SOLOMON RAPIDS, KAN by J. N. Ayers

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 22, 1877

SOLOMON RAPIDS, KAN.

By J. N. Ayers

I was with the Sterling church from Feb. 1 to 4. On the 5th, Bro. Seward started to take me to Mitchell Co. We went by the way of Great Bend, where we found Bro. and Sr. Edwards and Sr. Coons. They are all holding out faithful. The people here are very anxious to hear. We attended a protracted meeting that was in progress; and when they learned there was an Adventist minister there, nothing would do but I must preach for them. To this the preacher in charge objected, until he found that nothing else would satisfy them. He then consented to let me speak a part of the time. After meeting, several urged me to go home with them, but I had to bid them goodby, as we had only just time enough to reach my next appointment. I think the Lord has some honest souls in this place.

We started the next morning in the rain, and traveled three days, during which it rained and snowed about one-half of the time. We arrived at Bro. Rosses Sabbath eve at 8 P. M., cold and tired. Commenced meeting Sabbath at 11 A. M., and continued over Sunday. One united with the church. I was glad to meet Bro. Worick of Jewell Co. Himself and family came twenty miles across the prairie to attend this meeting. This church is scattered over a large tract of country, which makes it hard for them to get together, especially in bad weather; and they had discontinued their Sabbath meetings. I hope they will commence them again, and not let them die out any more.

Bro. John Andrews is elder of this church. He ought to be in the field proclaiming the third angel’s message, instead of trying to farm or teach school. He is well qualified for the work, but has a family to support. Oh! that our brethren in Kansas could see the need of paying their S. B. The harvest is ripe, and we have laborers ready to enter the field; but their families must be supported; and if the brethren will not do it, then they must work away until the Lord opens a way for them to go where they can be supported. The Lord’s cause needs some of the talent that is shut up in the school-room; and some one will have to give an account for keeping it there. I know our brethren in this part of the Conference are poor, and have a hard time to make a living; but will that justify us in taking what is not our own, when souls are perishing all around us, really starving to death because they cannot hear the truth.

The Lord says the tithe is holy unto him. Lev. 27:30-33. The Lord says the Sabbath

is holy. Isa. 58:13. Would we think of appropriating the Lord’s holy time to our own use, when he has given us six days? We would not think of such a thing. Have we any more right to take his means, that which is holy, and use it for ourselves than we have his holy time? Certainly not. Both are holy unto the Lord. He gives us six-sevenths of the time, and reserves one-seventh. He gives us nine-tenths of the increase, and reserves one-tenth. His time and his means are to be used in advancing his cause. Will we use them in that way?

Dear brethren of the Kansas Conference, read carefully Mal. 3:8-11, Matt. 23:23, Prov. 3:9, 10, 2 Cor. 9:6-9. Do we believe the Lord? If we do, let us from this time forward render unto the Lord that which belongs to him. Let us have more confidence in the Lord, and take him at his word. Believe him. Trust him. Walk out upon his promises. He will take care of us. Matt. 6:33.

If you belong to a church, always pay your S. B. to the church treasurer. If you are not a member of any church, send it to the State treasurer, A. J. Stover, Oswego, Labette Co., Kan., and report the same to the secretary, Smith Sharp, Ottawa, Kansas.

You who want preaching in your communities, are you trying to help support those that are preaching? If you are, your calls will be answered as fast as we can get around to them; but it takes money to travel.

J. N. AYERS.

Solomon Rapids, Feb. 12.