Your ShelfYour Projects

Muir, Michigan

9%

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 28, 1875

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 46, No. 17.

Read the full edition

Muir, Michigan.

By A. O. Burrill

I came here with one of the tents about the middle of July. At last report, twelve or more had signified their intention to keep the Sabbath. We have staid here more than twice as long as we expected. But there has never been a time when we could feel clear to leave.
From the first there has been great opposition, and efforts from all quarters have been made to keep the people away from the tent. Ministers of the different denominations, have advised their members to stay away. But some of the most respectable people of the place have attended constantly. After a time the local clergy ceased to attack us, finding that they were hurting themselves more than us.
After a while the Disciple church invited a minister from Grand Ledge to come and refute the doctrine of the seventh-day Sabbath. On arriving, he said he could do it successfully, as he was well acquainted with us as a people; for “S. D. A. ministers all spoke the same thing.” He continued his effort one week. We were present the first evening, and reviewed him. The Disciples saw that this would not do; so the next evening they would not permit it to be done, and their ungentlemanly conduct placed them under the censure of the public. This all worked favorably for the truth.
The Disciple minister had scarcely left the place when Eld. Clark Braden arrived. He was sent for, and came a distance of four or five hundred miles. The next day hand-bills were posted through town stating that, “Seventh-day Sabbatarianism, Soul Sleeping, The Kingdom of Christ, &c.,” would be reviewed at the Disciple church. I continued meetings in the tent, and two brethren went to take notes. We thus held from his lectures those whom he hoped to turn away from the Sabbath. This did not please him, and soon by the hand of one of the deacons, we received a written challenge to meet him in a public investigation of the disputed points. This we had not desired, and had been careful to avoid, yet the circumstances forced a debate upon us.
Previous to his coming, notice had been given that we were to attend the Flint Camp-meeting, and this made it necessary to have the discussion delayed until the next week. We hoped that at the camp-meeting the Conference Committee would send a minister who had had experience to conduct the discussion. But this was not possible; so that portion of the Committee present decided that Bro. E. R. Jones and myself should meet him. Bro. Jones discussed successfully two of the five questions. The debate which was held in the Disciple church, continued nine successive evenings, and was well attended. The clergy from all around were present. The questions discussed were, the nature of man, the destiny of the wicked, the kingdom of Dan. 2 and 7, the Sabbath, and the Sunday Lord’s day. We feel that God has given his truth a glorious victory on every one of these points.
The chairman, a lawyer of the town, and one whom our opponents suggested, being asked by one of the prominent members of the church how the debate went, said, “Eld. Braden did not prove even one point.” And a prominent officer of the Disciple church remarked, “Why, we thought Eld. Braden would surely bring some proof for the keeping of Sunday. We are very much disappointed.” All our friends feel greatly pleased with the result. We have made many friends among those who were prejudiced against us. Many of Eld. B’s own partizans have admitted his defeat.
The debate has decided several, and the prospect is that good will result from it. I think we shall now be left in peace to finish up the work in this vicinity, and go to other fields. As the result of this two or three weeks’ effort against the truth, our opponent leaves our friends more than doubled, and the present truth standing firmer and clearer than ever.
The consistent lives of a brother and his wife, who live in this vicinity, together with their assistance and counsel during this effort, have greatly helped forward the work.
We have stored the tent for winter, and commenced meetings one mile from Muir. This enables us to look after and build up the work there. We have now given seven lectures in this village with a common attendance. We hope to see some in the kingdom as the result of this effort. A. O. BURRILL.
Lyons, Mich., Oct. 19, 1875.