KANSAS by J. H. Cook; Alice B. Wilson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, March 10, 1885.

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 10. Whole No. 1605.

KANSAS

By J. H. Cook; Alice B. Wilson

AMONG THE CHURCHES.—Since my return from General Conference I have not been idle, although I have not reported. I have visited extensively among the churches and at interested points. Of some I will speak.

Emporia, a city of about 10,000 souls, is being worked up as a special mission. Bro. Staggs and wife are in charge. Bro. G. H. Rogers is now holding a series of meetings to ascertain the results of the missionary labor. So far, about seventeen have been added to the company, which numbered about fifteen or twenty when the mission began. Quite an interest is created in the city. The Young Men’s Christian Association are rallying to the battle, and the ministers are following their example. We hope all will go well. The outlook for the company at Emporia is encouraging.

I was at Ottawa, Feb. 7, 8, with Elds. John Gibbs and S. K. Gibson. The new house of worship was dedicated. The brethren there have built a church that is a model of neatness and economy; and although their numbers are small, the debt unprovided for is less than $100.

At Topeka, Feb. 14, 15, there was a good turnout from sister churches. We think the meeting was one of profit. Officers were set apart by laying on of hands. The church here appears to be gaining in spiritual strength as well as in numbers. Eld. S. K. Gibson met with me there, and did good service in preaching the word. The brethren seemed much encouraged. Topeka is a good field for missionary labor, there being about 25,000 inhabitants. We hope the present season will witness active missionary labors all through the capital city of our State. Preparations are already being made for that work. I was at Clay Center, Feb. 18. The tract system of missionary work has been employed in this city of about 4,000 inhabitants, Bro. C. F. Hall and wife leading the work. Eld. G. H. Rogers helped to close it up with a series of meetings which brought in from fifteen to twenty. These, in addition to the nine that were keeping the Sabbath before, make quite a company at Clay Center.

The meetings at Osawkee and Palermo were interesting, some coming to Osawkee forty miles with teams on one of the coldest days of the winter. I think the Lord so rewarded them that they felt that their efforts had not been in vain. Palermo had been neglected most of the year, so far as ministerial labor was concerned; but it was cheering to hear the hearty responses made to the plain truths presented from both the Scriptures and the testimonies for this time. As they drew near to God, it was also pleasant to see their endeavors to give of their substance to help forward the work of God, both by pledges and ready means.

May the Lord bless the Kansas churches. They have suffered from a lack of ministerial labor this winter. During the last year our work has enlarged twofold, all our ministers being kept busy the past summer in tent labor, and in following up the interest created by missionary workers. When cold weather came, and with it a time in which they could labor more profitably in carrying forward the work of the summer, and strengthening the churches that had been left nearly alone during that time, we found about one-fourth of our ministerial forces gone. The churches and new companies are calling for help,—much needed help; but in many cases we are powerless to respond favorably. We scatter our forces in the summer, expecting every man to stand at his post. We suppose each one thinks he is doing his duty; but at the same time all must see it is wrong to leave work in an unfinished state. Now this all may be for the best; but if so, it leaves the Conference Committees in a very perplexing condition to be in constant receipt of calls for help, and powerless to reply favorably because their ministerial forces are laboring in other fields. I hope a favorable breeze may waft ours home as soon as it is pleasing to the Good Shepherd for them to return and care for their sheep.

Feb. 20. J. H. COOK.

HEALED IN ANSWER TO PRAYER.

I have been thinking for some time that I would like to tell the whole world, if I could, what the Lord has done for me, hoping that some might thus be induced to have more faith in the promises of God. For more than a year I had been afflicted with that dread disease, a cancer; and human aid having failed to give any permanent relief, it seemed that my only hope was in God.

While attending the Maine camp-meeting, we felt to follow the directions of the apostle James, to call for the elders of the church to pray for my recovery. Sept. 13 several of the brethren met with us, and offered prayer in my behalf. They felt that the Lord granted their petitions, and that in his own good time I would recover. From that time I began to improve; all pain and soreness have disappeared, and my health is better than it has been for a long time. I cannot find words to express how thankful I feel for such a blessing to so unworthy a creature as myself. “Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” I have not used any medicine since that time, and yet have worked very hard. I feel it a pleasure to use the strength the Lord has given me in caring for my family, and in doing what I can to spread the light of present truth.

I have a great desire that every one may exercise full faith in the Bible, believe that all of the commandments are binding, and realize that in order to claim the promises of God as ours, we must comply with all of his requirements. The promise is, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” I desire an interest in the prayers of all, that I may ever be faithful, and live to the honor and glory of God, so that I may be gathered with the redeemed when Jesus comes.

East Fryeburg, Me. ALICE B. WILSON.