Shelby, Michigan by Philip Strong

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 24, 1871

Shelby, Michigan.

By Philip Strong

Since my last report, Nov. 1, I continued the meetings in Shelby, till Dec. 7. The house was full most of the time. Many admitted that we have the truth, but show by their actions that they are not willing to obey it.

Much opposition was manifested by the ministers. One discourse was given against our view of the nature of man, by a Spiritualist, and three, by three different ministers, against the Sabbath.

I reviewed two of them; but the third did not need a reply, as the man preached till every one left the house in disgust, those that sent for him going first. They now have regular Sabbath meetings, and Sabbath-school, eight meeting together, with their children.

While holding meetings there, I also continued to meet with the brethren in Claybanks. As soon as I left this place, the M. E. minister gave out that he would preach, at his regular appointment, three sermons on the Christian Sabbath.

I thought it duty to return and hear him. The most of the first was an excellent discourse on the perpetuity of the Sabbath in all ages, and to all nations. But in referring to Isa. 56: 6, and Ps. 118: 24, he said that “Christ took a common day and made a sanctified day of it.” And that since that time, we are therefore commanded to keep holy the first day of the week.

The elder hoped that they would be no more “taunted with,” “Where is the text for the Christian Sabbath?” Certainly the Lord has spoken of such teachers, Eze. 22: 26: “Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.”

In his second discourse he promised to bring forward testimony from the New Testament, that the first day of the week is the Sabbath; but he failed on every point. Matt. 9: 14, 15, was pressed into service. His argument on this, was, that Christ rested in the tomb over the last Jewish Sabbath that was to be kept, and that then his disciples fasted. (It could not have been a very lengthy fast.) But when the first day of the week came, they kept a festival day, or the day that he had made and sanctified as a Sabbath.

He did not tell them that not one of his disciples believed that he was raised till the close of that day, and therefore could not be keeping it. But he closed with declaring his arguments unanswerable.

I gave out that I would preach the next evening, and review the discourse the next Sunday.

Monday evening, on going to my appointment, I found the house locked, and quite a large congregation gathered at the door for meeting. Every lawful step was taken to get in, but failed; and as there was a beautiful moon, though somewhat chilly, I spoke to them by moonlight on the green from this text, 2 Cor. 13: 8: “For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

I had the house to review his discourse the next Sabbath, and found in his unanswerable arguments, forty-two palpable contradictions.

This opposition has caused some of the halting ones to decide for the truth. Others are interested; but we now have no place for meetings but a private house. PHILIP STRONG.