Wisconsin Church Visits and Meetings at Fremont and Loyal
By L. Sanborn
Pursuant to appointment, I held meetings with the church at Poy Sippi. I found them united and firm in the present truth. I visited this church about ten years ago. I found they had made considerable improvement since that time. They have built a comfortable house of worship since then, in which they hold two meetings each Sabbath—the Americans in the forenoon, and the Danes in the afternoon. We tried in the strength of God to encourage them to continue on in the good work. I also preached three times at Auroraville, six miles south of Poy Sippi, which I trust brought some to seek God’s pardoning love. May 1, I commenced meetings at Fremont, in Waupacca Co., where Bro. Olds labored the past winter. I found, as the result of his labor, about twenty-five Sabbath-keepers. I preached twice on the Sabbath. On first-day fourteen were baptized, and a church was organized of fifteen members. I left Bro. Olds to organize Systematic Benevolence and Sabbath-school. They are calculating to build a meeting-house this summer. If they do, and are faithful, God will add many to their number. There are many good openings in this county for labor, especially tent labor the coming season. On the 8th of May, after a tiresome journey by railroad and on foot, I arrived at Loyal. As I met Bro. Decker and many warm friends of the truth of God, like Paul I thanked God and took courage. We had good meetings. On first-day twelve were baptized, and a church was organized of sixteen members. Systematic Benevolence amounted to $80 a year. There are a good many who will yet unite with the church who could not be present on account of the muddy traveling. They also organized a Sabbath-school. There are twenty-eight in the vicinity of Loyal who are keeping the Sabbath. They have commenced to build a meeting-house. We pray especially for God’s blessing upon that church. From Loyal we went to Maple Works. Through Bro. Decker’s efforts the past winter, thirteen commenced keeping the Sabbath, which, with those that were already there, make seventeen earnest Sabbath-keepers. On the 17th, I baptized seventeen, and organized a church of sixteen members. Systematic Benevolence amounted to $111.84, a year. A Sabbath-school was organized also. We believe if this company are only faithful in all things God will add to their numbers such as shall be saved. We earnestly pray that they may. May 22, I commenced meetings at Modena, in Buffalo County. This is Bro. Downer’s field of labor. A church of twenty-one members was organized, and Systematic Benevolence amounting to about $100.00 a year. A Sabbath-school was also organized. May 31 and 32, I preached at Burnside. On Sabbath, Bro. Downer baptized sixteen, and a church was organized of twenty-one members. Systematic Benevolence amounted to about $86.00 with the prospect of considerable more coming in. And there are quite a number who will yet unite with the last-named churches if those already in them will only live humbly and faithfully. There is a good interest in both places among those who are without. We also organized a Sabbath-school at Burnside. Since I left Fremont, I learn that Bro. Olds has baptized eleven more there, so that the church now numbers twenty-six, with a good prospect for many more when they shall have the privilege of hearing more of the truth preached, and shall see it lived out by those who profess it. I do not know of a more promising field of labor in this Conference than those three counties. And I pray that the Lord may still encourage the hearts of his servants who have labored in those fields that they may labor on and continue to raise up new churches, and establish those already there. I found the brethren and sisters in all those five new churches humble and teachable with great love for the truth. And I do praise the Lord for what he has done for them, and pray that he may continue the good work. I reached home last evening after an absence of six weeks. I found my wife some better of her dreadful suffering from rheumatic difficulty, under which she has been suffering for several months. Her cancer is entirely cured, and since last August she has had no trouble with that. And now if she can recover from her rheumatism I think she will have good health again. She has not walked any for about ten months, and much of that time she has been nearly helpless. My love for the truth and cause of God has not abated in the least, but affliction has hindered me from laboring more than I have. Hope God will soon deliver and give freedom again.