IOWA by J. Bartlett

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 10, 1879

IOWA

By J. Bartlett

River Sioux, April 1.—I have been here three weeks. Last Sabbath was a good day for us. One load came from Onawa, and some came from the country. The Lord was with us by his Spirit. Good testimonies were borne; and ten, mostly young persons, arose, asking the prayers of the people of God.

Some have embraced the truth. The opposition is very strong; the churches are uniting against us. After presenting the Sabbath question, I asked how many believed that Sunday was the Sabbath, or Lord’s day. One man arose. I asked him to state his reasons for his faith. He declined to do so then; but the next night he came, and his father, who is a minister, came with him. The minister spoke fifty-five minutes, and stated that there was no Sabbath, that the fourth commandment was abolished, and that there was no command for Sunday-keeping in the Bible; so his reason for Sunday-keeping proved a failure. I replied, speaking as long as he did.

Another man then took up the opposition, and tried to prove that the ten commandments were abolished, but he became involved in a difficulty by having nine of the commandments reinstated before they were abolished. Last Sunday an old man, a broken-down Mormon preacher, one whom the Mormons have discarded for his dishonesty, spoke in favor of the Sunday. The house was full to hear him. The boys cheered by stamping on the floor, and the people became disgusted, and went out until only five were left. So the Lord made the wrath of man to praise him.

J. BARTLETT.