p. 118 | IOWA | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 12, 1877

IOWA

Sigourney.

Our general quarterly meeting at this place, March 24 and 25, was an interesting occasion. Considering the unfavorable going there was a good attendance. There were five directors present, and all the other general officers of the Society. The finances of the Society are improving, and we trust that it will get fully out of debt the present year, though times are harder in this State than for twenty years. The secretary’s report will show, in some respects, quite an increase in labor, but in others a great deficiency. It is exceedingly hard finding paying subscribers for the SIGNS this year, and it has been to me a source of deep regret that we have made such a failure in this respect, for this excellent paper is worthy of most extensive circulation. The Society strongly recommends the proposed plan of clubbing the SIGNS, and we hope this will be generally adopted by all our churches.

The encouraging part is not so much the things we have seen done as tokens of an increase of interest on the part of many. Our people begin evidently to feel they want to get into a better place and do more for God. They are not so well satisfied as they were; and some are making the effort, and the flame begins to kindle. This omens good for the cause. The Lord is at work here and there in our Conference. We were all made glad by the presence of Bro. Hollenbeck and Starr at our meeting. The former has been totally blind from infancy. He was educated at the State Asylum for the blind at Vinton, Iowa. For four years he has been preaching as a revivalist whenever he has a call, and laboring for the salvation of his fellow-men. He goes out without salary and sometimes without attendant, and the Lord has blessed his labors to the conversion of many. He first learned of this people from a sister in Bradford, Ia., three years ago. Since that time, he has been gradually changing his views, embracing first the Advent doctrine, then the truth on the state of the dead, and a few weeks back the Sabbath of the Lord, the messages, and sanctuary. His heart is full of love to the Lord and his truth. His experience was most interesting. He has a mind to appreciate it.

Bro. Starr is a young man, converted a year since, but he has been constantly engaged in working for the Lord in company with others since, and recently in company with Bro. H. He stated at the meeting that “he too was a victim to the Tract and Missionary Society.” We hope for many such “victims.” May God bless these dear brethren. And in this connection I must mention another case which has caused great joy among us recently. We learn it from a recent letter from Bro. E. W. Farnsworth, who is laboring in Dakota Ter. He found a company of eleven Swedes keeping the seventh-day Sabbath, who had never seen a S. D. Adventist minister. Among these was one who had been a Baptist minister of influence with the Swedish Baptists. His mind had been troubled for years on the Sabbath question; but a few years since he found a copy of the TIDENDE at a friend’s house, in which he learned of the HAROLD, our Swedish paper, and sent for it. He commenced keeping the Sabbath, and ten others with him; and they were all turned out of the Baptist church on this account.

How evidently the Lord is working upon the hearts of men, and affecting their hearts favorably toward his truth! Here are three earnest Christian laborers brought to the knowledge of the truth without hearing a sermon, by the circulation of our reading matter. If they are faithful to God, who can tell how many they may bring to the Lord? Our meeting was one of real interest. The house was well filled, and Sunday night it was packed full of interested listeners. I would gladly have staid longer had it not been for other appointments and other duties. I think I have never been so urged in my life to go to so many places to preach as this winter and spring. At almost every place where I go, from one to half a dozen will plead with me to go here and there. “Can’t you go and preach one sermon? We will get a large house for you,” etc., etc.

There is work, work, everywhere, and all of it seems necessary to be done. And there are men in the State who ought to be consecrated to it, who are not. There were some evidences at our meeting that individuals who are capable, were thinking of this more seriously than ever before. This caused our hearts to be glad. We presented the subject of S. B. before the church Monday. It was well received, and the church voted to accept the plan set before us by the General Conference, giving the one-third to the T. and M. work. Altogether the meeting was a good one. We hope to see the cause brighten up a good deal in Iowa before long, and to see our people taking hold of the work of the Lord with earnest zeal. May God grant this, and bless our Conference as well as other parts of the field. GEO. I. BUTLER.

Hook’s Point.

I commenced meetings here about five weeks ago. After holding a few meetings, a protracted meeting was thrown in upon us, and we withdrew to a place five miles away in the country. We had been there only a few days when the same minister followed us. He also sent to Ft. Dodge for their presiding elder, who came to his help.

Their efforts served to ripen our work and bring the people to a decision. Over twenty have taken their stand to keep the Sabbath, and eleven have joined the church. We hope for others. May the Lord help this dear people. J. H. MORRISON.