p. 78 | REPORT FROM THE MISSOURI TENT

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 31, 1869

REPORT FROM THE MISSOURI TENT.

By John Matteson; R. J. Lawrence

The weather is now favorable for tent-meetings. We have missed only one night since we commenced, when we had a rainstorm. Hamilton is a quiet village, situated on the Quincy and St. Joseph R. R., with about one thousand inhabitants. There is a good farming country around, which is mostly settled. We have a beautiful situation for the tent, right by the main street, opposite the M. E. church. There are about ten preachers in the place; some have small congregations, and some none. Besides this, several preachers from other places have appointments here. Religion is very low. They are about gone to sleep. We have had a pretty good attendance so far; from one hundred and fifty, to three hundred. Sunday evening our tent was full, but other meetings very thin. We introduced last evening, the subject of the law of God. The interest seems to be increasing. No opposition manifested yet. We have had good liberty in presenting the truth so far. Pray for us, that good may be done in the name of Jesus.

JOHN MATTESON, Hamilton, Mo., Aug. 4, 1869. R. J. LAWRENCE.

LATER.—Under date of Aug. 17, Bro. Matteson again writes:

We are still preaching in the tent at Hamilton. This is the fourth week since we came here. We did not think this a very good opening when we first commenced. Yet, under the circumstances, we thought it duty to give this place a trial. We have had a good hearing, but there seems to be very little disposition to obey, the minds of the people are so taken up with the world. Last first-day evening we had about three hundred in the tent, while in the M. E. church there were only eighteen, and at other places no meeting. There are ten preachers in the place. Their only argument against us is, to let us alone. We took a vote, and between thirty and forty voted in favor of the Sabbath, but only two, as yet, have decided to obey.

There are other places where there seem to be good openings, but we have decided to remain here a week or two longer, at least, that we may not lose what little we have already gained. Our tent was badly torn in a storm the other night, and we have a good deal of patching to keep the old thing together. Things do not look encouraging; crops poor, means scarce, little sale of books, yet the Lord is good; we enjoy his favor, and feel willing to labor through evil and good report.

Pray for us, that the Lord may direct and bless, and we be prepared to meet him in peace.