Lancaster Tent Meetings Draw Interest and Opposition
Lancaster, Grant Co., Tent No. 1.
WE have now, July 18, been in Lancaster two weeks. Some are deeply interested, and we hope they will obey the truth—not as many, however, as we had hoped for. The ministers have all kept away, and have used their influence to keep the people from hearing. We have about sixty in regular attendance now; but the power of worldly influences, we fear, will hold many from yielding to their convictions of duty. Eld. A. N. Hitchcock, first-day Adventist, published an article against us in last week’s Herald. In the same issue we published “Fundamental Principles of S. D. Adventists,” and an offer of $25 for one text from the Bible to prove that Sunday is the Sabbath, or Lord’s day. No one has proffered the text. The offer has created quite a stir. The people are asking the ministers to produce the text. One clergyman, whose church is across the street from the tent, preached very quietly Sunday evening on the Sabbath question to his few hearers. Said he, “There is no proof for Sunday-keeping; but the absence of proof that the apostles kept the seventh day is sufficient reason why we should keep the first day.” We have a good location selected about five miles from town, where we expect to locate as soon as our work is finished here. It is in the midst of a fine farming country, and the people are well-to-do and intelligent. Some are deeply interested and anxious to hear. I. Sanborn. OUR meetings here are progressing favorably. The congregations are still large. From three to four hundred were out last39evening to hear upon the change and restitution of the Sabbath. Those in the tent listened with marked attention, and a goodly number are convinced that we have the truth so far. We expect to speak next upon the United States in prophecy. The Lord is helping. A Dr. J. K. Bailey (spiritualist) tried to hinder the work, but ignominiously failed and left for a more promising field. W. B. Hill. S. Fulton.