p. 134 | L E T T E R S by Washington Morse

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 15, 1860

L E T T E R S .

By Washington Morse

"Then they that feared the Lord, spake often one to another."

From Bro. Morse.

Bro. Smith : I left home the last day of January, walked twenty-five miles to Bro. Elias Sanford's, who resides at Ashland, Dodge Co., Minn. The next day he took his team and accompanied me on the way to Bro. Sylvester Hills', who lives near High Forest, Olmsted Co., some 25 miles. Bro. Hills and wife are well established in nearly all the present truth. We spent

the Sabbath at Bro. Hills'. Had a good meeting. On sixth and seventh-day evenings we gave two lectures in the school-house in the village. Some interest was manifested.

On first-day we went on our journey and reached Bro. Wm. Merry's in the evening, a distance of thirty miles from Bro. Hills' in Winona Co. This dear family have stood firm for the truth amid the No-Sabbath heresy and Age-to-Come doctrine, while others there have given up the Sabbath and made shipwreck of their faith. This is the place where D. P. Hall located with his father and others from Wisconsin, some of whom reside there still. Report says they are No-Sabbath folks, and from what I saw I might add, No-religion folks.

From here we went to Bro. Peter Erb's. He lives some fourteen miles from Winona. Had a meeting in the evening. The next day we were much blessed in attending to the ordinance of baptism, where I trust our dear Bro. and Sr. Erb found a grave for all their sins, and came up in the likeness of Christ's resurrection. We then parted, under deep feeling, and went back to St. Charles to meet an appointment that we left when going down. We found a large number convened at an early hour, who listened with deep interest for two hours. At the close of the meeting several came to me and pressed me urgently to stay and continue meetings through the week; but my arrangements were such that I could not. They then wished me to come back as soon as possible, but I could not give them much encouragement. I should judge by the freedom I enjoyed that there were many ears to hear in that place.

Next day we went on our way to Mantorville, and on sixth-day I arrived at Bro. Porter's, where Bro. Ingraham's conference was held last fall. Four more have embraced the Sabbath in that place. We gave three lectures on Sabbath and first-day. Others are quite interested in that place. On second-day, Feb. 13th, I arrived at home, having been absent two weeks.

Having consulted the church here and at Medford after my return home, I am instructed to give a report of this tour, and a statement of the wants of the cause in this State. It is the opinion of every Sabbath-keeper that I have seen in this new State, that we should have a tent in Minnesota the coming Summer. The brethren here are generally poor, although there are a few exceptions. They are willing to do all they can. I would now make inquiry about the Wisconsin tent. As some of the brethren in this State assisted in purchasing that tent, and as there were steps taken last year in Wisconsin to purchase another tent, would the brethren in Wisconsin feel free to let the tent which they now have, come across the river and be used in Minnesota the coming season, provided we can get a messenger or two to labor with it. If they would we should be very thankful; but if it is not thought best, I am instructed to say that the brethren in this State feel it duty to purchase a tent that will cost some 70 or 80 dollars, provided they can do it by pledging themselves to pay some time during the season.

But who can come to labor with us? We would invite our dear Bro. Ingraham who visited us last fall, if he could come. Still we would not be particular, but would say, Send, Lord, by whom thou wilt. We hope to hear Bro. White and others speak out through the Review soon, and advise us in these things.

Yours in hope of eternal life. WASHINGTON MORSE.

Deerfield, Steele Co., Minn.