p. 31 | IOWA | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 24, 1878

IOWA

Knoxville.

I HAVE been in this place almost six weeks. My health has been so poor that I have been able to do but little, but I have labored as I have felt able. Sixteen have united with the church since I came here, and nine have been baptized. Most of these, however, were keeping the Sabbath before, having moved here from other churches and the adjoining country.

Our brethren and the sisters here are learning, by experience, that valuable lesson that no church can prosper that tolerates wrong in its midst, and with commendable zeal they have taken hold to put away the wrongs. Some of the brethren, we fear, have been robbing God in tithes and offerings, and the vows they have made have been lightly regarded; but their experience has been anything but pleasant to them in this; for, as we should expect, because the Bible teaches it, their spiritual interest has declined and financially they have not prospered. Oh! for a faith that brings God into our financial matters.

We have set these principles before the church as clearly as we could, and the church, as a body, has stood nobly by us. The ground was in a great measure prepared for this work by the faithful labors of Bro. Butler last winter. The prospect before the church was never more flattering than now. They pledged quite liberally on S. D. and voted the one-third for the T. and M. fund, and many of them expressed a determination to pay up past pledges. Our communion season was a good one for this church. The ordinances had not been celebrated before for a long time, and this privilege seemed almost like the commencement of a new experience to some, and we trust it was. A reformation was also begun on the point of promptness in doing the work of God. May God bless the brethren and sisters of Knoxville. E. W. Farnsworth.

Fremont, Jan. 16.

I RESUMED labor again Jan. 3, and have given, in all, twenty-four lectures to fair audiences. Have had considerable stir among the no-law hearers. A goodly number have admitted we have the truth. Have not tested the people yet, but have strong hopes that quite a number will obey. Still they want to hear the other side, and have sent for an able man to set them right, and I am anxious to have him come. Satan is on hand with the usual smut and slander. Shall we have the prayers of those who love the truth? L. McCoy.

Davis City, Decatur Co.

OUR meetings here still continue, and the interest increases, despite fierce opposition from ministers and a few lay members. We asked those to arise who believed the seventh day was the Sabbath and its command as binding now as any of the law, and forty-five or fifty arose. Twelve have decided to keep the Sabbath, among whom is the superintendent of the Sunday-school, the deacon of the Baptist church, and other influential persons. Others are almost persuaded to embrace the truth. Bro. H. Nicola has labored with me up to this time (Jan. 16), but is now called away by his appointment of the T. and M. quarterly meeting at Knoxville. We hope he may soon return. C. A. Washburn.

Nevada, Jan. 14.

THE T. and M. quarterly meeting is now past. The Spirit of God was with us in these meetings. Our hearts rejoiced in the good cause. The reports showed that good work had been done. We had seven discourses, besides social and prayer-meetings. We commence this next quarter, intending to follow the directions given in Eccl. 11, and Ps. 126:5, 6. Our Danish brethren here want tracts in their language, on the three messages. They are in earnest in spreading the light. There were brethren at this meeting who had heard these truths years ago, but have only commenced to live them out lately. Let the good work go on, and let all of us have a part in it. I came from Oskaloosa to this meeting, and because the calls are many in this part of the State I will stay. G. V. Kilgore.

Marshalltown.

AT our regular quarterly meeting, Bro. Kinny spoke to us on the Sabbath, and Bro. Olds on first-day. There was a good turnout of the brethren, and all covenanted to live nearer to God the coming year. Four new members were received subject to baptism. One of these embraced the truth from reading tracts. Two more in Marshalltown have decided in favor of the truth, and others are interested. W. A. Moon.