Michigan Labors in Tuscola and Shiawassee Counties
By P. Strong
SINCE my last report, I have labored some in Tuscola Co. Nine have embraced the Sabbath; but the mass have more interest, for the present, in lumbering, than in the truths that are to prepare them for the future world. I commenced meetings at Six Mile Creek, Shiawassee Co., Jan. 28, and held twenty-nine meetings. Closed Feb. 25. Eight have embraced the truth so far as presented. Others are interested, and are reading our works; at a proper time, doubtless, these will unite with the Chesaning church. Bro. Milk was with me a few days in this place, until the sickness of his parents called him East. Our congregation averaged about forty-five. Soon after our meetings commenced, an opposition meeting was started in an adjoining district. We also had the influence of two quarterly meetings, two donations, two weekly lodges, neck-ties, masquerade, and the excitement of a man being shot, to contend against. Thus, the minds of the people being kept continually in excitement, it was hard to get them to see the force of the truth. The days of peril are days of fun to them. One old professor being asked if he was going to the meeting that evening, said that he had run and played so hard the night before at a social, that he was so lame and tired he could not come; thus making the words of Paul true in his case; “Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” Sabbath, March 2, I was at Orleans. Two new ones have taken hold of the truth here. Sabbath, March 9, I spent again with our new friends in Shiawassee. Found them all steadfast. The minister of the place had been circulating a tract written by G. W. Bailey, against the Sabbath; but thus far it has had a tendency to confirm those that have started, and to stir up an interest in others. They cannot believe yet that the ten commandments are abolished. While reading that tract, my mind was called out on the many arguments that have been given in the past by others, why the Sabbath is not binding now, and the argument held, by the writer’s brother came up: the world being round, and continually moving, therefore we can’t all keep the same day. But according to that tract, in the world to come we shall not be troubled in that way, as the world then will evidently be flat. On page 18, in arguing to destroy the identity of day, he says, “But we are told there are months there, hence weeks and days; for John says, when speaking of the tree of life, that it yielded her fruit every month.” It says it yielded (not shall yield) her fruit every month, i. e., back in Eden; and that the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations, not shall be. There will be none sick in the world to come; but it was intended for medicine back there. It only identifies the tree. He is willing to throw away the fruit and healing leaves, to get rid of the day. But on last page, we are invited to keep the commandments of God, that we may have a “right to the tree of life.” What a privilege! a barren tree (according to his interpretation) without leaves, or fruit. But let us test his text as applied back there. And that the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations, “back in Eden.” But back in Eden there were no nations to be healed. None there but Adam and Eve, and they needed no healing till after sin entered, and as soon as sin entered, they were driven from Eden. Therefore, none ever have been healed in the past. Conclusion: if true, the tree of life was created in vain. But no, that cannot be. John says, Rev. 2:7, “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God;” and this promise being to the overcomer, and for the future, we will press on and try to keep his commandments, feeling that if we can get there, that there will be an abundance of fruit on that tree, and it will yield its fruit each month. Chesaning, Sag. Co., Mich.