MISSOURI

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

Holden, Index, and Rockville.

I SPENT one week, from Sept. 7-14, with the Lincoln church, six miles from Holden. Spoke eleven times. With a nominal membership of thirty-five, this church has at times hardly been able to keep up meetings, because of a lack of union. In visiting from house to house, I could see no lack of material for a prosperous church, if consecrated to God and his cause. This might be one of the strongest churches in Missouri, if all would live near to God, and draw together. I labored to impress upon all the importance of devotion to God and his truth, and dwelt at some length upon the different points of truth especially applicable to our time, to strengthen some who were wavering. Many promised me they would again take hold in earnest, attend the meetings, and seek to regain lost ground. I hope our meetings were profitable to most of the church.

Spoke six times in Index. This is a young and small church of about fifteen members; but they seem to be united and to desire to learn their whole duty. Five were received into the church, and three young men were baptized. It was a very pleasant baptism to me, and the Spirit of God was present. It is always encouraging to see young men in the strength of their young manhood giving themselves to God. May these fully consecrate themselves to this holy work. Our meetings were good and profitable.

At the earnest request of Bro. Clark, of Urich, Mo., I went to his place about fifteen miles from Index, and spoke three times in an entirely new field. No special interest was manifest, though we had fair congregations.

From thence I went to Rockville, Mo., where is a church of nineteen members. This church, in proportion to its membership, has done full as well as any in the Conference in bearing burdens in the cause, paying S. B., etc. They are generally prompt in paying their pledges, and a portion of the members sign according to the plan recommended by the General Conference, which I find is quite an uncommon thing in Missouri, therefore it is worthy of mention. I staid from Friday night till Sunday night, and preached seven times, and held two social meetings. This church greatly needs a spiritual awakening, as well as most other churches in this Conference.

Monday, Sept. 24, I came to Bro. Terry's, fifteen miles from Rockville, to a new place where a minister of the Christian church had been preaching against us, and had thus created an interest to hear our side. Gave two discourses on the Sabbath and law to a house jammed full, and to many who could not get in. We are much obliged to the elder for thus advertising us and creating an interest to hear our views. Before I had given my first discourse, the local elder of the church seemed very anxious to get a promise from me that they might ask questions. But when I closed and gave such permission, and repeated it, not a question could I get. In my second meeting I gave an earnest discourse on the Sabbath question. When I closed up and gave a chance for questions, a man arose in the congregation, and asked for a chance to reply. I left the matter to the audience, and was treated to a speech of about an hour and a quarter, to which I replied for half an hour. This kept us till most midnight. When he tried to reply further, the audience left. The matter passed off in a friendly spirit, but it created quite a stir. We found at least three ministers had been summoned in, as there was none present the first night. One had come some ten miles. It was quite evident after my first discourse that they considered their craft in danger. All this I think will create an interest to hear further in this neighborhood.

GEO. L. BUTLER.

Watson, Atchison Co.

I BEGAN labors here Sunday evening, Sept. 23. The audiences have not been large, but have been very attentive. Eld. Eyerly still stands firm on the Sabbath, and rejoices in the glorious light of God's word. His church have turned him out without preferring charges against him or giving him a trial; and besides this they have voted to publish him in the State papers, and have refused to hear him give his reasons for keeping the Sabbath. A healthy reaction is now taking place, and the church begin to regret the course they have taken. The spirit of inquiry and investigation is manifesting itself, and we hope for good results. North-western Missouri bids fair to become a good field of labor. Eld. Eyerly's move will cause great agitation on the Sabbath question in several counties. I feel that the Lord has been at work.

N. BATTIN.

Half Rock.

WE closed our meetings in the tent, Sept. 16. The interest was good to the last. Twenty-six have embraced the whole truth, and united with the church. Twenty-one have been baptized, and several more are keeping the Sabbath, who, we hope, will unite soon. Bro. W. went to Sullivan Co. for a few days, to encourage the brethren there, and get as many as possible to go to camp-meeting. We now have a church here of forty-four members, and the best of feeling prevails among them. Held two meetings with them last Sabbath. We had prayer and social meeting at four P. M., in which nearly all took part. The Lord was present by his Spirit. Quite a number of the young here have come out in the truth, and it cheered us much to see them take part in the worship of God. We celebrated the ordinances in the evening, and it was a blessed season. Systematic Benevolence was raised to the amount of $108 for the remainder of 1877. We have enjoyed much of the blessing of the Lord for the past two months. Bro. T. J. Butler assisted some the last two weeks of the meeting.

I am now on my way to Daviess Co., with the tent, to attend camp-meeting.

C. H. CHAFFEE.