IOWA by George I. Butler

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 4, 1877

IOWA

By George I. Butler

KNOXVILLE.

My meetings here continued several weeks, lecturing evenings to outsiders and our own members, and holding meetings in the day time quite often for the benefit of the church. The religious interest here among our own people had been very low—the lowest, I think, I have ever known in so large a church. After much patient instruction and public and private labor, a more hopeful state of things was reached. I hope to see yet a far better state of things in Knoxville as the church takes hold of the duties they have hitherto neglected. Bro. Minos Miller was elected and ordained elder. Bro. Geo. Howell was chosen clerk. When church discipline is enforced, and the church generally take hold to do their duties, I expect to see souls added to their numbers. There is no lack of talent in the Knoxville church.

STATE CENTER.

From Knoxville I came to this place, and have held meetings over a week. The brethren have built a new meeting-house 30x50, and have furnished it creditably. At the dedication the house was packed full of the citizens, and the whole affair passed off very pleasantly. The house is a credit to our people and to the village. This church is, perhaps, the strongest in our Conference in numbers and financial strength. We hope the house will be a valuable means of good to the church. Our lectures evenings have been quite well attended by our own people, and by the citizens when the weather was favorable. We have had some quite severe weather for this season of the year, which has stood somewhat in the way of the meetings. Meetings with the church are held in the day time occasionally. We hope for good.

GEO. I. BUTLER.

Dec. 18, 1876.