Meetings in Wisconsin by Isaac Sanborn

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 29, 1870

Meetings in Wisconsin.

By Isaac Sanborn

We have now held meetings here five weeks. We commenced in the Christian meeting-house, in Day Hollow; but as the Christian people got alarmed at the interest that was raised in a few days, they locked up the house. We then commenced meetings in Kickapoo Center, about four miles from the meeting-house. Bro. Downer preached there, while I staid and watched the movement of things in the meetings at the meeting-house held by the Christian people, which, however, soon closed for the want of interest. I then commenced holding meetings in an old log school-house, which continued five evenings, when a discussion was entered into between Eld. Babb, Disciple, and myself, which lasted five days, two sessions each day, of two hours each. This was held in the meeting-house. I affirmed that the Bible teaches that the seventh-day Sabbath was made at creation, and, by virtue of the fourth commandment of the decalogue, is binding on Jew and Gentile.

Eld. Babb affirmed that the Bible teaches that the first-day called Sunday, is the Lord's day, and that the Lord's people should keep it holy as a day of worship.

It is not necessary for me to say how the discussion ended. But many left the last session well satisfied that the seventh-day is the Sabbath of the Lord, and that Sunday has no higher authority than the Roman Catholic church.

The result of our labors here, as far as we know at present, is, that about thirty are keeping the Sabbath, and many are deeply convicted and almost persuaded to obey. We pray that they may remember that they are in the valley of decision, and that the day of the Lord is near; and therefore, they should speedily obey the Lord. We have organized the Sabbath-keepers here into a prayer and social meeting society, and appointed a leader, till we can return. We go from here to-morrow, to Sand Prairie, to spend Sabbath and first-day, March 19 and 20, and on the 22d, I expect to reach home, having been absent over five months, preaching the third angel's message. I trust my labor has done much good. About fifty have embraced the Sabbath, while more than one hundred more have been deeply convicted that it is the truth. We have given away about thirty dollars' worth of tracts, and sold about twenty-five dollars' worth. On account of the scarcity of money, we have not obtained many subscribers for the REVIEW, but we think times will be better next summer. Bro. Downer has rendered me much aid in these meetings. He will still continue with me. Pray for us, that the Lord may give us wisdom. ISAAC SANBORN.

Vernon Co., Wis., March 17, 1870.