Report from Bro. Byington.
By J. Byington
I was sorry to disappoint our brethren at Parkville, March 19. The 25th and 26th, I was with the church in Alajedon, it being their quarterly meeting. This was a good meeting. I visited most of the families, had the ordinances, and one received baptism. The 27th, we had an evening meeting in Leslie. A brother here who for several years had been hindered by his tobacco has now laid it aside and is acting his part in their meetings. April 1, I met with a few brethren in Johnstown, and visited some who are neglecting duty. There are a few faithful ones here. Some were absent. The 8th and 9th, I was at Cedar Springs. Here I organized a church of eighteen members. The names of six children and youth were taken by their consent, they promising to seek the Lord. May the church and their parents help them to Christ. Bro. I. A. Olmstead was chosen elder, after which we had the ordinances. Brethren here have given up their tobacco, and are learning health reform. By a vote of the church, they request that the tent may be with them this season. The people in this village are anxious to hear, but we have no church to hold them. They say, Come over and help us. The 11th, a stormy day, I rode with my own team, facing a chilly wind, to Bro. Buck’s in Chester, and attended prayer-meeting in the evening. The next day, I came to Wright, and remained with this church one week. They complain of a want of spirituality, but I think most of them are willing to receive help. First-day morning, I went to the river to cross for Blend’n; but the boat being gone, I returned to Cooperville; and learning there was to be a few miles north of this a sermon by a Methodist circuit preacher on the subject of the Christian Sabbath, I thought I would hear him. He made the following propositions: - We must begin to reckon time from Adam’s first day, which was the seventh day of creation, therefore the first day of the week was, is, and ever should be, the Sabbath.
- A seventh part of time answered all the claims of the Sabbath law.
- The Sabbath was typical of Christ, therefore the type must end when Christ came.
- Christ and his apostles changed the Sabbath; they had no opposition in doing it; it was called the Lord’s day, and the Son of Man was Lord of the Sabbath-day.
- The laws of our country required us to keep the first day; therefore, though we kept every other, we must keep the first.
I gave notice that I would have meeting in the evening. There was a good congregation and good attention while, after showing his contradictory positions, I made brief remarks on each point. J. Byington.