Report from Bro. Sanborn.
By Isaac Sanborn
Bro. White: Since my last report from here, I have preached twenty-four times in Tafton and vicinity. Last first-day I preached in the hall at Tafton; and although there was meeting at the Baptist church at the same hour, we had a very large congregation deeply interested. God gave me great freedom in showing them the perpetuity of his holy Sabbath. At the close of the meeting I took an expression to see how many believed that the seventh day was the Sabbath of the Lord, and was binding on God's people. More than fifty arose. We then repaired to the water, where in the presence of a large assembly, two were baptized. All things considered, our meetings that day were most triumphant. Just how many are keeping the Sabbath I do not know, but there are about thirty, and many others are almost persuaded. I sold about seventy dollars worth of publications, and obtained nine more subscribers for the Review, making fourteen in all since I came here. The Baptists allowed me to preach in their church as long as they thought it would do, then turned the key, notifying me that I could preach there no longer. I then went into the Seminary, but was soon shut out of that also. Then I went back into the hall. Both ministers of the place have opposed with all their might, but on the sly. Notwithstanding I tried to have them make an honorable defense in my presence, they would not, but went around crying, Infidelity, Atheism, &c. Poor men. I pity them, and pray the Lord to open their eyes before it is too late. The Baptists had a choir of noble singers; and after three of the leading members had embraced the Advent doctrine, some of the most prejudiced of the Baptist church being afraid that they would sing some of the Advent hymns, managed to break up the choir, intending to get up a new one; but in that they failed entirely, so their melodeon stands there silent, and their singers too. Oh, how they fulfill prophecy. See Isa. lxvi. "Your brethren that cast you out said, Let the Lord be glorified, but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed." There are two other points within a few miles of Tafton where the people are anxious for meetings; and the Lord willing, after a few weeks I expect to return to this field of labor. Till then I hope those who have commenced keeping all God's commandments will study the word of God, and watch and pray that they may grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, and let their light so shine before men that they may see their good works and be constrained to glorify God, by obeying the truth; also that when Jesus comes we may all be ready to be gathered to the new Jerusalem. Tafton, Grant Co., Wis., Dec. 13, 1865.