ILLINOIS by James M. Bute

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 28, 1879

ILLINOIS

By James M. Bute

Norway.—About eight weeks ago, Brn. Lewis Johnson and A. A. John pitched their new fifty-foot tent in the little village of Norway. The people of this village and surrounding neighborhood are mostly Scandinavians, the majority of whom understand the English language. These brethren have accordingly spoken alternately in the Danish and English, to those who came out to hear.

There has been much prejudice here, especially among the Lutherans, of whom there are two churches within a mile of the tent; as also among the Methodists, who have a church in the village. Though they are apparently friendly and respectful to our brethren, yet by arranging their meetings so as to prevent their members from attending the tent-meetings, they have detracted from the interest of the latter.

The attendance was small until Bro. A. A. John was challenged for a discussion, by Eld. W. W. Blair. It was thought by Eld. B. and his friends that he would easily crush Bro. John, inasmuch as he (Eld. Blair) was one of the twelve apostles of the Latter-day Saints or Mormons, a man of experience, having preached twenty-one years, and published several works in defense of his views. The subjects discussed were the Sabbath, the Sunday, and immortality. Knowing the power of the truth, and that God would stand by his servant in its defense, we felt confident of victory; but our most sanguine expectations have more than been realized. That the masses should be carried so completely on these unpopular truths, was more than we dared to hope. The attendance was good during the entire discussion of seven sessions of two hours each. Many have seen the beauty and harmony of the truth. We wait to see the result, hoping that some will decide to “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.”

JAMES M. BUTE.