p. 166 | Kansas and Missouri by J. H. Cook

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 20, 1875

Kansas and Missouri.

By J. H. Cook

LEFT home March 30, to join Bro. Rogers who was with the Lincoln church, Johnson Co., Mo. Our meetings here were deeply interesting. Seven went forward in baptism. Ten have taken their stand on the Sabbath and kindred truths since January.

As we were about closing our meetings the directors locked up the school-house as the most effectual method of staying the progress of this truth, thus fulfilling Rev. 12:17. We also visited Pleasant Ridge, and baptized four.

From Lincoln went to Rockville, Bates Co. Here the enemy had come in and taken the fort by storm, and made prisoners of the garrison, and had accomplished the work so completely that hardly one of the good brothers and sisters realized what a terrible condition they were in. In their misguided zeal, they were holding two meetings of S. D. Adventists in the neighborhood and within two miles of each other, and, as every one knew, this was because they did not love one another as Christians.

But here the Lord helped. Truth found its way to their hearts; and the melting influence of the Spirit was felt among this little company. Hearty confessions were made. Their captivity turned; and we trust they were made wiser by their past misfortunes. We left them with new resolves to press forward.

Our next point was Nevada. One of the first things to which our attention was called was an urgent request for a course of lectures, which had been pressed for some time. Bro. Wood had at one time sent an appointment, but sickness prevented his filling it. The anxiety of the people was so great that they came out three nights in succession, but were disappointed each time. Now this call comes—the Macedonian cry. Can we make a favorable response? There are so many places to visit, and brethren at all these places need help, that we can barely get around in time to start the tent according to arrangement.

Why is it that these people who are calling for help cannot have it? We look back and see that plenty of time has been spent in settling controversies with the brethren, church troubles at two places, to have responded favorably to this call. How strangely we labor while our actions so conflict with the interests of the cause we love. We pay Systematic Benevolence, donate to the Tract and Missionary Society, take time, precious time, to go out with our tracts and periodicals and scatter them, in order to spread the truth, and then often monopolize the time of the servants of God, at the very time the waters are being troubled, so that they cannot respond to calls for help. Then by the time they can go to these places the interest is gone. Somebody has hindered the work of God, restrained or held back those who should have gone to the rescue in time to have wrought in harmony with the opening providence of God.

Now let us review a little. Time is lost to the cause by the minister's being thus obstructed in his work. Time in T. & M. labor is lost or measurably so. The money thus expended might have accomplished fourfold more if favorable openings could have received judicious attention, and the interest awakened could have been strengthened and developed at the right time. What a crushing weight of responsibility will fall on those whose unsanctified lives have caused them to pursue such a course.

Why do we not humble ourselves before God, hunt out our own wrongs, confess and take them out of the way, and not bring such terrible burdens upon some one else? If we would draw near enough to God to get a glimpse of ourselves, our burden would be, “God, be merciful to me a sinner,” even to me. Our burdens which have their origin in a perverted conception of truth would be all gone. The individual work for this time of preparing to pass the searching tests of the Judgment would occupy the mind to the exclusion of everything else.

The church at Nevada was organized a little over one year ago, with a membership of nine. They have worked together in harmony, and have had to encounter a strong current of opposition from without; but all the while some are interested and falling into rank. They number now a little more than thirty, if my memory is correct and a good influence is radiating from them in all directions. Four were baptized at this place. Here Bro. Rogers and I parted, he going to Avilla, and leaving me to visit Montevallo, Dry Wood, and Scott.

At Scott I was happy to find that the brethren had awakened an interest through their T. & M. labors. Three had read until they were convinced, and were keeping the Sabbath; two others commenced while we were there. Four were baptized. Several others are apparently deeply interested. One sister here, who has been with us for nearly one year, pleaded with her ungodly husband with cries and tears, for permission to go forward in baptism, but was met with a persistent, No.

Here our labors among the brethren closed, and we go home to prepare to start tent labor. We expect to commence at Neosho Falls, near the 15th of the present month. J. H. Cook.

Mound City, Kan., May 8, 1875.