DAVID DOWNER by David Downer

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 6, 1872

DAVID DOWNER

By David Downer

Wisconsin.

We commenced meetings here July 14. We found we were without hand-bills to publish our meetings, therefore did not expect a large hearing at first. We had three hundred and sixty the first night, which is an astonishing turnout considering our being located in the country. We have had from three to six hundred in attendance every night. People come from one to twenty miles. Some have been here from six miles every night. Breathless silence prevails during our meetings. After we have spoken from one to two hours, people will stand around in groups and talk of the wonders in the Bible that are so plain.

A Methodist minister, seeing his flock favorable to our faith, came into the stand, denied the Bible, and called us liars, fools, and infidels. He struck me once or twice, nearly throwing me out of the stand. I thanked him for not striking me in the face, and God helped me to bear it pleasantly. His own members were ashamed of him. But, as is usually the case, it terminated in good to us.

Yesterday, being Sunday, we spoke to the people four hours and a half. Perfect quiet prevailed with over six hundred people. Our subject was all new, being The State of the Dead.

It is said there have never been so many people together in one place in this town as at our meetings. The best feature of our meetings is that it is not all curiosity and vanity. We seldom close a meeting without seeing very many in tears. The power of our Master is certainly resting down on his servants and the people. Soon the test is coming. Oh! brethren and sisters, when you read this do pray God to help us here, that our final report may be like this one, to encourage you, and save men. I believe in the prayer of faith. Brethren, you can hold us up. We feel the terrible importance of this hour, when one misspoken word might change the present scene to one of disaster. We feel that we cannot, we must not, fail; and yet God must do the work. May we strip ourselves of everything carnal, be more humble, seek meekness, and seek it earnestly, that we may be able, with agonizing prayer, to move the great Arm that moves the world.

Oh! my scattered brethren in Wisconsin, let us do more this year for God than ever before! The more we try to do for him, the more he certainly will do for us. Lay up your treasures where they will not be burned. Come, let us one and all move out of carnal stupor, that God may not be ashamed of his remnant people.

DAVID DOWNER

Mount Hope, Wis., July 22, 1872.