Letter from Round Grove, Ill., to the Battle Creek Conference.
By E. Everts; J. Hart
DEAR BRETHREN, at Battle Creek, in Conference convened:—We, in behalf of the church, and ourselves, would say that we cherish anxious desires for your deliberations to be all ordered, owned and blessed of the Lord. We would gladly participate with you in bearing burdens, and enduring and sharing in all the trials that the cause may demand. Trials we know the remnant seem doomed to pass through; but we pray that the little flock may enjoy the form of the fourth, and the patience of the saints. We would say a word with respect to the church here. We are so located as to convene on each Sabbath, (some 30 members,) and feel to say with humility and gratitude, that the good Shepherd has so manifested his approbation, that we feel confident if we can walk as the Lord has marked out the pathway, that the good providence of the Lord was in our emigrating west. The time we believe has fully arrived when we may not say, And yet four months and then cometh the harvest; for when we lift up our eyes we exclaim, The fields are white already for the harvest. The truth that has been presented through the Winter in producing some fruit, and meetings which we have of late held on the first day of the week, are being blessed with interesting and increasing numbers, so that some are acknowledging the truth, and are urgent to hear. On the right and on the left there are calls for truth and offers of houses, and the people want to hear. We can emphatically say that laborers are few, while calls are many. As to the Tent operations, we have consulted the brethren, and they think with us that, as there are houses freely offered, and people willing to hear, and the prospects are encouraging of doing good, by the blessing of the Lord, in embracing the abundant opportunities in houses of worship, we think if no special providence should open to favor our procuring a tent, that we had better labor the coming season in public houses. Besides, we see many inconveniences that would be consequent to a tent operation in Ill., that would not exist in Eastern States. We would humbly say, that we are thankful that "Israel's Keeper slumbereth not, but has manifested his care in these last days in all his ways of mercy that he has ever done to guide, instruct and correct his people." O, may we be not the people who shall be left without a vision, nor be unwilling or negligent to acknowledge them. While we say we thank the Lord for his gifts to the church, we would pray for the continuation of them until we all come to a full stature of men and women in Christ, and be made perfect. We feel humbly to acknowledge that the church has been too willing to make a difference in estimation of the gifts. Can we lightly esteem any gifts? Can we discriminate between them, as to their importance? We need in their proper place all the favors of our Lord. E. EVERTS.
J. HART.
Round Grove, Ill.