller ones, all fine, grafted fruit. There are between thirty and forty bearing peach trees, and nearly fifty cherry trees, one hundred and fifty bearing grape vines, and a large number of gooseberry and currant bushes. All this fruit is in good condition. There is plenty of good water on the place in the dryest time, part of it soft water. The soil is rich, the country well timbered, and among the most12pleasant I have seen in Missouri. The state of society there is good, and there are already four families of Sabbath-keepers there, besides Bro. Butler's. The buildings are not very good, though the house is such that a family can live in it till able to build better. There is a small granary, also. This farm is in Grundy Co., eight miles east of Spriggardsville, on the Chicago and South Western branch of the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific R. R. There is another railroad now being built, running from Quincy on the Mississippi to Brownsville on the Missouri river, and thence connecting with the Pacific R. R., which will run within about a mile of this farm. Seventy-five miles of it are already built, and as this is now in the hands of the Pennsylvania Central Co., it will probably be put through next summer. It is about finished to within twenty-five miles of there, so it seems a sure thing. This is a good stock country, and the climate mild, the land rolling and dry. This farm is well worth twenty-five dollars per acre, which would bring it up to nearly four thousand dollars. But as Bro. Butler is anxious to sell, he offers it at thirty-five hundred. Bro. Butler's address is Half Rock, Mercer Co., Mo. If any of the readers of the REVIEW can find a purchaser for this farm, it would be a great relief to one who is anxious to give his time to the work of the Lord, as well as a benefit to the cause itself. There is another matter connected with this that I wish to notice. It will be seen from the above that Bro. White on his own responsibility advanced nearly $1800.00 to keep this farm from being sold under a mortgage. Bro. W. borrowed this money, and is responsible for it personally. Now, as times are hard, and the prospect of selling the farm, and thus relieving all concerned, is not immediate, it is certainly a duty to devise some means of relieving Bro. White from this debt, as well as Bro. Butler from paying interest all the time until the farm can be sold. It would be unjust to Bro. W., who generously took this burden upon himself, to oblige him to stand under it longer. We therefore propose that twenty of our brethren of means advance one hundred dollars apiece, and loan it to Bro. Butler without interest until the farm can be sold, and thus relieve Bro. White, as well as Bro. Butler. I have further to say, that this is in accordance with Bro. White's mind, and he offers to be one of the twenty to put in one hundred apiece. And as the General Conference is soon to hold its session, we propose that time as the one when this matter can be brought about, and when money can be sent in, and when matters can be arranged so that the money sent in may be perfectly secure to those advancing their means. Now, then, is a good time if our brethren desire to relieve Bro. White of one of his many burdens, to manifest it in a practical way. There are certainly many of our brethren or sisters who can spare the sum mentioned for a time, without interest, and who, I believe, will feel it a privilege to do so, to show their interest in the cause, and relieve those who are working for it. From the pressure of indebtedness, and a desire to keep from getting more in debt, as well as from the fact that the Conference where he labors is weak pecuniarily, and as there is scarcely any sale for farm produce at anything like a fair price, the family of Bro. B. have been deprived of many of those comforts our ministers' families generally enjoy. They have borne this cheerfully. But with a family of five children, and one of them blind, and with the husband away, any one can see the burdens must fall heavily upon a woman. Should there be any of our people who wish to contribute in this direction, I will see that it is faithfully applied. It is but justice to Bro. Butler that I should say he knows nothing of my writing any of this. In reference to raising the above sums of money, any communications should be sent to Battle Creek in season for the General Conference. GEO. I. BUTLER.