IOWA by George H. Rogers; S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 20, 1879

IOWA

By George H. Rogers; S. N. Haskell

Toledo, Feb. 11.—I leave in this place, as the result of labor here, five who are keeping the “Sabbath of the Lord our God,” seven almost decided who express a firm determination to continue the investigation till the Bible evidence on the question is clear to them, and many others favorably impressed. This is the field where B. F. Snook made his great blunder; and the minds of the people were more terribly prejudiced against present truth than in any other place I have ever labored. Most arrogant contempt was exhibited by all the churches, and especially by the pastors of the place, of whom there are five.

I now return to Kansas, praying God to keep this little company through grace unto salvation when the dear Lord shall come. Those taking hold of this work are the most influential and devoted of the Baptist church.

GEO. H. ROGERS.

Sigourney, Afton, and State Center.—Our meetings in Sigourney have already been mentioned in the report of the T. and M. Institute. The Sabbath school was quite interesting. They have black-board illustrations each Sabbath. The brethren here take a club of thirty copies of the Signs. They formerly had a V. M. society, but as their few copies of the Signs are used up by those paying for them, an organized society was deemed unnecessary. Owing to the hard times, the brethren being mostly poor, they did not feel able to enlarge their club. We hope, however, that before long they will be able to do so, and to procure maps for their Sabbath-school. They seem anxious to do all they can.

Eld. McCoy and myself were in Afton the first four days in February. The brethren here are much scattered, but they manifested a commendable zeal in attending both day and evening meetings during the time we were there, and expressed a desire for them to continue. The time Monday and Tuesday was mostly occupied in setting before them the progress of this work, and the importance of health reform, tract and missionary work, spiritual gifts, etc. This was meat in due season. Some of the Spirit of God was in our midst. This is the poorest church, financially, I have found in Iowa, yet they took two church libraries consisting of Sister White’s bound books, and fifty copies of the Signs, desiring to pay for them in canvassing for Good Health. They have an interesting Sabbath-school at this place.

We commenced meetings at State Center Friday evening, Feb. 7, and shared a degree of God’s Spirit while the meetings continued. The brethren came each morning prepared to remain through the day. At noon a temporary table nearly the length of the meeting-house was arranged; and as the bread and fruit were bountifully placed upon it, we were reminded of the time when a table many miles in length will be spread, and the saints will gather around it, and Christ will come forth and serve them.

Monday was occupied in explaining the nature of the work, including the tract and missionary enterprise, etc. There was no money in their treasury; and a lively discussion with reference to “Sabbath offerings” for the Sabbath-school, took place, lasting about two hours. To show that it was morally right to make Sabbath offerings under certain circumstances for a special purpose, the Saviour’s words in Matt. 12: 5 were cited in connection with Num. 28: 9, 10. At one time when all the offerings had been applied to the priests, and there was nothing in the treasury with which to repair the house of God, “Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the Lord; and the priests which kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord.” 2 Kings 12: 9. This was a wise provision at that time, and God’s blessing followed it. See 2 Chron. 24.

This church had been taking a club of thirty copies of the Signs, but at this meeting they added over one hundred copies. They also organized a V. M. society, and purchased thirty dollars’ worth of maps for their Sabbath-school. The friends manifested a desire to take hold anew in the work of the Lord. May God bless the cause in Iowa.

S. N. HASKELL.