The Sabbath Question at the Iowa Tent
By R. M. Kilgore
WHEN we closed our last report, we were in the midst of the Sabbath question. As usual, this awakens an interest among the people to inquire if their practice in the past has been in accordance with the word of God. Positions are being taken by the leaders which astonish some of their followers. That the law of God is abolished; that we have no Sabbath in this dispensation, are doctrines that they cannot accept. And even to doubt that the first day of the week is of divine authority, was a matter unthought of by them, until its denial, and the claims of the seventh day were set before them. The ministers of the place were invited to show the falsity of our positions, and to sustain the claims of the so-called Christian Sabbath. One of the ministers who had labored in this vicinity for fifteen years, seeing danger, journeyed two days to secure help. Having obtained the services of Eld. J. K. Cornell, Disciple, with whom Bro. Canright held a discussion at Richland two years ago, he proposed to accept the above invitation, and offered a resolution on the claims of the seventh-day Sabbath, saying that they would be ready the following Tuesday, when his colleague should be present. On being pressed to sustain in the affirmative his “Christian Sabbath,” or “Lord’s day,” he proposed that he would discuss with “friend Butler” the following: “Is it right to meet together on the first day of the week, to preach, to break bread, and for prayers?” Bro. B. replied that he would affirm that of Tuesday or any other day of the week, as he could not conscientiously negative our practice of holding meetings on that day. As nothing could be effected, further arrangements were postponed until the arrival of Eld. Cornell. The interest is still deepening and widening, until we have the best general attendance that we have ever had in the State. The tent is well filled every night with attentive hearers. According to previous announcement, about one hundred and fifty persons convened Sabbath morning at our first Sabbath meeting. This exceeded that of any other we have ever seen on a like occasion. After the discourse were a few testimonies; two of which were borne by those who previously were avowed infidels, now bearing testimony in favor of the Bible and the truth of God. At the conclusion of our meeting twenty-five voted that they should now begin to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, and meet with us in our Sabbath meetings. Eld. Porter, Disciple, announced that he would preach on the law, Sunday forenoon, and continue the subject in the evening. Bro. Canright heard his first, and replied in the afternoon. At night we dismissed our meeting in order to give our congregation an opportunity to hear the Elder. This was reviewed on Monday evening before a large audience. This effort gave an additional opportunity to show up their untenable positions, and to rivet in the minds of the people the difference between the two laws. At the close of this meeting, Eld. Cornell being present, it was desired to perfect arrangements for the debate. The Elder said that he had come to accept a challenge, yet could not urge it if none had been given. As we are not of those who “back down,” he was informed that we were ready to defend the claims of the seventh day, if he would affirm the first-day theory. He was then challenged to discuss the following propositions: The Holy Scriptures teach that Christians should keep holy the seventh-day Sabbath of the fourth commandment. And to affirm either of these: 1. The Holy Scriptures teach that the first day of the week is the Christian Sabbath; or, 2. The Holy Scriptures teach that the first day of the week is the Lord’s day; or, 3. The Holy Scriptures teach that Christians should meet upon the first day of the week for religious services and to break bread. This would bring the whole subject before the people. But this he utterly refused to do as he had not come to defend the first day, but to tear down the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. When he had been pressed to bring the issue right before the people, and dared not defend that which he had been teaching, and when all were well convinced of the true position held by the Elder, their proposition was accepted as the best that we could do. The people see the unfairness of our opponents. We hope for good. The discussion begins to-morrow. Leon, Iowa, July 25, 1871.