THE SABBATH-SCHOOL MISSION WORK OF JOSEPH BROWN

In Clark County, Wisconsin

Contributed by Wayne Opelt and transcribed by Janet.

MY BOYS ARE GROWING UP AND THEY ARE NOT TURNING OUT WELL.

December, 1890

The following touching and suggestive incident occurred on this wise: It was on a Saturday, in the month of December; the ground was covered with snow to the depth of four inches. At 10 A. M. I stopped at a small town called Unity. From that place I started to walk directly east into the country to the Allen settlement, a distance of four miles. As I walked along I met a farmer and I greeted him with a cheerful "Good-morning, my friend."  He kindly returned the salutation and a conversation was begun. I told him who I was and the purpose of my coming--to visit the Allen Sabbath- School and also to hold service. He replied, , I was at the Sabbath-School last Sabbath, and, if spared, I will be there tomorrow." Then, looking at me very earnestly in the face, he said, , Friend, why did not you or some one else come out years ago and start Sabbath-Schools in these settlements ? My home is three and a half miles farther out than the Allen's settlement, and I have lived twelve years there destitute of all means of grace, and my boys are growing up and they are not turning out well." As he spoke tears dropped from his check. Such grief was to me a sure indication that behind these tears there was a sad story, for the men of Wisconsin are by no means soft-hearted. When I reached the Allen settlement I made inquiries as to the ,, boys " and found that one of them was in Wapun prison. On learning this I therefore was better able to grasp the eloquence of the father's tears. Since then another of his , boys " has come under the meshes of the law, charged with its violation. In this incident stand revealed similar conditions that can be counted by the hundreds all over this State; and they will remain until such time as the Sabbath-School missionary finds them out, and helps them to help themselves by the fourfold means at his disposal, viz.: Organization of Sabbath-Schools; house-to-house visitation; distribution of Bibles, books, and tracts; and frequent revisitation and evangelistic services. 

By these applied means of grace, accompanied with the blessing of God, these moral deserts are being transformed and made beautiful with the flowers of virtue.

THE FIRST SABBATH-SCHOOL MISSION CHAPEL BUILT JULY, 1890.

Sabbath last was a day to be remembered by the people living in the McGregor District. On that day the McGregor Sabbath-School Mission of the Presbyterian Church was duly opened and dedicated. The services of the day were three in number, all of which were numerously attended and much appreciated. They were conducted by myself, assisted by Rev. Mr. Child, of Plainfield. The objects aimed at by the erection of this chapel are to provide suitable accommodation for the Sabbath-School of the district, which for several years past has been held in the grove, and to afford means of frequent services to meet the spiritual wants of the people. The building is the property of the Presbyterian Church, and will always be open to the preachers of the Congregational, Baptist, and Methodist churches. Wenonah, New Jersey, Sabbath- School gave the handsome sum of $140.00 to help in its erection. The Ladies' Missionary Society of the Central Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia gave $33.00 to build a chimney and put in a stove in order to heat the church. All honor to them!

A PHOTOGRAPH OF SABBATH-SCHOOL MISSION WORK.

September 18, 1890--I rode sixteen miles on the stage, over a rough road, to Maple Works, in Clark County. The time was 3 o'clock P. M. The day was warm and sultry. The clouds began gathering in a threatening manner, indicating the approach of a thunderstorm. I had a walk of nine miles before me in order to reach the interior of the country. As is my custom, I made calls on the different families as I passed along, and left with each some suitable reading for young and old. I had walked two-thirds of the way when the thunderstorm came on in all its fury. Hail and rain came down in torrents. I took shelter in the first house I came to. Darkness came on, the rain continued, the lightning flashed, and the thunder rolled. What was I to ho for lodging? I could not stop where I was, for the good reason that there were no suitable accommodations.

I faced the storm and went forward to a house a mile farther on, where I felt sure the inmates would kindly lodge me for the night. In this I was not disappointed. It was a humble home, but I was entertained right royally. The good people had loving hearts, and did their best to make me comfortable. The Lord will reward them for all their kindness to his servant.

Friday, September 19, 1890--The rain was still falling, and the roads deep in mud and water. I must go forward to Spokeville, five miles distant. The road lay through a forest, and was only partially made, and consequently I found the mud and water ankle deep. Rolling up my pantaloons, I waded through, and at last reached my destination, wet and soiled with mud. But the soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the nineteenth century, must be brave and hardy, as they were in the days of old. What are mud and water compared with the experience of Christian workers of the past, of whom it is written in Hebrews 11 :37: 11 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheep- skins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented." Having reached Spokeville, I began my work of house-to-house visitation, and found the people desirous of having a Sabbath-School. At present they have no means of grace among them. I arranged to hold a meeting with them on Sabbath afternoon. On Friday and Saturday nights I held services in another schoolhouse four miles distant.

Sabbath, September 21, 1890--I held a meeting at 3 o'clock P. m. in Spokeville schoolhouse, which was filled to the door. I had a short service, then an address on the benefits of Sabbath-Schools as a means of grace for all. At the close a Sabbath-School was organized, officers elected, lesson papers given, and arrangements made to meet the next Sabbath at 3 I'. u- Thus it is that the work is begun, so full of important results to children and parents. I left the people, promising them all the aid I can give. The people feel drawn to the missionary; the missionary to the people. They are not nosy strangers, but friends. All hardships are forgotten in the success that has attended this work for Jesus.

WE CANNOT BUT SPEAK OF THE THINGS WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD

May 28th, 1891--We cannot but speak of the things we have seen and heard." This day we entered a new and needy field in the southern part of Clark County, called Dell's Dam. This district is as far as settlers have yet gone. I reached the district early in the afternoon, went straight to the little schoolhouse, had an interview with the teacher, and arranged to have a meeting in the evening, and gave notice of the same to the children to take home to their fathers and mothers.

Having gained information as to the locations of the different settlers, I set out to visit them. Particular and kindly visitation is a first and essential element of successful Sabbath-School mission work. A visit from a Christian worker here is like 11 angels' visits," few and far between. This afternoon I managed to visit eight of these families, all of whom received me joyfully." In each family I spoke kindly and hopefully, gave some reading material, and urged all to come to the meeting. This they promised to do, and they were true to their promise, for at eight o'clock the schoolhouse, lighted up with four,, lamps " brought by the people, was filled. We had a short service, to which the people gave heed. I spoke on the Savior's words in Matthew 6 and 33, and sought to show the need of religion as an element in every life, from childhood onward. A Sabbath-School was organized under the care of two of the best adapted to the work to be found among the people. One of them was a member of a church at Neillsville. All seemed pleased at the result, and so was I. I promised to help them all I could, and urged them to help themselves. Everywhere I go planting Sabbath-Schools the anxious question is always put: "How long will it be before you come again to visit us and have meetings ? "  What is needed is more frequent service, whereby instruction and inspiration are given through the agency of the Word preached. The Word of God is the seed which requires to be sown in order to produce a crop of Christians.

May 29th, 1891--I was up early, as usual. Bidding the people, good-bye," I set out to continue the work of visitation and exploration. This last named is very necessary, as so much needs to be known in relation to the spiritual condition of each district. In my survey today, I located another district in which I shall concentrate effort for good. The people are desirous of Christian work. I visited twelve families and two public schools during the day, and arranged for service this evening in the Canfield schoolhouse, another needy district. There was a large attendance, and a deep impression made as to the need of a Sabbath-School for the district. The meeting voted to organize a Sabbath-School. Final arrangements were deferred, owing to difficulty in finding suitable superintendents. Another meeting will be held in two weeks, when it is hoped the difficulty will be overcome. Here, as elsewhere, the fields are white unto harvest. Great and far-reaching evil is being done in all such places on account of the want of Christian agency to direct and mould human life. This condition of things can only be changed by help from without, and that forms the grandeur of our Sabbath-School mission work.

May 30th, 1891, Saturday--I set out in the early morning for the Shortville settlement, with the intention of spending Saturday and Sabbath there. A flourishing Sabbath-School is carried on here, attended by old and young. I found the people thirsting for frequent preaching service. I held two services on the Sabbath, in addition to the Sabbath-School service. All three were well attended, the town hall being filled each time.

The simple, Gospel of Christ " is what is needed to brighten and sweeten the lives and homes of all these people. In all our visitations and meetings it is delightful to see the joy imparted to children, young people, and parents. As a help to the work being done, I have sent two libraries to two of these Sabbath-Schools. This I was enabled to do by gifts from Sabbath-Schools and churches in Philadelphia and vicinity.

This is the record of five days' work done by a Sabbath-School missionary, and is given here in order that a pro .Per estimate of the value of the work may be formed, that your love for it may be deepened, and out of love you may be willing to swell yet higher your gifts in aid of this Christ like work. In your joyful Children's Day services, will you not crown the services by showing in a worthy form how deep your "compassion" is for these millions of children " who have no Sabbath-Schools?

September 5th, 1892--Last Saturday and Sabbath, September 3d and 4th, were red-letter days in the history of the farmers living along the banks of Eau Plaine River. On those days a series of meetings were held in connection with the opening and dedication of a neat and commodious Sabbath- School mission chapel, twenty by thirty feet. All the materials used in the erection of this chapel were kindly provided by the Sabbath-School of the North Broad Street Presbyterian Church, of Philadelphia, which gave $105.00 for that purpose. The people of the settlement did the work. Some days nine men were to be seen employed on it, and the 28 day before these services the mothers turned out in force to give it Some finishing touches for the occasion. The dedication Services took place on Sabbath at, 3 P. M., when every seat was filled. Some of those present came a distance of six miles. I was assisted by Rev. J. Bigger, pastor of Colby. At this service the chapel was duly named, "The Eau Plaine Harper Memorial Sabbath-School Mission Chapel," this by request and in honor of the donors. A thank-offering to our Church's Sabbath-School Mission Work, amounting to theme dollars and twenty-one cents, was taken up. Four persons were baptized, this being the first service of the kind ever administered in the district. By the erection of this chapel the people of this needy locality are enabled to re-open their Sabbath-School, and have occasional service; with no interference. As a fitting crown to this noble work, a lady belonging to the 'Presbyterian church of Bryn Mawr, Pa,, has kindly and unexpectedly promised to send a new organ, which will be placed in the new chapel as soon as it comes. Thus the lives of these people have been brightened and their hearts made glad. Thus it is that Christ's plan is being accomplished.