p. 102 | TEXAS TENT by R. M. Kilgore

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 20, 1877

TEXAS TENT.

By R. M. Kilgore

WE have been at Cleburne just eight weeks. We brought our meetings to a close last Sunday night, Sept. 2. Have had a hard battle. The opposition have been busy in operating against us, both publicly and privately, and even the “prince of the power of the air” has endeavored to array the elements against us. But we are not discouraged.

About midnight, Sunday night, without any wind, it began to rain in torrents. Before daylight the ground was covered with water, and the little stream near which we were camping was rising very rapidly. The stakes of the large tent gave way, the two center poles crossed, and the tent lay flat on the seats. All took shelter in our family tent. Soon we saw wagons, a cow, and rails in abundance, afloat in the little stream. A friend indeed, knowing the character of the stream (though it had not swollen so for six years), came, and told us that we were in imminent danger. He brought his team speedily, and we succeeded in rescuing my wife and children, and much of our furniture. Both tents were covered with water. We succeeded in saving some of the seats, while a new angry current carried some of them away in spite of us. The tent held down many of them, which would otherwise have gone.

After the storm abated, the retiring stream left everything covered with filth, mingled with sticks and little fish. While we feel very grateful that it is no worse with us than it is, we are sorry to see the destruction around us, and to have our new tent in such a condition. We hear of others who lost everything, and escaped in their night-clothes.

The greatest source of gratitude to us, is that we were permitted to round off our meetings so successfully. On Sunday night the tent was well filled. Having received an invitation from the citizens of Peoria, in Hill Co., we expected to strike tents on Monday, but now we shall not be able to move before Monday of next week.

As a result of the meetings here forty-five, at least, are keeping the Sabbath, forty of whom have signed the covenant to keep all the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. A Bible-class and Sabbath-school is formed. We have sold about sixty dollars’ worth of books, have given away a large number of tracts and papers, many of which have been carried many miles in every direction, by travelers passing through and camping near the tent at night. We have obtained fourteen subscribers for the REVIEW, two for the INSTRUCTOR, and two for the REFORMER, and have the promise of others. We have organized S. B. amounting to $150.

We have rented the M. E. church for the coming year, in which to hold our meetings. Bro. Wm. Kerr, formerly a Methodist class leader, has been appointed to lead the meetings.

We remain with them over another Sabbath, and then we hope to pitch the tent next week at Peoria, Hill Co., thirty miles south of Cleburne. We crave the prayers of the people of God. R. M. KILGORE.