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Lake City, Minn

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 28, 1874

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 43, No. 20.

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Lake City, Minn.

By Charles Lee

Our brethren in Lake City have now become firmly settled in the present truth. Their hearts seem full of the Advent faith, and their lives are gradually conforming to its practical duties. The power of God has stirred the hearts of the Swedes in Lake City and vicinity. The churches have had a great shaking. The enemy has not looked upon this with indifference. All the means that could be made use of, connected with the strongest efforts to break down and clear out of the way the Heaven-established principles and rules of right, have been undertaken. Although many of the people stand very low, respecting religion, on account of their early training, so that they would cry out, “Crucify!” at the first signal of the priest, there are still some with human hearts and thinking minds among them.
The discussion mentioned in my last report was one that I was forced into. My opponent gave out the discussion before I knew anything about it, and declared that if I did not meet him, I was a coward and an impostor. The discussion was continued three evenings. It has caused many minds to investigate the word of God that cared but little about it before.
Was it not for the opposing priests and their periodicals that come into the settlement like a flood of water, many souls would be brought to the knowledge of the truth. I think after a while, when the commotion is quieted down, that fruit will appear more abundantly in Lake City than heretofore. May God help the honest-hearted to be led out from the ways of wickedness.
The friends I left in Wisconsin when I went to Lake City have not only grown stronger in the Advent faith, but increased in number. I have spent another week with them. They, with the friends in Lake City, will number between twenty-five and thirty. When we organize the church, they will all unite in one.
The elder of the Swedish Baptist church of this city, now a firm believer in the Advent faith, has lately visited his old friends in St. Paul. Before he became a believer in the soon coming of the Son of God they seemed to think very much of him; but learning that he wanted to enlighten them from the word of God, they gave orders that he should not be allowed to speak a word. And, said he, “Men and women that formerly were looked upon with suspicion in regard to their Christian faith and character, are now the leading and principal authority within the church.”
It seemed pretty hard for our brother to be choked down as a criminal among Christian friends and brethren, in a church where he shortly before labored with evidences of love and gratitude from the people; but, said he, “I felt that Jesus was greater than St. Paul.”
I am often struck with astonishment as I watch the movements of ministers and people at the presentation of the Advent doctrine. If the testimony of the word of God was not so plain that the same spirit was manifested in the days of our Lord Jesus and the apostles I should hardly know what to make of it. But praise be to God, Christ’s words are as true to-day as ever: “Remember the words that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.”
This and similar heavenly testimonies, with the experience I have gained in this great and noble work, is enough to sustain me under all circumstances; and, although my constitution is nearly broken down from hardships in the past, I will continue, as long as I am able, to cry out to all, Awake! awake! that the gates of Heaven may not be closed against you.
CHARLES LEE.