TENT MEETING AT WEST GROTON.
By SEMPER IDEM
Something Original—Revival of Primitive Times. MR. EDITOR: Since June 21, a sixty-foot circular tent has been pitched in the grove of Mr. Perry Allen at West Groton. Meetings are held therein morning and afternoon, Saturdays and Sundays, and on every evening. Two ministers are with the tent, who preach alternately. They refuse to permit collections, ask no remuneration, pay cash for all they require, and live exclusively on bread and spring water. They declare the Bible should be understood just as it reads. They teach the unconscious sleep of the dead—that immortality is to be obtained only through Christ—that the wicked will be punished with everlasting destruction, and that obedience to all the commandments of God and faith in Jesus are the essentials to secure salvation—the only means to gain immortality. They observe the seventh day (Saturday) as the Sabbath. In the language of one of them, “When a law is once enacted by proper authority, it must remain in full force until by proper authority it shall be repealed; and the repeal must be as plainly stated as the original enactment.” They have repeatedly made the absurd and false assertion that no authority can be found in the Bible for the change of the fourth commandment; that there is no text that even inferentially demands observance of Sunday as the Sabbath. They are able enough speakers, and well versed in those parts of the Bible that seem to sustain their dogmas. They urge the people to read and study their Bibles for themselves (doubtless relying on the fact that in this busy, hurrying season it is impossible to do so). With pretended meekness, they ask, “If any minister—in good standing in his own denomination—believes them in error, let him come to the tent; he shall have half the time, any evening, or any number of evenings he may desire; they have no desire to enter into discussion; all they desire is that the people may have the truth.” This subtle sophism and special pleading deludes the simple-hearted and ignorant, who, attracted by the novelty, flock to the tent from all directions. Hundreds of pages of tracts are distributed at each meeting, thus scattering the seed of heresy broadcast through the country. Many honest souls are deceived; quite a number, some of influence and ability, have already forsaken the faith of their fathers and embraced the teachings of these men. Surely, this calls for the earnest efforts of our ministers of all denominations. Let them unite together, elect the most able among them, and, to the surprise and confusion of these tent people, accept their offer. Let a number of ministers go with the one elected, to sustain and assist him. Go with the Bible, and from its sacred pages read the declarations that shall convince all of their heresy and error of these new-fangled doctrines, and thus stay the spread of this delusive heresy, which, like fire, spreads with alarming rapidity, and if not checked at once, must result in wide-spread desolation and ruin. Who, who, in the fear of the Lord and the strength of his power, will come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
Yours for the faith of our fathers,
SEMPER IDEM.
North Lansing, July 8, 1872.