The Colorado Tent by James White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 3, 1878

The Colorado Tent.

By James White

SEPTEMBER 14 and 15 we were at the Colorado tent at Georgetown. Elder Cornell had been speaking to the people about two weeks. The congregations were good until the severe cold with snow storm suddenly came upon them, when the congregation fell off considerably. And as Brother Cornell took a severe cold, making it almost impossible for him to speak, the situation looked discouraging.

On the 13th we left Rollinsville, accompanied by J. E. White and wife, and Mary K. White, for Georgetown. We spoke to a good and very attentive audience on the evening of the 14th, on the Sabbath in the New Testament. J. E. White introduced his new book entitled, the Song Anchor, and was assisted in singing, not only by those of our party, but by several first-class singers residing in the place. Most of the pieces sung are in print for the first time, and are the finest we ever heard. The singing, accompanied by a good organ, attracted large audiences to the tent.

Sunday, at 10:30, we spoke on the Sabbath question, inviting questions from those who had objections to the positions taken; this resulted in a sort of irregular Bible-class which was both interesting and profitable. In the evening we gave a discourse on the reasons of our faith and hope. The congregation was large and very attentive. The service closed with singing the new piece from the Song Anchor, entitled, "Good Night." Both the words and the music are charming, while the occasion, it being our last service with that people, closing at nearly ten in the evening, gave it double force.

We felt that our visit to the Colorado tent was timely, and as we returned to Rollinsville, the general expression of our company was that we had enjoyed it very much. And yet we doubt the propriety of moving the tent to any place as it was taken to Georgetown. Those who labor with our tents should know for themselves that the way is open, either by a personal survey of the ground or by information from the most reliable sources, before shipping a tent to a place.

Letters came from Georgetown to Elder Canright and the writer, representing that the way was open, that homes for laborers were plenty, and urging that the tent should be moved to that place. We should have gone to Georgetown or requested Brother Cornell to first survey the field; but the statements in the letters received had such a show of liberality that we were thrown off our guard, and had the tent shipped without further investigation.

We left Brother Cornell much encouraged. The weather is fine again, and he will probably remain a week or two longer. And we confidently expect that a company of Sabbath-keepers will be raised up in Georgetown. We regret, however, that the tent did not go where the people are willing, and even anxious, to bear all the expenses of a good, long tent-meeting. There are open doors where the same amount of labor would have accomplished double the results without expense to the General Conference, except the expense of moving the tent, and the small amount paid the laborers.

As a field of labor, much may be expected of Colorado. Here is a reading people. They seem to have but little prejudice.

We are writing at a hotel in the beautiful city of Denver, Colo., on our way to the General Conference at Battle Creek, Michigan. We are much improved in health, and are very happy in hope that there is, with care, some work for the Master in us yet. May he bless and direct the future, until our work is done and the blessed hope consummated. JAMES WHITE.