p. 136 | REPORT FROM THE IOWA TENT

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 18, 1868

REPORT FROM THE IOWA TENT.

By M. E. Cornell; Geo. I. Butler

We are still laboring on here in Brighton, with encouraging omens on every hand. We have been here now nearly eight weeks, and still there is a good degree of interest. Last evening the tent was nearly full of interested listeners. We have given the Sabbath question a very thorough examination, and have closed our argument on that subject, many of the citizens thinking that arguing against the Sunday institution now is a good deal like kicking a dead carcase, for with the thinking, reasonable, investigating portion of the community, Sunday is dead here beyond a hope of a resurrection. People will refrain from labor on that day, and close their places of business; but no sanctity can attach to it hereafter with the mass of the people here. That question is settled. It is the Sabbath of the Lord, or no holy day.

We have also reined up the people on the messages and Advent doctrine very strongly, till the minds of many are convinced, so far as theory is concerned. As near as we can learn, from seventy to eighty are nominally keeping the Sabbath here as the result of our labors, and we hear of some new ones nearly every day.

But we do not wish the friends of the cause to think the work here is greater than it is, or get too favorable an idea of it; for with the great mass of these it is yet but a head conversion. We have not seen the movings of the Spirit here, converting the hearts and making them all over new, that we so deeply desire to see, only

in a few cases. We see that the work is a great one here, and it has been argument, argument, till we who are laboring feel greatly in need of more of the precious Spirit of God ourselves; and we do long to see it in others.

The omens are good; there is a good foundation to build upon, and we can but hope the Lord will mightily work here, and many souls will be fully converted to God. But who is sufficient for these things? We who are laboring here, anxiously desire the prayers of those who have faith, that God's Spirit may be given to help us in this great work.

We have many perplexing questions to meet here. One is, what we are going to do in regard to a place to hold meetings in after the tent is removed. Sometimes we think we shall have to stop and help build a meeting-house. It is a question that has caused us much anxiety. Our Sabbath School and Bible Class is a source of anxiety also. Last Sabbath we had three classes; over fifty grown people in one, some twenty small children in another, and between thirty and forty larger ones in another. How to interest all these bright-eyed little ones without question books, is the problem.

Then there is the Hymn-book question. We have a half dozen old, worn-out Hymn Books, and neither love nor money can procure more at present, while there are many inquiring for Hymn Books, and many who could and would be glad to assist us in singing if they only had the books. We trust the powers that be will bring out the Hymn Book as quickly as possible, consistently with other branches of the work.

There are several points around us where there are good openings and great anxiety to have us pitch the tent, and we should be very glad to hold one more meeting this tent season, but duty seems clear to remain here till the way opens to leave. The sound of this meeting has gone all around. One man last week came with his family fifteen miles on purpose to see and hear for himself what our views were, and he is very anxious to have us go to that part of the country.

We have now come to that point in our labors where we shall introduce the subject of the gifts. There has been quite a desire to obtain the books on that subject already, but we thought we had not better hand them out till the subject is presented from the stand. Then we shall supply all who desire.

We were somewhat amused with one circumstance that occurred here. A person who is strongly opposed to us felt anxious to keep his wife away from the tent. So he obtained Vol. 1 and 2 from a minister in the place, and gave it to his wife to read, thinking that would turn her away surely. But “those visions” which he thought would disgust her so, most deeply interested her. She thought it was one of the best books she ever saw. We have no doubt it will be so in many instances. In fact, we hope the Spirit of God will witness to them and that they will accomplish much good. We know that spirituality and light shine out from them, and we trust this result may be seen here.

Yesterday we closed our meeting in the forenoon by a vote of our congregation, and attended at the congregationalist church. The Elder had given out that he should speak on the Sabbath question. When we learned this, we addressed him a note inviting him to take our stand. But he declined, saying their doors were open and pews free. So our congregation packed the house full. The text was one word, “Truth.” Eph. iv, 25. This was all the scripture there was in the whole discourse. But he said he was only laying the foundation of the institution. He said, “We ignore the position entirely that the Bible is sufficient of itself without other help.” “The Sabbath was binding upon all men in all dispensations.” “The ten commandments the grand epitome of moral law.” But before he got through he said, “If we take the ten commandments as our foundation, we become a Jewish superstructure,” and “any other Sabbath but the first day of the week is sacrilege of the deepest dye.” “That these ‘new doctrines’ led to infidelity;” that “we might just as well try to bring the Devil up out of hell and make him a Christian minister, as to turn the seventh-day Sabbath into a Christian institution.” He told us just how long the world was going to stand. The first coming of Christ was the central point, and as the world was four thousand years old then, of course it has just two thousand one hundred and thirty-two years more to stand. There is no trouble in setting times, therefore, if we only get them off far enough. Another minister in the place has stated his opinion that it would be 360,000 years before it would end. So the doctors hardly agree on that point. The Elder waxed very warm over his subject. In the closing prayer by another minister, he prayed to have the Lord stop the work of these deceivers in this community; mentioned Salt Lake and the great Mormon deception, and compared us to them, &c., &c. Bro. Cornell had good freedom in the afternoon in reviewing this discourse before a large and interested audience. The work is onward here. The minds of the candid are favorable to the work, and all the ministers of the place cannot stop it. All kinds of false reports are in circulation. In short, the enemy is aroused. We feel the need of wisdom and discretion, to so manage matters that the greatest good may result. We ask the prayers of God's people.

M. E. CORNELL, GEO. I. BUTLER.

Brighton, Iowa, Aug. 10, 1868.