Wisconsin Tent by I. Sanborn; D. Downer

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 17, 1871

Wisconsin Tent.

By I. Sanborn; D. Downer

SINCE our last report we have continued tent meetings three weeks and meetings in a school-house one week, which with the week before reported make in all five weeks’ labor in Plainfield. The weather, part of the time, was quite cool and uncomfortable yet our congregations were quite good all the time.

Elder Ager preached one sermon in the tent in which he undertook to show that Sunday is now the Sabbath. He spoke two hours and a half; and we thought, and the people thought also, that he fairly fulfilled one prophecy which was to make his folly manifest unto all men. See 2 Tim. 8:9. Bro. Downer reviewed him in the evening before about five or six hundred people, and after he got through we took an expression to see how many believed that Eld. Ager had proved that the first day is the Sabbath, and but three arose, and one of them told me afterward that he thought he was voting for the seventh day. Then the elder wanted to preach again the next evening. So I took an expression to see if the people wanted to have him try it again. But not one would arise in favor of his preaching the next evening.

Eld. Chester, Methodist, then preached a sermon against the Sabbath, saying that he would show that keeping the first day is not a violation of the fourth commandment. Bro. Downer also reviewed him, making his error manifest unto all the people.

Eld. C. then put an appointment on our appointment for the next Sunday morning in the school-house. We therefore took ours up, and by invitation occupied a large hall. The district board and the citizens then locked up the school-house against Eld. Chester, so he was obliged to go two miles and preach in a grove. We continued our meetings in the hall which closed last Sunday evening, leaving a very deep and lasting impression upon the people. Twelve or fifteen have commenced to keep the Sabbath and serve the Lord according to his word, and we have reason to believe that others will soon join them in the good work, and get ready for eternal life.

Eld. Thurston and the Fish Lake church, will meet with the brethren and sisters in Plainfield every Sabbath, till Bro. Downer and I can return, which will be just as soon as we possibly can. Till then, we hope every one will give themselves to reading the Bible and to prayer, that they may grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and thus let their light shine, and each one try to win another one, or more than one, to Christ. May the Lord bless Bro. Thurston, and give the wisdom of the Good Shepherd that he may be instrumental in persuading many to obey the Lord.

I. SANBORN, D. DOWNER.