p. 126 | Report of the Journey

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 2, 1858

Report of the Journey

By J. B. Frisbie; S. W. Rhodes

From Brn. Rhodes and Frisbie.

BRO. SMITH: We have just finished our journey, and met all of our appointments according to notice. We hope it has been a profitable journey. Many of the brethren and sisters we found firm in the present truth.

At Windsor we had good meetings, enjoyed some of the Spirit of the Lord. The church lacks zeal and fervency, in which we hope they will increase.

At Portland we found the church almost dead. Perhaps they have been neglected too much and too long by ministers to instruct as to duty, and strengthen them. Their prayer-meetings had gone down, but we are in hopes they will now be kept up; for a church will die if they forget the assembling of themselves together, so much the more, (instead of less,) as we see the day approaching. We would say to the church there, "Be zealous therefore, and repent."

At Ionia the appointment was not known by reason of the brethren's not receiving their paper in season. Here we went to Berlin to find one Jesse B. Parks who has grievously slandered Bro. Frisbie in the public papers, and found that there was no such man in that town, and had not been, neither can we hear of any such name in that county after making diligent search, and conclude that there is no man by that name. The mean, private letter said to be from him from Detroit, was without a post mark, and has every appearance of a drop letter. Bro. M. S. Kellogg, a resident of Ionia county, who has also made diligent inquiry into this matter, thus states the result of his labors:

"Dear Bro. Frisbie: I have made quite extensive inquiry for a man by the name of Jesse B. Parks in this county, (Ionia,) but can find no man by that name. I have become perfectly satisfied there is no such man in this county. And considering the contents of those letters I saw, and there being no post mark on the envelope of the original letter, it is satisfactory to my mind that the author has assumed a fictitious name, and that the matter originated inside of Ottawa county; for the letter could not have gone out of Detroit Post Office without the Detroit post mark on the back of it. I received a letter from Mr. Page, stating that there is no such man in that vicinity, (Boston.) He says there was no man by that name that heard you preach last Winter. "Your brother, MILTON S. KELLOGG." Ionia, Mich., Aug. 16th, 1858.

We met the church at Vergennes, and found them trying to live. One of their number remarked, "When we have any difficulty we go right about settling it, and go along." That is doubtless one reason of their having good meetings year after year without much help from the preachers. The idea struck us forcibly, "We settle our difficulties among ourselves, and go along." We could pray that this short lesson might be learned by every church.

At Bowne the little church is moving on slowly. We should be glad to know of their swifter progress. Here Bro. Edgar lives, who might go out and preach the truth if it was not for his little farm, which is nothing to be compared with the worth of one precious soul. We are in hopes the way will open for him to go out untrammeled soon.

We met again with the church at Wright, where we had some good meetings, and some thirteen more were baptized, which now make over seventy who have been baptized there this Summer. Here is the foundation for an excellent church if they will have the patience to learn experience, and the love of the world does not come in. Our prayer is that they may keep together, united as one.

At Grand Rapids city, the brethren Cramer are keeping the Sabbath. Their hearts are strengthened in seeing the prosperity of the cause around them.

At Caledonia it became duty to deal plainly as to the different kinds of spirits that are in the world; and we are glad to know that some begin to see. May all see before it is too late.

At Gaines some few are trying to keep the Sabbath. There, where we have been misrepresented so much by the Orthodoxy of the day, some good, candid people want to hear our faith. There was a modern revival there last Winter, and some have the mad kind of religion, from which we pray to be delivered.

At Wayland there are a few holding on to the Sabbath; but we are afraid that the spirit of combat and argument has a tendency to drive out the Spirit of Christ. Let us give up contention, and pray more. And let us be very mild towards our enemies. As says the Apostle, "Be courteous." We have never seen anything very good arising from combative debates. We had rather strike a man twice on his reason than once on his combativeness. We always like to see people leave at home their prejudice and combativeness, and bring along their reason. Then they can hear and judge. If a man is combatted into the truth, he is quite likely to have the same spirit to combat others into the truth. We crave the spirit of peace and not contention; for no real good can result from real contention. Avoid contention. Titus iii. 9; 1 Cor. i. 11.

We journeyed on to Monterey where we met with Brn. Hutchins and Fisher. We had a quite a free time in speaking the word of life to the brethren assembled from Watson, Otsego, Waverly, Trowbridge and Allegan. We also preached in Allegan, Watson, Otsego, Waverly and Trowbridge.

In Otsego and Waverly there are a few who have been turned away and gone out from us who are not of us; for if they had been of us, no doubt they would have remained with us. They have one preacher and a few adherents. The great difficulty is the tobacco spirit, which reigns among them. They have found the passage which says that it is not that which goeth into the mouth that defiles. So if one gets drunk on tobacco, opium, or brandy, why, it is not that which enters into the mouth that defiles, &c. But it is said that drunkards and idolaters shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; and no matter what they get drunk on, or idolize, they equally break the first commandment in the decalogue. We baptized four at Otsego. The church is trying to live.

A word on sacrificing and we close. Times are hard, and what will be done? We met with scores of brethren who tell the same thing: "I want to help but cannot, because times are hard, and I have not means;" and some will begin to talk of selling some or all of their land; but there are no buyers at present. We dare not advise what others' duty may be; but this we do know, that the work of God must not stop. There is means enough among Sabbath-keepers that can be spared, and it would be a blessing to those who have more than they need, to sacrifice and help now; for the time will come when their help will not be needed.

When some say, Come again, we are glad to see you, don't stay away so long next time, &c., they must remember that the preachers must be cared for, or they must labor with their hands to support their families. We are not alone in this. It will cost something to be saved, and to save others; and should it cost all, it will be cheap enough.

The amount received, before we arrived at Monterey, was $3.85. Our expenses to that time had been $4.12, so that had we returned home from Wayland, what we received would have fallen somewhat short of meeting our expenses. We do not state this to complain, but that the church may think on these things. Brethren have done much better in times past; but we speak of our last trip, and the hard times.

J. B. FRISBIE. S. W. RHODES.

P. S. We were sorry to learn that some who complained of having no means to help the cause, were able to attend the caravan with their families.