Chisago Lake, Minn by John Matteson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 22, 1873

Chisago Lake, Minn.

By John Matteson

The Lord has blessed Bro. Charles Lee’s labor in this place. We have held meetings together a week. A goodly number congregated to hear. Some came the distance of thirty miles afoot to attend the meetings. The people received the word gladly, and the Spirit of the Lord was evidently present in all our meetings. On first-day, sixteen willing souls were buried with Christ in baptism, and the next day, two more followed them. When these friends for the first time united with each other in washing feet and partaking of the Lord’s supper, it was truly an interesting and blessed time.

We have organized a church of seventeen members, known as the church of Chisago Lake, Minn. They have pledged $97.40 to the Minnesota Conference for this year, and desire to be taken under the watchcare of the Conference. The sisters took off their artificials, and brought their earrings and finger-rings to the treasurer. Tobacco is banished from the camp. I have never been with a company of believers who have shown greater willingness to follow the instructions of the Bible. They are an intelligent class of people, who love order and cleanliness. This love is, with some of them, no older than their love for the truth, which speaks well for the work accomplished among them so far. As far as I can judge, I have seen good evidences among this people of a real conversion to God, and living experience in the truth.

Bro. Charles Lee was unanimously chosen for their elder, and set apart as such. The address of the secretary is: Andrew Deedon, Chisago Lake, Chisago Co., Minn.

This is the first church organized among our Swedish brethren. My address will now be: Cambridge, Isanti Co., Minn.

JOHN MATTESON.

July 7, 1873.