MEETING AT TOMPKINS, MICH.
By Uriah Smith
This meeting was held according to appointment, in the large new school-house built some two years since, near Bro. Giles' in Tompkins. We were agreeably surprised, as we entered the house, Sabbath morning, Dec. 2, to find a large congregation filling every seat, many of whom were those who had come in from without, to hear what views S. D. Adventists had to present. Following the discourse, a short social meeting was held, in which the brethren and sisters took hold with freedom to testify their appreciation of the clear light of present truth, and their love for our blessed hope. Meetings were continued to Sunday afternoon, five discourses in all being given. Bro. E. P. Daniels spoke twice. The subjects presented were those connected with the great themes which constitute the burden of the third message ; namely, the signs of the times, the second coming of Christ, and the duties to be enjoined upon the people at this time when God is calling upon men everywhere to repent, to reform their practice in reference to his law, and prepare for his coming kingdom. The people listened with attention, and some of them spoke of the interest they felt in these things and their desire to hear more. Sunday evening the Wesleyan Methodists had the house on a regular appointment, and a discourse was given by their minister, Eld. Day. They had been holding revival meetings, and, we were informed, had secured as the result, about a dozen converts. He seemed to feel that there was some danger near, which must be guarded against, and hence denounced our meeting as an effort to draw away the members of his flock; whereas, this was the regular monthly meeting of the Jackson church, appointed before the Methodists had held any extra meetings, and before it was known that they designed to hold any. And nothing was said against their work or denomination, nor the least allusion made to drawing them away. Whence, then, all this fear? They evidently feel that here is something they are unprepared to meet. If their members are intelligent, the true way would be to present better reasons for the views they hold than we can produce for anything different. Then they have no cause for alarm. We were sorry to be misrepresented, as we were when the speaker carried the idea that we believed in no future hell for the wicked. If all there is in future, is to be annihilated, then, said he, men would make the most of this life and go on in every kind of sin. In this he seemed to overlook the fact that if he would act thus, then his present religious course is not prompted by the love of God and a desire to serve him, but simply by the fear of hell. As much as to say, I would like to follow all kinds of sin and pursue wickedness in all its forms, and would do so; but there is an eternal hell that I am afraid of, and to escape that I'll serve the Lord. We hesitate not to say that no person who is not drawn by the love of God, melted by the story of the cross and attracted by the recompense of the reward, will ever be found inside the city. Yet the fear of God's judgments has a certain influence to exert, and so Paul says, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” But because there is a hell for the wicked, it need not necessarily denote eternal conscious suffering. But another fact is strangely overlooked upon this point. If the tendency of our doctrine is to lead men to give up to sin, then we ask why we do not find the majority of such in the ranks of those who believe it. But this is not the case. In fact, we have yet to learn of one who from an intelligent conviction that the Bible teaches the death of the sinner, instead of his eternal conscious misery, has abandoned himself to a life of sin. The question of the second advent was handled in a manner equally unworthy of the subject. Said the speaker, We believe in the literal coming of Christ as much as anybody. We believe it is drawing nigh. We exhort people to prepare for it. It may come the next hour; it may not be for a thousand years. The world comes to an end to every man when he dies. It don't make any difference if we are only ready. Such was the medley of confusion and contradiction set forth on this subject, in almost as few sentences as here given. He said he knew of no exception to the statement that it comes as a thief; it comes to all in this manner; but he evidently forgot Paul's words in Thessalonians: “But ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief.” Salvation was his theme. “Less of sun, moon, and stars,” said he, “and more of salvation;” and how many hundred times this word was used, we will not pretend to say. Salvation is a glorious theme, properly treated; but when the changes on this word, and “saved, fully saved,” constitute the warp and woof of a discourse, it soon tires upon the ear. We desire to judge as charitably as possible of the effort under review; but facts compel us to say that not one item of new information was advanced, and not a reason given for any assertion made, and the audience were no wiser at the conclusion than at the beginning. If this is a sample of the efforts under which the new converts have come out, they will not long endure; for this is a thinking age, and all who stand abreast of the times must be able to give a reason for the hope that is in them. Monday we went to Spring Arbor, where Bro. Daniels and Frisbie have labored, and a good substantial company of brethren and sisters have been brought out upon the truth. The object of this visit was to assist in the more complete organization of the church. Bro. Weed was chosen and ordained elder, Bro. Humphrey, deacon, Bro. Butcher, clerk, and Bro. Parshall, treasurer. The brethren there are full of interest in the cause. Several other substantial persons seem to be not far from the light; and there is apparently every reason to believe that further labor in both Tompkins and Spring Arbor would accomplish good.