Wisconsin Tent by I. Sanborn; David Downer

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 1, 1871

Wisconsin Tent.

By I. Sanborn; David Downer

SINCE our report of July 10, we have delivered nine lectures. Our audience is composed of intelligent people who seem eager to hear the truth. The farmers are busily engaged in their harvesting; but this does not seem to prevent their attending our meetings. Our congregations average from one hundred to two hundred every evening. Several have declared their intention to keep the Sabbath. Some opposition is manifested, principally by professed Christians of various denominations.

Our tent is pitched about six rods from the Methodist church, in which there is religious exercise three or four times a week. It is said that nothing has occurred in many years which has created such a stir among the people as our tent meetings.

Last Friday evening the Methodist minister came in, and urged a discussion, the proposition to be, “Resolved, That man has an immortal soul.” We refused to accept till we had fully presented our views. He then informed us that the presiding elder was coming to discuss, and if we refused, he would use the church in which to oppose our views. This would divide our audience; so we have arranged to have the meeting in the tent, Eld. Bauchman to preach every alternate evening till he is satisfied. We discussed the same question with Eld. Bauchman last summer at Kilbourn. Our debate lasted but two days then, he refusing to debate longer. We are now hoping to be favored with more time in which to discuss the subject more fully.

Great interest is being manifested to hear. We shall prayerfully look forward, expecting to see error moved back by God’s holy truth. And we believe that if we continue to act in harmony with the will of God, the prospects now so flattering will terminate to the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

I. SANBORN, DAVID DOWNER. Wautoma, Wis., July 17, 1871.