SOMERSET CENTRE, MICH by A. Bather; E. P. Daniels

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 1, 1877

SOMERSET CENTRE, MICH.

By A. Bather; E. P. Daniels

We began labor in this place Jan. 10, first at the Aldridge school-house, where we held three meetings, when the house was refused us save for two evenings a week. During the interim each evening was occupied at the Curtis school-house three miles distant. The attendance at both places has been good.

Sunday afternoon, Jan. 22, one Eld. Martin, the Wesleyan circuit preacher laboring in this district, undertook to show that the 2300 days were literal, therefore the events predicted in connection with this period were fulfilled within the space of seven years. And further, that one Jannus purchased from Antiochus the Great the office of high priest, which he desecrated by turning the house of the Lord into a temple of idol-worship, which he said constitutes the transgression of desolation spoken of in verse 13. “Those days,” said he, “could not have been days of years, but literal time which were fulfilled in the prophet’s time.” He cited Kitto’s History of the Bible for his authority. And then with much gusto he concluded with the following remarks upon our position on the sanctuary: “It is blasphemy for these men to say that there is a place in Heaven so impure that it needs cleansing, and that God dwells in impurity. It is disgusting to American intelligence.”

The evening following we spoke upon the second advent to a large and attentive audience; and at the conclusion, briefly noticed some of these objections, illustrating our points with figures upon the black-board. The audience was not slow to discover the weakness of Eld. Martin’s position. I am told by reliable authority that one of his members told him he had better study his Bible a little more before attempting to speak on such deep subjects.

We are in the midst of revival meetings and opposition. But we are hopeful in God and diligent in labor, and we pray God to keep us thus until the appearing of his Son from Heaven, when we hope with the redeemed to sit down to the marriage supper of the Lamb in the kingdom of Christ our Lord.

Remember us in prayer.

A. Bather. E. P. Daniels.