Tent Meeting at Bowling Green, Ohio by John Norton Loughborough; T. J. Butler

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 15, 1858

Tent Meeting at Bowling Green, Ohio.

By John Norton Loughborough; T. J. Butler

Our tent-meeting at Bowling Green has just closed, having continued seventeen days, during which time twenty-three discourses were given on different points of present truth. Our attendance was not large, but our hearers as far as they did attend were attentive for the most part.

A bitter tide of opposition was raised against us by the sects of the place, and every effort was made by them to suppress the hearing of the truth. In the first place, before the meeting commenced, a proposition was made for all the church members to enter into a combination and pledge themselves to one another not to attend the meeting. Some, however, refused to be caught in such a snare, and when we came with the tent, out they came to hear. The Methodists found they had got to take some course to keep their members away, so they sent to Gilboa for Eld. Shannon, to hold opposition meetings. This did not mend the matter; for in his attempts to oppose us he manifested a spirit that led some of their own members to declare him in the wrong, and they would hear him no more. His coming, instead of causing the interest in our meetings to abate, stirred up anew an interest that continued till our meetings closed.

About twenty have made a start to obey the truth, as the result of this meeting. Others are convinced of the truth, and we trust they will soon commence to walk in the path of obedience to God. Thirty-one were baptized during this meeting. About two-thirds of them embraced the truth under Bro. Holt's labors last Winter.

Bro. Holt gave two discourses during the tent-meeting, and met with us again on his return from Bass. He seemed much encouraged to labor on in this cause. He informed us that some five or more came out on the truth while he was in Bass. Our social meetings in the tent have been interesting, and in them the brethren have been strengthened to lay by filthy habits that defile the flesh. Others found it blessed to step aside from human organizations, which are combinations for mutual aid, (secret societies,) and trust in God.

We feel encouraged to labor on, and trust the churches in Ohio will remember for us the request that Paul made of his brethren, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints: and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel." Eph. vi, 18, 19. From this place we design to move south-east where the way may seem to open.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. T. J. BUTLER.

Bowling Green, Ohio, July 5th, 1858.