p. 86 | Akron, Erie Co., N. Y by Chas. B. Reynolds

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 16, 1875

Akron, Erie Co., N. Y.

By Chas. B. Reynolds

Pitched the sixty-feet tent in the public park in the village of Akron, evening after the Sabbath, July 10, 1875. Commenced meetings first-day morning, and continued them every evening (except Aug. 12), and on Sabbath and first-days morning and afternoon, until Aug. 29.

The tent was very badly mildewed and riddled with holes, yet not one meeting was prevented by rain. From the tent entrance, we could look out upon six churches, Methodist, Free Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, and Catholic. The opposition was fierce, persistent, and, in some instances, malignant. We not only had to meet the opposition and attacks of ministers in the village, but a no-day Adventist was sent for. He preached two evenings, and declared that “it was an insult to offer God’s law—this code of ten commandments—to any true Christian, as a code to govern, or rule to live by.” Next came a Disciple, who fully explained the difference between the two covenants. “Under the old covenant, which was the ten commandments, there was no law against drunkenness, but there was against Sabbath-breaking. Under the new and better covenant, there was no law against Sabbath-breaking, but there was against drunkenness.”

First-day, Aug. 29, baptized five. Twelve signed the covenant to keep all the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Two of this number embraced the Sabbath under the labors of Eld. N. V. Hull, of the Seventh-day Baptists, during his pastorate at Clarence, some twelve or fifteen years ago. Eld. Hull stopped to see friends here on his return from our General Conference, and, in compliance with our solicitation, delivered a most powerful and effective discourse before a very large gathering. The tent was crowded to its utmost capacity. His subject was, “Sunday is not the Sabbath,” and he most effectually answered every point raised by a minister who had delivered a sermon on “Sunday is the Sabbath” in the Presbyterian church that morning. Eld. Hull is much loved and respected by all classes of people throughout this section of the country, notwithstanding his “keeping Saturday for Sunday.”

The twelve who comprise the little company at Akron are all heads of families, persons of mature judgment, who fully realize that the way they have chosen is the way of the cross; but they have determined to walk in the light, looking in humble love and confidence to the promised help of Jesus to enable them to overcome and gain the victory. “The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him.”

CHAS. B. REYNOLDS.