The Minnesota Tent by H. F. Phelps

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 2, 1870

The Minnesota Tent.

By H. F. Phelps

It may be a few words from us will not be out of place. Thinking it was best to follow up the interest that had arisen during the camp-meeting in Wasioja, July 7, the tent was pitched in this place. The congregations have been good from the first. There seemed to be an ear to hear, and interest has rather been on the increase. Some of the ministers have regularly attended, while others have shown opposition of the most effectual kind—keeping away, and working secretly to keep the people over whom they could have any influence, away from the meetings. May the Lord have mercy on all such.

A minister from Mantorville was sent for, to preach an opposition sermon on the Sabbath. No particularly-new argument was brought forward. In fact, he admitted that all was binding up to the crucifixion.

His admissions and arguments were so much in our favor that the people complained that instead of proving Sunday, he proved the seventh-day Sabbath. Some were convinced by his own discourse that we had the truth. He admitted that the New Testament said nothing for the change of the Sabbath. But as God taught us, both by positive command and by circumstance, the disciples having met so many times on the first day, and Christ meeting with them, proved that the Sunday was the Sabbath. He said the Sabbath was made for all time, and that the law of the Sabbath was made for the whole human family. He said that unless men kept the Sabbath they would go to hell; that a man who broke the Sabbath by fishing or hunting, was just as bad as if he murdered. He also stated that there was physical impossibilities in the way of keeping the Sabbath, on a definite day. So he would send us to hell if we did not keep what we could not keep. He said a seventh part of time was all that was required (of course provided always that seventh part of time came on Sunday). He spoke of traveling east or west 180 degrees, and gaining or losing one-fourth of a day. Should he travel 180 degrees by steam, he would gain or lose one whole day.

He said that people who ignored the writings of the Fathers were either bigots or fools, or both; so that Martin Luther, Wesley, and Adam Clarke, would certainly come in for a share, for they looked with suspicion upon the writings of the Fathers, and went to God’s word to see what they were required to believe. But the speaker very highly appreciated the writings of the Fathers. He then quoted from Leo. He did not, however, tell the people he was a pope of Rome. He called to the stand St. Constantine, reading his edict in favor of Sunday, in 321 A. D., which was shown by Bro. Ingraham to have been given while he was a heathen

emperor, two years before he was converted. Not much saint about that. He also referred to Watson, Smith, Leander, and Moshiem, writers of a recent date, and Watson acknowledging no Bible testimony for Sunday in the very quotation he read.

This discourse was reviewed the following evening by Bro. Ingraham, in the tent, before a good congregation of intelligent and thoughtful men and women. Last evening he finished the review, and also brought out some arguments in favor of the Sabbath and its perpetuity. When a vote of the congregation was taken for all who believe that the Bible taught the observance of the Sunday, to rise to their feet, not one in the tent rose. Then a vote was called for all who believed the Bible taught the observance of the seventh day, whether they intended to keep it or not, to rise, when upwards of 30 rose. May God help them to obey.

Night before last we were visited by a wind storm, which, in spite of our efforts to take down the tent, took it down for us, breaking stakes, ropes, &c., besides otherwise injuring it. But willing and busy hands readily took hold, and by night all was ready again for operation, we understand the damage through the country was considerable. At Owatonna, west of here, it unroofed and capsized buildings.

Brethren, pray for the success of the truth in Minnesota, that, despite of the opposition of the devil, it may bear off the victory. H. F. PHELPS.