Letter from Bro. Hull by Moses Hull

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 28, 1859

Letter from Bro. Hull.

By Moses Hull

Bro. Smith: After an absence of nearly six months I have been permitted to return to Iowa City. I find the cause here on the decline. Some of the brethren are somewhat disaffected, and some of them have gone so far into Age-to-come-ism, that they have almost lost sight of the Messages. Whether they will reject the Third Angel's Message or not, yet remains to be determined. It is certain that the doctrine of probation in a future reign of Christ cannot be harmonized with the messages; therefore we must reject one or the other. But the worst of all is that those who hold to the Age-to-come steadily refuse to have it investigated, notwithstanding they have been harping upon it all winter, and publishing to those who were favorable to our views that Hull was in error, &c., thus killing our influence with those whom we had hoped to benefit. I hope that such ones may take a second thought before it is too late to retrace their steps.

There is another class of brethren here who do not believe that God "is the same yesterday, to-day and forever," and consequently has taken the gifts away from the church, (all except it be that of evangelists, pastors and teachers,) and left us to scrabble along for unity the best way we can.

God ordinarily heard prayer in behalf of the sick; but these will not believe that God can now hear prayer unless they could see a case of dropsy cured, or something of that kind. The church in ancient times walked by faith and not by sight. But things are now reversed; some refuse to trust the naked promise, but must see, and then they will believe.

But there is a third class here who are firm and devoted, who are trying to be zealous and repent, who strive to rise with the message. The Lord help them to let their light shine to those around them.

The brethren in this place have requested me to give a course of lectures here. I have lectured four times. Our congregations have not been large, but there are a few who I think are deeply interested in the truth. May the Lord help the people to realize that they have an interest in the present truth.

M. Hull.

Iowa City, Iowa, April 19th, 1859.