A new Christian was walking with a more mature friend in a garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about God's will for his life, he inquired what he should do.His friend walked up to a rosebush, handed him a rosebud, and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.

The new Christian looked in disbelief at his friend and tried to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF GOD for his life. But because of his high respect for his friend proceeded to TRY to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact. It wasn't long before he realized how impossible it was.

Noticing the younger Christian's inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, his friend began to recite the following poem...

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of GOD's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of GOD's design,
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day.
I will look to him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me,
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

The Seventh Day Baptist Church of Dane County
A PRESENTATION OF SCOTT SMITH, HISTORIAN

at the 140th Anniversary of the
Albion Seventh Day Baptist Church.

January 22, 1983

Most of the original members of this church, which was first called the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Dane County, came from western New York state. The first settler in Albion was Freeborn Sweet. Like many others to come, Sweet came to Wisconsin from New York. He left Oneida County, New York and made his home on the West Side of the Rock River in August 1841.

 In Rev. Don Sanford’s book "A Free People in Search of a Free Land," he points out some of the difficulties that settlers were encountering in New York.

"Most of the farms in the Appalachian region were small and often quite steep. Little was known of soil conservation, thus as the timber was cleared erosion was soon to follow, further depleting the topsoil. Something of the hardship of farming in the Alfred (New York) area was included in the obituary of Rev. Oliver Perry Hull, the first pastor of the Albion, Wisconsin church who was born in Berlin, but moved to Alfred in 1814 with his family. It was written:

"It was no easy task for the family to subdue a farm in that new country, and on the hill sides covered with stones and large trees. To the boy it was severe exercise to fell the forest, roll the logs together and burn the brush, besides plowing among the stumps, roots and stones, and gathering the scant harvests. Such work is better known by an eastern than by a western settler."

By the 1830’s, many farmers in Western New York were giving up. They had plowed the hillsides, their soil had washed away and their crops would not feed their families.

When the Blackhawk Wars in Wisconsin ended in 1835, soldiers returned to the East with reports of crystal clear rivers, lush prairies and endless timber. The major Indian threat in the area, Chief Blackhawk, had been defeated and southern Wisconsin open for settlement.

It was almost too good to be true. Farmers scratching out a living in the hills of New York saw a very good reason to risk the perils of the trail.

The first Seventh Day Baptist to answer the call of Wisconsin’s open land was Joseph Goodrich. A financial depression in 1836 and crop failures in 1837 helped to make up his mind to move westward. Goodrich’s trip was typical of the trials that could be found in traveling overland. Many of the early Albion settlers probably suffered similar hardships.

Once again from Sanford’s book we read:

"January 30, 1839 Mr. Goodrich started for Wisconsin with his family, consisting of his wife, son and daughter, three hired men and one woman, and four companions from Alfred, New York, with four teams and covered wagons mounted on sleighs, by the overland route. The snow was four feet deep and on the first day’s journey, Mr. Goodrich’s spring wagon, with himself and family, tipped over, breaking Mrs. Goodrich’s collar bone in such a manner, that the surgeon, after repeated efforts, could not set it, and bandaged it so as to hold it in place. Thus she was obliged to ride with it loose in a sling. Thus they passed through the deep snow drifts of winter and the mud of spring: through the great Maumee Swamp, where there were thirty one taverns in just thirty miles: breaking through the ice in the Calumet River, where one horse was drowned: passing through a vast sea of mud, in the center of which a little city called Chicago stood: fording icegorged rivers and creeks, where the bridges were washed away, in one of which Mrs. Maxson fell out and was submerged: Mr. Goodrich carrying a kicking calf on a teetering pole over Turtle Creek, while a bellowing cow swan the stream: and at last arriving at the little red house out on the wild prairie, March 4, 1839 after a journey of thirty four days."

Genesis 12:7 says, "but the Lord appeared to Abram and said, to your offspring I will give this land. " so he built an alter there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. "

Just as Abram had sought a place to worship God in his wanderings, so the early settlers of Albion quickly turned their attention to the Lord after arriving in their new home.

In September of 1842, Jesse Saunders and Duty J. Green arrived from Allegany County, New York. Recognizing that there was a need for a church, they called upon the Milton church. which had been in existence for only three years, to assist them. It is clear from the record books of the Milton and Albion churches that the Albion church was not organized by the Milton church as scholars have asserted. It was a cooperative effort.

The record book of the Milton Seventh Day Baptist church states:

"January 18, 1843 —— meeting in the home of William D. Stillman, Moderator —— A request was received from the brethren on the west—side of Rock River for counsel in regard to forming a Seventh Day Baptist Church in Dane County. The church took up the subject for consideration. (It was) voted, that the church appoint a counsel of seven. (The members were) William Stillman, Elder Stillman Coon, Elder Daniel Babcock, John Stillman, Henry B Crandall, Henry Green and Joseph Goodrich. (The church canceled meetings for the morning of January 22) The committee met in Dane County on the 22nd of January, 1843 and organized a church of 30 members of the Seventh Day Baptist Denomination."

That record book should have shown 29 members of the newly organized church. The assertion that Milton’s council of seven "organized" the church is too strong. However, it is undeniable that Milton had a powerful effect on the beginnings of Albion. Seven of the constituent members of the Albion church were also constituent members of the Milton church. One in particular, Mr. Solomon Head, was not only a constituent member of the Milton church, but a moderator of the church and a member of the committee to write the Milton’s constitution and choose its first deacon. When the opportunity arose to begin a church on the West Side of the river, he joined with the brethren and became a member of Albion.

Many other Seventh Day Baptist churches gave up prominent members when the new church in Dane County organized. If seven of Albion’s first members came from Milton, where did the other 22 constituent members come from?

Almost without exception, the other 22 members came from various Seventh Day Baptist churches of New York state. Their journeys are too complicated to recount in detail, however a few moments of retracing the steps of Albion ‘s founders will tell us much about our forefather’s pioneer spirit. This church was, indeed, built by pioneers.

Charles and Phebe Coon were the ninth and tenth signers of the Dane County church’s membership roles. Reading from the Sabbath Recorder of 1878 we find :that Phebe was "converted under the preaching of Elder Jacob Ayers, and baptized by him and received into the Alfred (NY) Church. From Alfred she went with her husband to Albion, Wisconsin, then to Alden, Minn., and lastly to Calamus, Nebraska.... Though never able to attend service at the North Loup church, she sent in her letter, with that of her husband, and was received into its fellowship with him, by her request. ... She was buried in the North Loup cemetery."

Though it is not mentioned in her obituary, her husband, Charles, was one of the Milton church’s organizing members. The Coons were founding members of 1st Alfred, NY, Albion, WI, and Alden, MN before joining the North Loup church.

A similar trail was left by Solomon Head and his wife, Sarah Coon Head. Sarah joined the Petersburgh SDB church at the age of 10, moved to Alfred in 1812, helped to found the 1st Alfred church in 1816 and the 2nd Alfred church in 1831. In 1840, she and her husband were founding members of the Milton church and later were constituting members here in Albion.

The Sabbath Recorder said of her, "Thus she had for sixty-three years been a Christian on earth, and a pioneer member of four of the largest and most flourishing churches in the Seventh Day Baptist denomination. She was verily a mother in Israel, and a friend and comforter to many a new comer to the western country.

The plain statistics are that among the 29 original members of this church, were 11 who had formed other Seventh Day Baptist churches on their way west. From only 29 members had come 22 signers of original articles of faith for our churches. 1st Alfred, 2nd Alfred, Scio, 3rd Brookfield and Milton——all gave up founders when Albion began its work.

They were, indeed, pioneers and church planters. Our efforts to begin new churches are pale next to our forefathers’ efforts to begin churches in each village that they called home.

The Seventh Day Baptist Church of Dane County was welcomed into the General Conference on August 6, 1843. Rev. O. P. Hull was the church’s first regular pastor and was paid the sum of $200 per year. In those first years, the church called up James Weed to be a deacon. When the village of Albion opened a post office, the name was changed.

Seventh Day Baptist periodicals from this period are studded with reports from southern Wisconsin churches. This was the frontier——the mission field. Settlers were flooding into the area and with the tide came many members of other SDB churches. By 1847 the church’s rolls included 79 names——more than doubling in just 5 years. At 10 years, the church had grown to 187 members.

Pastor T. E. Babcock took over the church’s leadership in 1855. It was reported to the Sabbath Recorder that the church included "three weekly prayer meetings and three Sabbath Schools." The church was also very active in the work of the new Albion Academy...which was chartered in 1853.

It is hard to imagine the explosion of growth that was going on during these years. Seventh Day Baptists were coming from the east in increasing numbers, drawn by letters in the Sabbath Recorder that spoke of the fine farm land in Wisconsin and the high quality of the education to be had at the academy.

Revival also played an important part in the early growth of the church. In 1858, when Albion was 15 years old, Pastor T. E. Babcock reported that during revival meetings held in the Academy’s chapel—60 souls had been added to the membership—including 36 by baptism.

"Those who have long foregone the privileges of Christian fellowship," Babcock wrote, "have come into the church and manifested not only a desire to enjoy those privileges, but a willingness to shoulder the responsibilities connected with them. Sinners have been converted, and sought the fellowship and watch-care of the people of God."

By 1861, the Albion congregation had completely outgrown the chapel at the academy and had begun work on a church building. By the time this building was dedicated in 1863, 278 souls were worshipping here. At the same time, the Civil War began calling young men away. Some from this church never returned. The church was reaching out in missionary efforts toward Minnesota, Iowa and Kansas. Locally, the academy had gained the reputation of providing one of the finest educations in that state.

Southern Wisconsin was becoming very settled by 1867 when the Albion Seventh Day Baptist Church reached its peak of 383 members

Men began to return from the war--they had seen new places and the itch to move was strong in many mid-western communities. The pioneer spirit was still alive. Gradually, the size of the church declined. Perhaps the neighbor’s farm was just too close. Whatever the reason, the peace following the Civil War brought a new westward expansion. Churches in Minnesota, such as Isanti, Twin Cities, Freeborn and Dodge Center, began to grow. Grand Junction, Garwin and Welton, lowa--Pardee, Kansas--all gained by the second wave of western expansion. Even some of Albion’ s founders chose to press toward the frontier. Charles and Phebe Coon left for Alden, Minnesota. James Weed went to Freeborn, Minnesota. Why did they leave Albion? We cannot be entirely sure. But it is likely that the same reasons that pushed them from New York prodded them onward. They were settlers--but not the type to ‘ settle down.’’ Just like Abram of the Old Testament, they built a place to worship and then "set out and continued toward the ,Negev. "

Where is our frontier today? There is no mission field to the west, yet we can continue to be pioneers. Albion’s founders set a fine example for us. Reaching out to new places is a high calling...but today... reaching out to a neighbor may just be our frontier. Is there a wilderness around you? Be a pioneer like Jesse Saunders, Duty Green or Solomon Head. Albion s opportunities are greater than ever: "And all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you." 

reprinted from http://www.inwave.com/churches/albionsdb/Albion-02.html.

A Mother is more than a Memory

contributed by Robert D. Spreadborough

Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said: "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning." But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, "A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you." And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said," This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today I have given them strength."

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth , clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: "Look up. Lift your eyes to the light." And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the Mother said, " This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God."

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide.

And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them." And the children said, You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates. And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still.

A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence." Your Mother is always with you She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street,she's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks,she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well. Your Mother lives inside your laughter And she's crystalized in every tear drop. She's the place you came from, your first home; And she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you... Not time, not space... not even death!

(Author Unknown)

The Morality of the Sabbath

by Chris Teske

In my years of knowing and sharing the truth of God's word with others, I thought that I had heard all the reasons that could be presented against the observance of the Sabbath as detailed in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20: 8-11), until this one. I cannot quote the argument word for word, but the focus of attention was directed against keeping the Sabbath because it was asserted that while the other nine commandments have to do with morality, the fourth does not.

To understand this better, we first need to examine the word "moral" and discover its close associate "morality." Moral means: Of or relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior. Morality is a doctrine or system of moral conduct. We can see that both of these words have to do with conduct and behavior.

In the Ten Commandments we find principles that affect our worship of God and our duty to our fellowmen. But to some, right in the middle is this Sabbath commandment; and it seems to them that it would be much better if it weren't there.

We know we are to worship God, and not bow down to idols. Speaking God's name in an irreverent manner isn't appropriate. Honoring your parents is good. As for killing, most people will agree that we should not kill. There are still people today who believe in the sacredness of marriage and the family unit and would uphold it until death would part them. Stealing is not a good thing to practice, because it brings loss and hurt to others, and sorrow to yourself, if you get caught. Lying and coveting things that aren't yours have long been known to present problems in every society, even though people still do these things.

Most people would agree that the foundation of the Ten Commandments has helped keep our country together; and the world recognizes their value in theory, if not always in practice.

The Sabbath, however, has long been an issue in many minds as to whether it should be kept or not, which day it really is, and whether we are still bound to hold it as an important principle of God's kingdom.

What does the Sabbath have to do with our behavior and moral conduct? To answer this question we will turn to the Scriptures. In 1Thessalonians 4:3 we read:

"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification..."

Sanctification is the process whereby God prepares us for eternity. We cannot enter heaven today, because our sins have not yet been overcome; and no sin will be allowed in that holy place. Sanctification is the work of setting God's people apart for a holy purpose. It takes a lifetime to mature and perfect our characters so we may fill the place the Lord would have us fill, and so we may see, and be with, Him forever. We know, too, that sin is rebellion against God and His law. It is the highest form of treason against His government. God's will is that in this life we prove ourselves true in every way to all His commands and show that we can be trusted to be faithful beyond a shadow of a doubt both now and in the new world, where sin will never rise again. Jesus prayed that the will of His Father might be done:

...as in heaven, so in earth.... Luke 11:2

If we love God, it will be our delight to obey Him in whatever He commands. When we relate these things to the Sabbath, we can see that God commanded it for a purpose. It is His will. The very first word of the fourth commandment, lest we forget, is "Remember." It was to be remembered from the start - when it was first given at creation - as a memorial of His creative power, declaring that He is the only God of the universe. In observing the Sabbath according to the commandment, we show that we recognize His ownership of the world and of our lives. We acknowledge Him as our Lord and God and show that we are willing to be obedient to the direction He has set forth for our good and happiness.

The value of the Sabbath is stated clearly in Exodus 31: 13, 17, 18:

Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you... It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed. And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

If we obey the principles of this commandment according to God's direction, all our conduct and behavior can be brought into harmony with His will. It is the highest form of loyalty to be in complete obedience to the King of the universe, and there is nothing more moral than this.

Reprinted from http://www.oocities.org/visdapoint/sabbathmorality.html

A SPIRITUAL REFLECTION ON OKLAHOMA CITY

written 5 Years ago

Our hearts go out to the many who are suffering as a result of the bomb that so devastated their lives. What can be said? A passage of scripture comes to mind: Ephesians 6:12. If our battle was simply against earthly forces, we would be tempted to believe our human strength could prevail. But even in this terrible situation, we must trust in the Lord to work it out. I pray that as a result many will be drawn close to Him for spiritual strength and comfort.

-reprinted from the FNN May, 1995

"Go ye therefore…"

Our own Jeffrey Hazen is going to Kitwe, Zambia, to work for Jesus!

Trip dates: April 2 to ?? (probably January 2, 2001)

Activities: The building project would involve:

• Construction of the SDB Headquarters in Zambia
• Main church assembly hall
• Two pastor's houses and a caretaker's house
• Pre-school education classes

Plus outreach evangelism with the Zambian youth in:

• Open evangelistic activities
• Door-to-door evangelism
• Rural-urban evangelism

Approximate cost: $10,000-$20,000 for building supplies

If you'd like to use your God-given gifts to partner with Jeff and Christ on this mission, please prayerfully contribute any amount to the SDB Missionary Society at 119 Main St., Westerly, RI 02891.

Please also inform yourself and consider other SDB mission projects, such as the construction of the Maiden Hall Conference and Camp Center in Jamaica.

-reprinted from The March Lead On

The current issues of FN are no longer posted on the Denver Seventh Day Baptist Church forMinistry.com web site.
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