CLOSING OF A COURSE OF LECTURES AT SWAN LAKE, TURNER CO., DAKOTA.
By Carol Lou B. Aurner
Editors Review and Herald: My Dear Sirs, The labors of Eld. E. W. Farnsworth closed at this place yesterday after five weeks of time spent in arduous work for the promulgation of the grand truths which are so dear to us. What the ultimate results of this meeting will be, cannot now, of course, be even dimly outlined. The people here are mostly very indifferent to any form of religion. There are Baptist and Congregationalist church organizations here, but both are few in numbers, and without pastors. April 15, Eld. Hilton, Baptist, came here by special request of the Baptists, to preach against Eld. Farnsworth. In the morning he spoke on the “Sunday topic.” Of Acts 20:7, he said, “Here is a record of a religious meeting held on the first day of the week, without any reference to time.” I wondered what the clauses, “many lights” and “until midnight” meant. He made no distinction between the moral law and the ceremonial; but indiscriminately mixed them and nailed them to the cross, as a “yoke of bondage,” in utter defiance of James, who declares the “law” to be a law of liberty. Then, when he found himself getting into too deep waters, he frantically splashed around for something to hold on to, and found it in vituperation, proving himself abler in the command of language than in logic and scriptural proof. In the evening he spoke on the immortality of the soul and the immediate reward of the dead. For Scripture proof he quoted Paul’s triumphant cry, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown,” reading to the end of the verse. Some laughed aloud at this mistake of poor Paul’s, for the last words, “his appearing,” did not seem to tally with Eld. Hilton’s reward-at-death theory. He quoted Watts and Montgomery and Plato, ending, as in the morning, by assailing Seventh-day Adventists. There is one thing the Seventh-day Adventists can truthfully say. During his five weeks’ stay, no matter what in speech or manner he may have received from others, Eld. E. W. F. has not once forgotten that he was a follower of Christ, or failed to exhibit His Spirit in his public and private duties, with unassuming modesty. He leaves Swan Lake with the sincere prayers and affectionate esteem of his brethren and their earnest desire that the Conference may return him to this field of labor again. Last Sabbath was full of joy to the church here. It was the last time he would speak to them as a church. Topic, “The fruits of the Spirit.” At the close, two united with the church. On Sunday four more united, and were baptized. This makes a membership of forty-five. God speed them on their way.