Meetings in Otsego Village, Mich.
By Merritt E. Cornell
In this place we gave seventeen lectures in the Baptist house before large and attentive congregations. There was a strong spirit of opposition manifested here by several classes: the most popular out of the churches, the most bigoted in the churches, and the spiritualists and infidels. One of the citizens remarked that he had been watching to see what class of people were opposed, and what in favor of the lectures; and found that the most candid and consistent, both in the church and out of it, were interested, and said he, "To my mind this speaks a loud word in favor of your views." About twenty-five full sets of books were taken, besides as many more perhaps that took parts of sets. Eight subscribed for the Review and five for the Youth's Instructor, and as near as could be ascertained, about twenty decided to keep the Sabbath. One of the number had been for years a Disciple preacher. Toward the close we learned that the Prof. in the Academy, had given out that he would defend the First-day Sabbath, at the Congregational house, on Sunday at 10 1/2 A. M. Accordingly we dismissed, and went to hear, intending to review the discourse at 2 P. M. The Prof. occupied above two hours praying and talking about Sunday as being a "time honored institution," &c., and then said he had just come to the testimony. We then withdrew our appointment at 2 o'clock, and gave notice that both discourses would be reviewed at the Baptist house in the evening. The following are some of the positions taken: "The Gospel is infinitely more important than that old law. "The employment of the time is all that made the day holy. "No man would recognize a particular day unless God had specified it. "Ignorance of a command releases man from obligation to keep it. "The mass do recognize the first day as the holy day; hence if they leave it they commit sin. "Neither the spirit or the letter of the fourth commandment binds men to observe the particular seventh day; it never did, and never can." The above with twenty-six other false positions were reviewed in the evening. The Baptist house was thronged at an early hour. More than 400 persons were present. As we were about to commence our review, the Prof. arose and remarked that he wished it distinctly understood that he had only laid the corner stone of his argument. We echoed the request, and proceeded to show that his "corner stone" was laid on the sand, and consequently the whole structure would fall. And so it turned out, that our positions were correct, even our enemies themselves being judges. Monterey, Mich., Feb. 18th, 1856.