Wisconsin Meetings and Church Reconciliation at Victory
By O. A. Olsen
AFTER I returned from the Biblical Institute, I labored three weeks in connection with Bro. Haskell in the meetings at Oakland, Mount Hope, and Leon. I feel thankful for this privilege of being with Bro. Haskell. I want to be aroused to a sense of this time and of the work before us. Since I parted from Bro. Haskell I have held meetings at Whitehall, Burnside, Victory, Waterloo, and Johnstown. In all these places we had some of the blessing of God with us, and the different companies of believers expressed an earnest desire to take hold in earnest in the work before them. At Victory the blessing of the Lord was with us in a special manner. There have been some things which have been of a discouraging nature. The Spirit of the Lord made our hearts tender. Errors were acknowledged, and the matters were reconciled. It was requested by the church that the following resolution be published in the REVIEW:— Whereas, There has for some time existed a misunderstanding of matters in the Victory church, in connection with Bro. Richard Asbury, and whereas, his name had been dropped from church fellowship; the matter was looked into and settled as follows:— Whereas, Upon consideration, it was manifest that errors had been committed by both parties, which were acknowledged, it was therefore Resolved, That we drop the past, forgiving one another; that the hand of fellowship be extended by the church to Bro. Asbury; that he return the same to the church; and that henceforth we will strive in union and harmony to forward the great interests of the work of the Lord. I was not able to meet my appointment at Wequioch on account of the storm and sickness. While I look over the work in our Conference, I see in some places a commendable zeal manifested in the cause of God, and such labor is crowned with success. In other places it is different. The world seems to hold a large place in their affections. The importance of the time we live in, and the special work in which we are engaged, is lost sight of, consequently a spirit of indifference comes over us. Brethren and sisters, it is high time to wake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. We cannot expect that, if we take our ease, and live to self, and bear no burden for the salvation of souls, God will say to us at last, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Let us be aroused. Brethren and sisters, let us seek to get near to the Lord, and have our hearts imbued with the spirit of the Master. Jesus came to this world to live and die for our salvation. Let us have the same true missionary spirit; then we shall find that “it is sweet to work for Jesus,” while we look forward to the “resting by-and-by.” The work of the T. & M. Society is prospering well in some places; in others, it is lagging. Brethren, will you stand idle and look on while the work of the Lord is suffering in your immediate vicinity, and souls that might have been rescued are going down to ruin and destruction? We cannot bear such a thought. Let us, one and all, come up to the work. The winter season is almost past, and the busy season, which is not so favorable for tract labor, is just upon us. There are still a number of districts that are far behind in filling their quota of names. Who will take hold now and make an earnest effort? Read again Bro. Haskell’s article headed “Shall we Have Them?” and then respond. The blessing of God will attend every earnest worker in the vineyard, and in a little while they will return home bearing their sheaves with them. Plainfield, Wis., March 11, 1875.