Report from Bro. Strong.
By P. Strong
SINCE my last report at the close of my Odessa meetings, I have met with that church twice. Their numbers are so few I advised them to unite with the church at Orange. I have also held a series of meetings in Sebewa, Ionia Co. Much interest was at first manifested to hear. Fifteen decided to obey, and joined with us in the Sabbath-school and Sabbath meetings; but some have turned back. I reviewed one discourse delivered against the Sabbath by Eld. Dorrance. His arguments were weak, but I learned from him a new method of computing time. Argument: “Christ was with his disciples just forty days after his resurrection before his ascension, which was on the first day of the week, or the Christian Sabbath, just five weeks.” Conclusion: “Therefore, when he met with his disciples eight days after his resurrection, it must have been on the Christian Sabbath. Thus making five long weeks, with eight days in each week, to sustain his wrong quotation of the text, John 20 : 26, which says, “And after eight days,” which would necessarily take it beyond the first day of the week.” But let us admit his argument that Christ ascended on the first day of the week (which is not true), making it a Christian Sabbath in the act, or conferring honor on the day by so doing. He175had also Pentecost to come on that day, and God conferring peculiar honor on it by the pouring out of the Spirit. Now, as the day of Pentecost came ten days after his ascension, what conclusion must his congregation come to? It must be this: Before the cross for four thousand years it took seven days to make a week; then for five weeks we have eight days in each weekly cycle, and one week with ten days allotted to it; after which we return to the original mode of seven days to the week; and all this change and stretching of the week is necessary to bring in the first-day Sabbath. In company with Bro. Root, I filled my appointment in Oceana Co. Held six meetings, in one of which Bro. Newmall was set apart as elder, and Bro. West as deacon. One was added to their number. None have turned back, but harmony and union prevail. I joined Bro. Bates in his Bushnell and Orleans meetings, which, I trust, will prove of lasting benefit to me. P. STRONG.