p. 86 | IOWA | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 5, 1878

IOWA

Labor with the Churches.

I LABORED with Bro. Washburn at Garden Grove one week, Aug. 1-7, assisting him in starting a tent-meeting there. I left a good interest in many respects. Bro. Miller joined him the day after I left.

I spent Sabbath and Sunday, Aug. 10 and 11, with the church at Alton. Our meetings were quite good. I believe this church is trying to walk in the counsel of God. Quite a number have united with them the past few months, and we expect others will soon.

Monday, the twelfth, I went down to Platt township, where Bro. DeBord labored last winter. Here I found eight or ten keeping the Sabbath, most of them as the result of Bro. DeBord's labor. We labored one week with them, and endeavored to impress upon their minds the importance and sacredness of the truth, and its sanctifying influence upon the heart. We believe if these dear souls live out the truth, they will gather out a good church in their neighborhood.

Tuesday, the 20th, I commenced meetings in Indianola. I found this little company faithful to the cause. Nearly all that came into the truth last summer are still persevering, and the influence was very much in favor of the truth. Wednesday evening our hall was nearly full of interested hearers.

We had expected to remain here through the week, and to organize a church; but unexpectedly we were called East to attend the camp-meetings, so we closed our meetings Wednesday evening. The people were much disappointed, and we were sorry to leave them; but we believe God has a care for the little flock in Indianola.

E. W. FARNSWORTH.

Battle Creek, Aug. 26.

Carlisle, Aug. 30.

THE interest here is still good. The Sabbath question is fairly canvassed. The Methodist minister preached against the Sabbath, but was promptly reviewed by Bro. Morrison. Our old adversary of Winterset is coming next Sunday as an opposer of the truth. We shall remain as long as the interest seems to demand. The prospect at present is not very flattering.

T. A. KILGORE.

Garden Grove, Aug. 27.

OUR tent has been pitched in this place nearly four weeks. We have quite thoroughly canvassed the prophecies, the Sabbath, the immortality question, and the endless punishment of the wicked. Several have commenced to keep the Sabbath, and we have reason to hope for others. The interest has been good, notwithstanding some opposition, and it is still increasing.

C. A. WASHBURN. M. MILLER.

Bonaparte, Aug. 30.

FOR the past four days we have been engaged in debate with Rev. Hennigh, Presbyterian minister, on the Sabbath and life and death questions. Mr. H. is an elderly man who has been preaching thirty-six years, and is fluent in Hebrew, Greek, German, etc. He was selected as their champion by the ministers of this place, and I was challenged to meet him in discussion. One day more will close the discussion, but we can now see the end easily.

Our opponent proved to be tricky, abusive, and full of self-esteem; but we took the precaution to forestall him by rules and by properly framing the propositions, so that with bit and spur we managed quite easily. Truth has gained a decided victory,

which is accorded by nine out of ten who have heard. At the close of the first proposition, we asked those in the audience (400) who believed in the orthodox hell to arise, when just one man arose. Mr. H. took many novel and contradictory positions, which we will try to report next week.

A contribution of $6.50 was taken up by the audience for us last night. We confidently hope for a score of good souls here. We close in a week.

L. McCOY.