IOWA by E. W. Farnsworth

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

IOWA

By E. W. Farnsworth

In company with Brn. Nicola and Washburn, I came from the Nebraska camp-meeting directly to Smithland. We commenced meetings Oct. 11, and continued till the 17th, with but short intermissions. This church has formerly been greatly prospered; but for a few months past, the tattling tongue and a disrespectful spirit, on the part of some, had wrought discord and discouragement. And what made the case more sad, many good Sabbath-keepers were kept out of the church by this unhallowed influence. We labored hard, and with a good degree of success, to show where the wrong lay. The Spirit of the Lord helped us, and there was a unanimous agreement in the decisions rendered. Some good confessions were made, and union and harmony, to quite an extent, were restored. Some of the members of this church must learn, it may be by a bitter experience, that to “render honor to whom honor is due,” and “to know them which labor among you and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake,” are principles of the gospel which can no more be disregarded than the commands, “Honor thy father and thy mother,” and “Thou shalt not steal.” Our meetings closed up well. Four good souls united with the church. The blessing of God was there to heal the wounds that had been made; and we left this company strengthened to go on in the way of life.

Sabbath and Sunday, Oct. 20 and 21, with Bro. Bartlett, I met with the Sabbath-keepers at Logan, where Brn. Washburn and Bartlett labored with the tent this summer. We organized a church of eleven members. On account of rain some could not get there, but will unite soon. Three were baptized. The Lord has blessed the labors of these brethren this summer, and we think the Sabbath-keepers here will not only stand, but have a gathering influence. I now go to Dakota for a few weeks.

E. W. FARNSWORTH.