p. 70 | WISCONSIN by I. Sanborn

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 1, 1877

WISCONSIN

By I. Sanborn

Arkansaw, Burnside, and Augusta.

We have held meetings at Arkansaw and Burnside about one week. There are about fifteen Sabbath-keepers in each place, and they are much in need of help in almost everything. We tried to show them the importance of taking and reading our periodicals. Some sent for the REVIEW. They pledged about $42.00 for the tent fund. The tithing system was adopted, the claims of S. B. were responded to, and the one-third pledged for T. and M. work.

I find by the experience of almost twenty years that the man who first starts an interest in any place is the man who ought to stand by that work till all who are interested take their stand and become workers in the cause of God. This I have always tried to do, only when I have been prevented from doing so by some unavoidable circumstances. I was therefore very sorry to leave Vernon Co. as we did and come into this part of the State; but after Bro. Decker promised to follow up that work, I consented to come here and help Bro. Downer, who has twice been called from this field of labor at the very time when he ought to have stayed and attended closely to the interest he had started. When he came back he found the interest had died away, as it always will. Now we are here trying to help gather up what we can in these almost spoiled fields. It reminds one of a woman's knitting, partly finished, the needles pulled out, and the work left without fastening the yarn. And now, after due deliberation, I have come to the conclusion that it is best never to leave an interest in any case till all have accepted the truth who will, and till I know all have family worship, and all are baptized who have not been.

We have been holding meetings in Augusta for five weeks. Bro. Downer is now holding meetings about six miles west of Augusta. Some noble souls have already accepted the truth, and we are hoping for more to do the same. We came to Maple Works yesterday, and found the people eager to hear the truth. Bro. Downer will continue his labor in vicinity of Augusta till we return. We expect to see a strong and faithful church raised up there, if the Lord will help, and I believe he will.

I. SANBORN.

Maple Works, Clark Co., Feb. 20.