Report from Minnesota by I. Sanborn; B. F. Snook

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 21, 1863

Report from Minnesota.

By I. Sanborn; B. F. Snook

As some may be anxious to know how we find things in Minnesota, we answer, bad, indeed. While we find the third angel's message with its sanctifying truths trodden into the dust by those who profess to be its friends, and the wicked mocking at their profession, we find, too, that all the serious trouble now in Minnesota, has been introduced, first, by ministers who first preached the message here, in connection with which they held some long church-meetings, or more properly speaking, church-trials, which have been followed up since, by young, inexperienced ministers, and young would-be ministers, which together have almost ruined everything.

Let me here suggest to my fellow-laborers a mode of proceeding where they may find trouble among brethren and sisters sufficiently great to demand an investigation. Heed the rules laid down by the Saviour in Matt. xviii, 15-18: "If thy brother shall trespass against thee, tell him his fault between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, then thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church." Then I would advise the church to appoint a committee of three, and instruct them to have the parties agree that the decision of the committee shall be final. This course will save long, tedious church-trials, and also save from confusion, such as we found at Oronoco, Minn.

Well, says some brother, what do you do with such confusion? Answer. I preach the straight, cutting truths of Jesus to them, telling them to obey him; for he says in John xv, 14, "Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you." See also 1 Peter i, 22. "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently." Chap. ii, 1. "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings," &c.

After preaching at Oronoco a week, the brethren concluded to obey the Lord in all he commanded them. A church of fourteen members was then organized, and one was added by baptism before we left. A number of others intend to unite soon. They adopted systematic benevolence according to the tithing system. They feel much encouraged and strengthened. So do we. May God add to their number such as shall be saved, is our prayer.

I. SANBORN.

B. F. SNOOK.

Ashland, Dodge Co., Minn., July 3, 1863.

P. S. At Ashland, also, I found the brethren all in trouble and confusion; but through the power of truth the enemy has been routed, and God's people are coming together into the unity of the faith. Last evening we organized a church of ten members. Others are trying to get ready to go with them, while sinners are trembling at their doom and inquiring the way to Zion. We hope the church will soon let her light shine, so that God will add to their numbers. J. S.