NORTH-WESTERN KANSAS by Chas. F. Stevens

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 21, 1876

NORTH-WESTERN KANSAS.

By Chas. F. Stevens

I SPENT the first two Sabbaths in July with the Pioneer church, in Osborn Co. At this place three were baptized, and five united with the church. On account of some unruly spirits, this church has suffered much in the past, and has passed through many trials; but at the present time there appears to be a better degree of union. At our last meeting, after baptism, we celebrated the ordinances. The good Spirit of the Lord was in our midst, and all present felt that it was good to humble ourselves before God.

I commenced meetings at Salem, Jewell Co., the 15th. As this is a farming community, and as it was just in the time of wheat harvest, we held meetings every alternate evening, and two on Sundays. I closed meetings here Sept. 4. We had a good attendance and some opposition.

Just as I had closed meeting one evening, after speaking on the subject of spiritualism, a woman came forward to the stand and demanded the privilege of being heard. She claimed that the spirit of the woman of Endor had come all the way from the realms of glory, to speak to the people through her, in vindication of the spirit’s character, which she claimed had been defamed that evening. She began by saying she believed every word of the Bible; just then another woman in the congregation came up, and, looking her in the eye, told her she lied; for she had heard her say that she did not believe the Bible. Speaker No. 1 tried to go on by repeating that she believed the Bible, every word of it; but she was again met by speaker No. 2 with the statement that she had lied, and sundry other statements not very flattering. This was such plain talk that the spirit just from the realms of glory abandoned the attempt to vindicate her character before that audience. Spiritualism has been gaining quite a hold here, but the better part of the community are getting their eyes open, and are determined to show it no countenance.

The larger part of those who attended these meetings admit the truthfulness of our positions, and quite a number commenced to keep the Sabbath; but some could not stand the opposition of their former brethren and ministers, who were ready to denounce this message as the work of the devil, but dared not try to prove it so by the Bible. Four or five continue keeping the Sabbath. These, with the few scattered brethren and sisters in this vicinity, will try to keep up Sabbath meetings and Bible-class. Two were baptized.

Most of the non-professors admit that we have the truth, and say if they are ever Christians they will have to keep the Sabbath. This class of people took up a collection among themselves, at the close of the meeting, nine of them paying one dollar each. This they handed me with a request that I would return and hold more meetings when convenient. May God help them to be Christians before it is too late.

I go from here to Smith Center, the county seat of Smith Co. Meetings will commence Wednesday evening, the 6th inst. If there are any who especially desire help in this part of the State, let them write me at the above-named place, immediately, before I return to my home in Elk Co.

CHAS. F. STEVENS.

Salem, Kan., Sept. 5.