Western Tour | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 19, 1862

Western Tour.

THE state of the cause in Iowa seemed to make it necessary that we should meet with the brethren in council at Lisbon, Iowa, July 29th and 30th, and to make the expenses of such a journey as light as possible upon the friends in Iowa, we decided to meet with the brethren at Avon, Wis., on our way out, and the next Sabbath at Round Grove, Ills., on our way back, at which places we could receive assistance on our journey. The plan worked well, but the journey was exceedingly wearing.

Sabbath and first-day, July 26th and 27th, we were with the church at Avon, Wis. The church there is large. The brethren came in from other places, so that there were about two hundred Sabbath-keepers present, notwithstanding the brief notice, in the midst of wheat harvest. This was one of the best meetings we ever enjoyed. The church at Avon are fast recovering from their trials, and are growing in unity, numbers, and strength. We found it a free place to preach the word. In the region round about volunteers are coming into the ranks, such as we hope will be useful members in the church. We baptized two sons of Bro. and Sr. Hoff, a son of Bro. Cheesbro, and three others. If the church at Avon continues to grow in faith, all striving for unity, its light will shine out in that region, and many more will be gathered to the truth.

After the second discourse on first-day, we started with private carriage for Crane's Grove, where we could take the cars for Iowa. At midnight we were driven into a private Dutch dwelling by a violent storm. Here we rested about three hours, when the storm was over, and the morning light cheered us on our journey seven miles to Bro. Newton's at Crane's Grove. The next day we took the cars for Iowa, which, not connecting at Clinton, detained us there, and somewhat delayed the council. When we reached the depot at Lisbon we were happy to find friends ready to take us to Bro. Wilson's, where we found refreshments, and met with Brn. Waggoner, Snook, Brinkerhoff, and many dear brethren who are true friends of the cause in Iowa. In this happy meeting we seemed to forget our weariness, and the unhappy events which had called the preachers from the Tent, and so many brethren from their harvest fields. For particulars see Supplement. In this we have another illustration of the evil consequences of self-confidence and rebellion of those of little experience in the cause of present truth. Here is where almost all who have finally left the Sabbath, have first stumbled. This point of danger must be guarded; first, by not trusting too much in the hands of inexperienced men; and, second, by faithfully warning young disciples of their danger of being deceived by Satan, and led to believe that they are "rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."

We were necessarily detained at Lisbon till Friday noon, when we took the cars for our appointment at Round Grove, Ills., and reached the home of Bro. E. Wick at midnight. Next morning at an early hour the school-house was filled. This meeting held two days. We preached four times, and Mrs. W. enjoyed usual liberty. Six were baptized.

Here we were happy to meet the four orphan children of Bro. and sister Hart, formerly from Vermont. These children have well borne the responsibilities thrown upon them by the death of both their parents. They have kept together, and have conscientiously observed the Sabbath, though but one of the four is sustained by living faith in Christ. We also met with Alburton Rice, the only surviving one of the Rice family, which family embraced the faith in Vermont, and have, link after link, been falling into the grave in hope of immortality at the soon-coming of Jesus, until but one is left. With these five orphan Sabbath-keepers we wept together, and prayed and hoped that they would all give their hearts to Christ, and so live that when the family chain shall be revived at the resurrection of the just, they may constitute links in it.

After the second meeting on first-day, Bro. Stone took us seven miles to his house where we were kindly cared for, and Monday morning took us to the cars for Chicago and Battle Creek, where, past midnight, we found our family well, and ourselves in pressing want of sleep and rest. The friends in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, kindly received and entertained us, and liberally met the expenses of the journey, and we feel that another cord binds us to the dear friends in the West. Our journey was hurried and our stay short, yet the blessing of God seemed to especially attend it. In one week we preached five times; twice in Wisconsin, once in Iowa, and twice in Illinois. Add to this the amount of travel, a two-days' council, much business relative to books, papers, Association, &c., and it will be admitted that we had a good chance to keep the rust off. Active life is our element. Here we find health and freedom of spirit, when allowed to be free from those unpleasant cares and burdens unreasonably thrown upon us in the past. Thank God for freedom, and may we be permitted to enjoy it, to spend the balance of this mortal life successfully in the cause of truth.