Wisconsin Tent by D. Downer

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 20, 1872

Wisconsin Tent.

By D. Downer

We are laboring on. God is blessing our feeble labors. We are now through with the prophecies, state of the dead, and the Sabbath, and have cleared up objections. We have just tested the people. There are about fifty who have testified to the truth of our positions and are keeping the Sabbath. One of this number has come eight miles afoot, then walked home after meeting. Many others are favorable, and will keep the commandments.

I wish to notice our dear Bro. Williams in this place, who has done very much for the cause and our comfort. He is a merchant at Mount Hope. When we came here, he felt opposed. He now shuts up his store on the Sabbath, and is thoroughly established in the present truth. May God bless him and his family.

Many others have been just as ready to aid us, for which they have our thanks. Tears fill our eyes as we pen these lines. God bless the dear friends at this place.

Popular theories had driven many here into infidelity. Most of these are now believers in the truth. We held our first Sabbath meeting last Sabbath. We had a glorious meeting. Twenty-two warm testimonies were given.

I believe I am not alone in saying we have never seen greater manifestations of God's Spirit than here. Four men have offered five hundred dollars toward building a meeting-house. But we must get organized before we can build a church. I am soon to organize a tract society here. Ministers are our only real opposers, with few exceptions. We are in good spirits, not exalted, but more humble as we see more fruits of our labors. We are trembling under our burden. Are you holding us up, brethren, in your prayers? If you could be here and see hungry souls come, three, four, and five hundred at a time, to hear this truth, you would weep for joy. They go away, saying, That is what sinners need. Oh! that we had more men to go forth weeping, and come bearing in sheaves to the Lord. We have always had a falling away when we came to the fall of Babylon, pride in churches, testing on the Sabbath, &c., but here, the more we preach cutting truth the closer hungry souls seem to cling.

Brethren, don't forget us. How many long and sleepless nights we spend thinking and praying for help. Oh! we must not, we will not, fail. We intend to stay here till the work is established. We have left our work too soon heretofore, and Satan has destroyed the lambs in our absence. We may stay all summer here if interest continues to increase. We are glad to hear of our dear sister Sanborn's hopeful condition. She is recovering. God is with us. Brethren, go on.

D. DOWNER & TENT COMPANY.

Mount Hope, Aug. 12.