KANSAS by J. N. Ayres

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 20, 1877

KANSAS

By J. N. Ayres

Our meeting at Bethany closed last night, Sept. 2. Four were baptized, and united with the church. Others are investigating. Bro. Wm. McMoran was chosen elder. The ordinances were celebrated with this church for the first time. It was a blessed season.

The debate with Eld. Field on the nature of man, the destiny of the wicked, and the saints’ inheritance, lasted five days. The Lord vindicated his truth. The elder, after being routed from every line of defense, finally went over to spiritualism, openly avowing himself to be a spiritualist, and declaring that all would be obliged to indorse spiritualism or Adventism (which he called materialism). He wound up with a long exhortation to the people to get their spiritual eyes opened, that they may enjoy the good time coming, when the nations will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, etc.

We commenced meetings with the Pioneer church, Thursday, Sept. 6, and continued over Sabbath and first-day. Seven were added to the church, and six were baptized. Bro. M. W. Neal was ordained their elder. We thank the Lord for what we have been permitted to see and feel at this meeting. But some who are identified with the church are so taken up with this world that they cannot find time to attend meetings. To such I would say, Read Luke 9: 23-26; Matt. 6: 26-34; 7: 16-27; and may the Lord help you to realize your danger and the responsibility that rests upon you as members of the church and heads of families. J. N. AYRES.