p. 192 | TRACT AND MISSIONARY INSTITUTE IN IOWA

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · March 18, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 12

TRACT AND MISSIONARY INSTITUTE IN IOWA.

By George I. Butler

We have secured the services of Eld. B. L. Whitney to hold a T. and M. Institute in Iowa, continuing over two Sabbaths, from April 2 to 12. This meeting will be held at Sigourney, Keokuk Co.

We desire the presence of all the ministers in the State who can attend without plain evidence that duty leads elsewhere. We want as many as possible of the directors, secretaries, and librarians to attend, and all others who are interested in the T. and M. work. It will be said that this is a very unfavorable time to secure a general attendance. We know it; and hence we have not appointed the meeting with the expectation that it will continue as long as other Institutes which have been held, and which will be held in the future. We do not at this time expect a general rally. It would be out of the question at this season of the year. But we expect such meetings will be held in the future; for the tract and missionary society is yet to accomplish a mighty work in the earth. It must and will succeed. It is destined to be one of the most important agencies in existence for the prosperity of this cause. Its importance has been demonstrated beyond all cavil. In order to fulfill its mission, these T. and M. Institutes are an absolute necessity. I expect to see them held in the near future in all parts of the field. Our people must be educated, to make this great work a success.

Eld. Whitney is having excellent success as a teacher in this branch of the work. He has a little over a week which he can spend with us in Iowa, and give us the benefit of his knowledge and experience. Should we let this occasion pass without improvement, we should neglect a precious opportunity. Though while sowing and planting are in progress, the season is not favorable for a general rally of our people, perhaps there is no time in the year when our ministers could better be spared from their labors in the cause. No doubt many others can come then as well as at any time, and we want all such to attend by all means. But we especially urge all our preaching brethren in the State who expect to labor in the future to be sure to come. The instruction will be specially calculated to help them. We must have the help of all our brethren in the ministry to rouse our people to the importance of this branch of the work. We want them to instruct our T. and M. officers wherever they labor. How can they do this, unless they thoroughly understand it themselves? Let us have a full attendance at Sigourney, April 2–12.

GEO. I. BUTLER, Pres. Iowa T. and M. Society.