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TOUR IN WISCONSIN

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Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 15, 1858

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 11, No. 22.

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TOUR IN WISCONSIN.

By J. H. W.

BRO. SMITH: We held meetings in Westport, Dane Co., from the evening of the 11th inst., to First-day, the 14th. The weather was unfavorable: it was rainy and became very muddy, so that the attendance was not large.
We found a few at Westport firm in the faith of the Sabbath, and not at all moved by the inconsistent course of Mr. Stephenson and others. But several of them were literally enveloped in the Age-to-come theory, with little or no faith in the Third Angel's Message. As we too often find in such cases, the labor of the sixth day of the week was suffered to infringe on the sacred hours of the Sabbath. We have daily increased evidence that the Third Angel's Message is present truth, and that by it God will gather the remnant and prepare them to pass through the perils of the last days.
The convictions of former years are greatly strengthened by the past course of some, and the present position of others in Wisconsin, that the Age-to-come is subversive of the present truth. Many with whom we have conversed do not realize this, because they are not aware of their own wide departure from the truth, and their destitution of the power of godliness. It is lamentable to see those who once rejoiced in the fullness of the gospel, whose minds have been so far diverted from the work of preparation that they have lost their watch and ceased to pray, and yet contend that they are on the way to the joys of the blessed. We can never realize the blinding tendency of error when we embrace it, nor how fast we run into the dark when we neglect the truth. How much we need the Spirit of God to guide us into truth, in these days of peril and delusion.
On Second-day, the 15th, I left Westport on foot for Baraboo, leaving Bro. Andrews to bring our trunks on the stage next day. But the frost was leaving the ground very fast, and it rained considerable; the roads became impassable so that the stage could not go through. Bro. A. was obliged to follow me on foot through the deep mud, and we met at Bro. Stanley's, in Sauk Co., on Fifth-day, the 18th. My meeting with this dear family was a joyful one to me, as we embraced the truth nearly together, and they are among the few in this State who have stood firm on the truth against the advocates of error. Next morning in company with Bro. S. we started for Mauston, and arrived at the residence of Bro. Steward just as the Sabbath commenced.
Our meetings at Mauston were held under unfavorable circumstances, as we were both worn down by our very toilsome journey, and our books were all left behind. And it was so muddy that we had no meeting on the evening of the Sabbath, or the evening after. Notwithstanding all this it was a good meeting, and one which we shall long remember with pleasure. Here I met with a few old acquaintances who have kept the Sabbath ever since the Message was first preached in Wisconsin. There is quite a large church in this vicinity, most of whom have embraced the truth under the labors of Bro. Steward. They are all firm in the faith of the Third Angel's Message, and the Age-to-come is not so much as named among them, as far as we could learn. By this it will be seen that Bro. S. has been teaching present truth to them instead of the erroneous theories of the future, so popular in some parts of this State. This will be very gratifying to many readers of the REVIEW, who have not, for some time past, known the position occupied by Bro. S.
Our last meeting with this church was mostly spent in social conference, and the Lord was with us. A fervent desire was manifest to grow in grace: and it was with regret that I left them, for I felt assured that a few more meetings would have been very profitable to the church. But it seemed to be duty for us to separate for a season before the meeting in Marquette Co.; so on the morning of Second-day I left with Bro. Thurston for Waushara Co., leaving Bro. Andrews to labor with Bro. Steward where providence should open the way.
At Mauston we were much gratified to meet with Bro. Locke of Reedsburgh. Bro. L. was formerly a minister of the christian denomination, but is now strong in the faith of the Third Angel's Message, which he is endeavoring to lay before his fellow-creatures. Our earnest prayer is that God may bless him in this work, and guide him fully into the truth, and sustain him in its proclamation. J. H. W.