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INDIANA

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 10, 1876

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 6.

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INDIANA

By S. H. Lane

At the time of my last report, Nov. 8, had just commenced a series of meetings in the Baptist church at Wolf Lake, Noble Co. There seemed to be an interest to turn out from the first, on the part of the people. They became much interested, and notwithstanding the dark nights and muddy roads which we encountered a part of the time, the congregations ranged from seventy-five to two hundred. Continued about six weeks, giving some forty-five discourses.
The people were very kind, furnishing church, wood, and oil, free of charge, besides donating $13.00 on my traveling expenses.
Some ten or twelve took a decided stand to obey the truth. Many more are favorable. Obtained fifteen trial subscribers for REVIEW, one for REFORMER, and two for INSTRUCTOR, and sold $17.00 dollar’s worth of books. Sabbath meetings have been established and sustained ever since the introduction of the Sabbath question. Bro. Sharp is laboring near them and meets with them each Sabbath. The social meetings are especially good.
Sabbath, Jan. 8, two weeks after I closed my meetings, I met with them, and enjoyed a good meeting. First-day, Jan. 9, a minister of the Christian (Newlight) denomination delivered a discourse against our position on the Sabbath question. He took the position that the ten-commandment law was abolished at the death of Christ; that the Sabbath was given to the Jews and was designed only for them; that it was not blessed or sanctified until the law was given on Mt. Sinai; that it ran out by limitation; and that now Christians should observe the first-day of the week in honor of the resurrection of Christ.
He most signally failed in trying to establish his contradictory positions. I reviewed him, and he gave a second discourse which I also replied to. The investigation was continued for several evenings. He was very determined in his position in reference to the abolition of the law. The greater part of the people did not endorse his position nor look with approbation upon his manner of opposition.
We were convinced during the meetings that some one had endorsed the position that the ten commandments are not binding, from the fact that some person during the night entered the church and took my charts, which I had left hanging upon the wall. What was done with them remains, as yet, a secret. This act on the part of the opposition party only served to decrease their already few friends and increase our large number. Unknown to us, the ladies of the place raised as a donation to pay for the charts the sum of $8.25. This amount was presented to me one evening at the conclusion of my discourse by Bro. Sharp in behalf of the ladies. I tried to make some appropriate remarks fitting the occasion. This had a good effect. Quite a number wept. The donation was accompanied by the names of the donors and the following note, “Bro. Lane: Accept the enclosed amount presented by the ladies whose united prayer is for the furtherance of Bible truths.”
The opposition has served to strengthen those who have embraced the truth, and we hope these things will serve only to cause us to live devoted Christian lives. I now expect to commence a series of meetings in a new field. S. H. LANE.