Tent Meeting in Green Creek Ohio.
By G. W. Holt
The Tent was erected for the first time, on the place of Bro. Joseph Pemberton June 5th and meetings continued over Sabbath and First-day. This was the most central place for the brethren to assemble for general conference to take into consideration the several duties connected with Tent enterprise. Union and harmony were the prevailing characteristics of this meeting. On account of the late arrival of the Tent, our public notice was very limited. Notwithstanding the short notice and it being a country place, we had a good congregation each evening and a godly number on Sabbath, and on First-day it was estimated that there were about six hundred present. We have never seen a better interest. After the first evening meeting it was reported that we had a notice posted on our desk before the people "Ten cents for admittance." The next day a gentleman came in to see the notice and pay his bill, but to his great astonishment found the demand was Ten Commandments. We called upon all to settle their admittance fee by complying with the ten just demands of our heavenly Father, whose servants we are. On First-day we were interrupted several times during morning service by a spiritual medium who could not endure the testimony of the Bible on the origin of modern spiritualism. As soon as the meeting was closed he called the attention of the people and read a communication purporting to be from the spirit of a woman that was hung at the time of New England Witchcraft. He ridiculed prayer; but before the communication of the professed spirit of the New England witch closed, it mentioned her praying three different times. We felt called upon to defend the truth and expose their sophistry. The Lord gave us the complete victory over his arguments and spirit influence. While replying he continued to interrupt and contradict until the frown of the entire assembly seemed to be upon him and he was compelled to leave. About the last thing he said was, that the reason why Paul rebuked the woman that followed him and Silas crying "These men are the servants of the most high God &c., was because he was always afraid of women." We then told the people we had a fair specimen of Spiritualism, and there was no further need of argument, but several cried go on! go on! We then applied the prophecies of Satan's work in the last days. The people seemed to be disgusted with the conduct of the spiritualists on this occasion. At the close of our remarks one cried out "I am no more a spiritualist," another said "That's all I want to know of spiritualism." After the second meeting another medium, a woman, was influenced and said that the spirit of William Miller had visited her that forenoon and hid her go and correct the brethren; to tell them he was mistaken about the literal earth being burned with fire, that it was only the fire of truth that would purify the people. We thought if Wm. Miller was alive and knew how well we were established in the present truth, he would know better than to come to us with such a message. We have reason to believe that some good will result from this meeting. Several that became interested, requested us to pitch our Tent in their towns, but the interest here is such that we have adjourned to Green Springs only two miles distant for next Sabbath and First-day. G. W. HOLT.
M. E. CORNELL.
Green Creek, Ohio, June 8th, 1857. Being assembled on First-day morning G. W. Holt was chosen chairman, and M. E. Cornell secretary. The meeting being opened by prayer, it was unanimously resolved 1. That the tent purchased for Ohio, be considered the property of the church. 2. That there be a committee of five to take the general supervision of tent operations in this state. 3. That Brn. J. Dorcas, J. Tillotson, M. Hutchins, H. J. Kittle, and J. Huber be that committee. 4 That the sum of $300 be raised for a tent fund. 5 It was also signified that Bro. Holt and Cornell do the preaching in this tent the present Summer. Other measures were adopted for the speedy advancement of the cause of truth in Ohio. 6 Resolved that the minutes of this conference be published in the Review, and that the conference adjourn Sine die. G. W. HOLT, Chairman.
M. E. CORNELL, Secretary.