TEXAS TENT by R. M. Kilgore

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 11, 1878

TEXAS TENT.

By R. M. Kilgore

Terrell, June 25.

Our meetings at Terrell closed with a nine days’ debate with Eld. Caskey, the Disciple champion in this part of the State. He came on Monday after we had closed up our meetings, and had our tent partly struck. In a very pompous manner he said, that he had come to enter upon the discussion, and that he “meant business,” and wanted to make the preliminary arrangements immediately. I informed him that these would have to be arranged before the crowd. A special meeting was called at the M. E. church for this purpose, at three P. M. The house was well filled. The following subjects were agreed upon for discussion: The Soul Immortal; the End of the Wicked; the Seventh-day Sabbath; the First-day Sabbath, and the Perpetuity of Spiritual Gifts.

The principal arguments he used on all these questions were, ridicule, sophistry, and telling funny stories to create a laugh. I have never seen so weak an effort. He evidently did not know anything about these subjects, and he admitted a failure on all but the last. He repeated over and over, that our view of the end of the wicked was “so brand-splinter new” that he had never heard of it, and that it might be true; and confessed that he was badly whipped on this proposition. He said that “although his opponent had knocked him down, he would yet rise and knock him down.” He declared more than once that his mission to Terrell was to tear down this new ism, and that he intended to do it; and in his last speech he again challenged me for another trial, saying that he would “wipe me out the next time; that if I would not accept his challenge he would follow and drive me out of the State; and that I had made my last convert to Adventism in Texas. With these and similar declarations of malice and bitterness he closed his final speech.

I replied, 1. By calling on all who had been made infidels by our labors to rise. Not one arose, though it was repeated more than once that such preaching would make more infidels than believers. (At this point his moderator and himself tried to break up the meeting by dismissing the congregation.)

2. I called on all who had had their faith and confidence in the Bible increased by our labors to rise. More than fifty rose up.

3. I called on those who had taken a decided stand for the Sabbath since hearing the other side, to rise up. Seven rose to their feet.

4. I then asked all who had decided to give up the Sabbath by hearing the other side to rise. Not one.

5. I then called on all who had been strengthened and established in the truth by the debate to rise. Fifty arose.

Rockwall, June 29.—The same night we struck our tent, and the next day we moved to this place, the county-seat of Rockwall county, a village of about two hundred and fifty or three hundred inhabitants. It is well settled in the immediate vicinity. We hope for good results, and shall labor and pray to that end. Bro. I. Caldwell is with me and renders efficient service. Bro. A. W. Jenson has been with us acting as tent master. His place is now supplied by Bro. A. G. Daniels, of Iowa, who has come to labor with us.

Elder Caskey has just called, and informed me that he has come to tear down our work, and that if I will take down the tent and move to another part of the State, he will let me go in peace; but if not he will stay here as long as I do, and will follow me when I leave. He wanted to give me two hours to consider this proposition. I told him that I did not require it. I could tell him now that I had not been sent here to preach by his permission; that I should not consult with flesh and blood; and that his threats did not move me from my purpose so long as I felt that God was with us. I expect to have trouble with him. May God direct. Let the people of God pray.

R. M. Kilgore.