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Report from Bro. Snook

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The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 8, 1864

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 23, No. 15.

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Report from Bro. Snook.

By Benjamin Franklin Snook

I LEFT home on a tour of quarterly meetings, Jan. 14. Arrived at, and began meetings in, Pilot Grove on the 15th. We were pleased and greatly encouraged on meeting a much more general turn out than we had expected. The meetings continued to the close of the following Tuesday evening, and the interest was on the increase to the close. We preached eight sermons to large and deeply interested congregations, had several prayer and social meetings, and one most excellent communion season. Great union of hearts and mingling of tears characterized the solemn occasion.
This was one of the best meetings ever enjoyed by us in this State. The book sales speak loudly of the interest. I started with a supply of books for the whole tour and so great was the demand that I sold almost out in this meeting. On Sunday we sold to the amount of $36.10 and before we closed the meetings the whole amount taken was $44.35. Two came out and embraced the truth and a number of others are deeply interested and investigating. One was baptized. God is blessing this church. They have been faithful in times of trial. They show their zeal by doing. They have built a good, respectable-appearing, house of worship without using or diminishing their S. B. fund. And now the fruits of their labor appear,—the Lord is adding to their numbers and they are onward to victory. May he ever bless and lead these dear brethren and make them a light to reflect his glory in the community in which they live.
From here we went to Washington and preached once to the little flock of that place. We were happy to learn that they are still striving for a home in the better land and rejoice in believing the truth.
The 22d, we met with the brethren of Liberty church and with a general turn out from some other points. This was a meeting of interest and encouragement but not so much as it might have been, as there was a general uneasiness on the part of Brn. who had come a distance, which was occasioned by a sudden departure of the snow, leaving them mostly mud to go home in. This church is growing and exerts a good influence, and there is a gathering to the Lord among them. They have done well since they were organized and by being humble faithful and teachable, as we believe they will, we trust that God will bless them much.
From this point we started in care of Bro. Ben. Auten for points west. The going grew worse and worse but finally after nearly five days hard travel over ice, snow and mud, weary and worn, we arrived at Knoxville and began meetings on the evening of the 29th. Here we met with several brethren from other points but not so many as on former occasions as the going was so bad that nothing but go through determinations, would travel so far to meeting. This was a profitable and good meeting. The Lord was with us in speaking and blessed the testimony to visible and apparent good. A goodly number of outsiders were favorably impressed and we are certain if the truth was lived out here, that there would be additions to the Lord's cause. The brethren here are generally taking hold in greater earnestness and I hope will gain the victory. They have been held back by weights that are now we trust being shaken off. May God bless these dear brethren and help them to live worthy of a home in the kingdom.
We next visited our Reauseau brethren and preached twice and were pleased to find that though there has been a great lack of stability yet there is some living faith among them. We hope to hear good news when we hear from them again. They have had their trials but have been delivered from them and now can received rejoice that they have made some progress toward the kingdom.
On the evening of Feb. 3, we began meetings in Sandyville, and lectured up to the 9th. We began under unfavorable circumstances, but had a large congregation which increased in numbers and interest to the close. This church is now in a growing condition and exerts a good and gathering influence. Many that formerly would not hear, now hear with interest. We are certain that if these brethren will just be faithful, humble and prayerful, the Lord will increase their numbers and they will be instruments in saving others.
I next visited the brethren near Eddyville. There we had an interesting and profitable meeting. All the Brn. thanked God and took courage to resume their journey to the kingdom. They have had some severe trials but the Lord has been their deliverer so far and if they will be faithful, he will be, unto the end. On my way home I called and visited the brethren of Liberty again and enjoyed a warm and refreshing time. On Sunday 14th inst. I started for home, and on the evening of the 23d I arrived safely among my family, thankful to meet them once more after an absence of nearly six weeks in which time I traveled over four hundred miles mostly very bad going, preached 38 times, baptized one, sold $60.00 worth of books and got several new subscribers for the Review and Instructor.
In conclusion I will say that the cause is onward and upward in Southern Iowa, and so far as I know all over the State. The calls for labor are many, and the openings increasing. Never was there a better prospect for success to the truth. Oh may the Lord help us all to be faithful, zealous and whole hearted; to give ourselves altogether to the work that when He appears we may be prepared to meet him with great joy and share in the joys of a home in his everlasting kingdom.
B. F. SNOOK.