Tent Meeting in Monroe, Wis.
By John Lindsey
BRO. SMITH: We pitched our tent in this place the 29th of July. There was great opposition against the truth. Eld. Drew, the professed champion of the place, came into our tent and began to oppose us, and challenged for a discussion on the state of the dead. He was backed up by the presiding elder and four other preachers. He said he would discuss this question from July till Jesus comes, and die we must, or he would. He stated a proposition; Bro. Ingraham told him it did not cover the ground, and stated one that did. He would not accept it. Bro. I. told him he would speak one evening and he might the next. Eld. D. said he would rather have Bro. I. speak one hour and he would the next. Bro. I. told him he would do so. They appointed to commence the next evening. Bro. I. spoke first, and established facts that Eld. D. did not attempt to meet. The people saw the weakness of Eld. D.'s arguments, and their sympathies began to turn in favor of the truth. The controversy lasted three evenings; and at the close of the meeting one of the congregation proposed that Eld. Drew's death be published in the paper; and before they left the ground they appointed his funeral the next day at 2 o'clock. This they contended was just, as he had staked his life on the question, and lost it; therefore they said he should be buried. Our congregations were large, and this controversy has opened the way for the spread of the truth, instead of weakening our position; and some are deciding to obey God and keep his commandments. The interest is good. We feel encouraged to labor on in this cause, and leave the result with the Lord.