Tennessee by James S. Washburn

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 30, 1909

Tennessee

By James S. Washburn

MEMPHIS.—Soon after returning from the General Conference we secured a place for our fifty-by-seventy-foot tent, and began meetings July 9. We continued in the first location until September 20, and then moved to the place where we had held our meetings the previous summer.

During the first part of the season we had a good interest, but met with most determined opposition. By false representation the owner of the ground was induced to order us off his lot. He was one of the business men of the city, and lived some distance from the tent location. We secured a large number of signatures to a petition correcting the false statements, and also very favorable letters, one of them from an Episcopal clergyman. After investigating the charges, the owner decided that they were untrue, and granted us permission to remain.

But the opposition took another turn. Ever since the yellow fever panic many years ago in Memphis the city has had very stringent sanitary regulations. On the technical objection that we had no sewerage connected with the tent-master’s tents, after several preliminary threats under pressure of the opposers, the board of health sent us an order to remove our tents, although the inspector had stated that the tents were perfectly sanitary in every respect. The matter was then appealed to the mayor of the city. After a thorough investigation, the mayor gave an emphatic decision in our favor, stating that the opposition was “spite work” based on a technicality wholly beyond the intention of the law.

Thus the opposition failed, and only succeeded in bringing our work to the favorable notice of some of the best people in the city. We believe the Lord has thus made the wrath of man to praise him. Failing thus far in their purpose to stop our work, threats were made, and violence attempted.

In spite of the malignant opposition, several took their stand for the truth, among them an experienced and reputable physician, and his family. The latter part of the tent season we had a most encouraging interest at the site of our first tent-meeting in Memphis.

The tent-meetings closed October 31. Since that time we have held Sunday night and Sabbath meetings in the church, and cottage meetings in the homes of interested ones. The interest is still excellent. Since we began work in Memphis in August, 1908, one hundred seventeen names have been signed to the covenant to “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Seventy-eight of these names are of people who are new Sabbath-keepers. Many others are deeply interested. We have never seen a city more ripe for the truth than Memphis, and it seems as if the work had only begun. The truth has reached people of ability and education, some of them holding responsible positions.

I have never seen a people more ready to give to the work. We have never yet made an appeal for means for the work that has not been granted. We have never found a people more ready to accept the spirit of prophecy and to rejoice in it; never found a people more ready to lay aside jewelry and unnecessary adornment. In short, have never found in all our experience a people more ready to be transformed from the world to become true Seventh-day Adventists, the Lord’s peculiar people, than here in Memphis. As soon as they accept the truth, they begin to work for others. One interesting case I will mention:—

A sister bought the book “Daniel and the Revelation,” and became at once convicted of the truth. She did not know there was a Sabbath-keeper in Memphis. She soon learned that there was a Seventh-day Adventist church in the northern part of the city. She met one of our number on the street-car and came to the Sabbath meeting. Upon returning to her home, she told her daughter that she had found “the people of God.” She began at once to work for her relatives. Now her sister and her sister’s husband, her son and daughter, her nephew and his wife, all people of maturity and of influence, are keeping the Sabbath, and others are “almost persuaded.”

We are greatly blessed in our social meetings, realizing the presence of the Holy Spirit in a marked manner. We have been encouraged in the work in Memphis by a statement in the spirit of prophecy, that if right efforts were put forth, a very large number would accept the truth here, and also by a recent letter from the same source, stating that the “very class of people” foreseen were now accepting the truth.

We believe truly that there can not be found anywhere better material for believers and workers in the last message of mercy, than in the South. While there are difficulties and perplexities here, we know it is a fruitful field. We received $144.43 in donations toward the tent expenses. This was not quite sufficient to cover the expense for the long tent season.

We are grateful to the friends who have sent donations to the tent work.

Since coming to the South, quite a number of friends have helped the evangelical work by contributions. While in Nashville we received from a sister in the truth a gift of three hundred dollars for the tent work. This gift was greatly appreciated.

We have never found the press so willing and ready to publish daily reports of our meetings as here in Memphis. The effect of these reports has been far reaching. A favorable influence for the truth has permeated the city and gone out to other parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, and other States. The Memphis Commercial Appeal, which is one of the strongest papers in the South, has been especially fair and friendly. Brother C. L. Kilgore as tent master, with his wife, and Sister Loveland, rendered most faithful and efficient help in caring for the tent, in the music, in reporting for the papers, and in visiting. We shall not soon forget their faithfulness in times of storm, danger, and bitter opposition.

We earnestly request that every reader of this report will remember the work in the cities of the South.

J. S. WASHBURN.