MY JOURNEY HOME by T. M. Steward

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 18, 1859

MY JOURNEY HOME.

By T. M. Steward

Bro. Smith: I would after so long a time express my thankfulness to my heavenly Father for the many happy and interesting acquaintances I formed with the dear saints scattered abroad, while on my visit to Battle Creek, and my journey home. After our very interesting meeting at Battle Creek, we left for Round Grove, where we safely arrived the next day. I spent two weeks with the church there. We had some very interesting meetings. The brethren seemed anxious to hear and willing to obey, and they manifested a desire to arise and gird on the whole armor of God, that they may be prepared to stand in the great day. They have been sadly afflicted and tried as a church. I endeavored to instruct them according to the best of my ability. And in no circumstance in life did I ever feel more sensibly the need of the Holy Spirit to direct me aright in that way that should best glorify Him whom I serve. I hope and trust that my visit there may be blessed to their good. May the Lord bless them, and purge out everything not according to his will, and make them a very peculiar people zealous of good works, and reward them abundantly for their kindness to me.

They kindly contributed to my wants, and carried me to Crane's Grove, where we found Bro. Berry and Newton, with others, whose hearts were warm in the precious cause of truth. I staid over night and had a meeting in the evening, and to my astonishment many of the no-Sabbath friends were out, and appeared to be interested in the meeting. May the Lord open their eyes to see and love the commandments of God.

Bro. Lathrop then took me to the tent, where I found Bro. Sanborn and Ingraham hard at work for the honor of their Master. I spent Sabbath and first-day with them, and the interest seemed to increase till I left, and I hope much good may result from their labors in that place. O that God's messengers may be clothed with more than mortal energy to perform the great work which devolves upon them, that his cause may be advanced and his name honored. I formed a new and very pleasing acquaintance with Bro. Ingraham.

From there I went to Milton, and there I saw some of the sad effects of the course of Stephenson and Hall. May the Lord deliver the dear saints there from their present embarrassment, and give them the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness.

I then went to Albion, and there I found the brethren yet unsettled in their views. I spent the next Sabbath and first-day at Koskonong, where I found a very unhappy state of things. May the Lord give wisdom to his honest ones, and conduct them safely through all their trials to the kingdom.

I found Bro. Phelps still anxious to persevere unto the end. May the Lord help him to overcome at last, that he may have a crown of life. He kindly took me two-days' journey to the cars. And then I returned home and found all well.

Now the hardest feature I find among the professed children of God is a spirit of fault-finding and complaining one of the other, instead of forbearing one another in love. They seem to forget the instruction of the word. John xiii, 34, 35. "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for another." Then, if this be true, by this shall all men know that ye are not my disciples, if ye have not love one for another.

O let us, dear brethren, remember the instruction of Paul to the Ephesians; [iv, 31.] "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking be PUT AWAY from you, with all malice; and be ye kind one to another, TENDER HEARTED, forgiving one another, EVEN as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Let us, instead of looking to others, look to Jesus the great and perfect pattern, until we reflect his lovely image in all our deportment in life. We need an increase of that charity that thinketh no evil, but suffereth long and is kind, hopeth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things, that never fails.

I still feel like pressing my way on to the kingdom. Dear brethren and sisters, I humbly ask an interest in your prayers.

Yours hoping for immortality,

T. M. STEWARD.

Hesper, Iowa.