Tent Meetings at Lyndon and White Rock, Ills.
By J. N. Loughborough
THE Illinois Tent was pitched in Lyndon, Whiteside Co., August 14th. Our meeting was held four Sabbaths and First-days; also during evenings of the last week. In all, thirty discourses were given. We were aided in this meeting by Brn. Ingraham and Hutchins, and the last Sabbath and First-day by Bro. Sperry. Quite a share of the community in Lyndon at the commencement of the Tent meeting were skeptical in regard to the truth of the Bible, but the theme of destruction to the wicked instead of eternal misery, and endless life through Christ, presented the God of the Bible before them in a different light from what they had usually heard. The several discourses which were given, showing the definite fulfillment of many consecutive chains of prophecy enlisted their candid attention. Some of those who were the most confirmed in their skepticism, after hearing the expositions of prophecy, "thought they were ingeniously got up." All were not so, but there were some to ponder these subjects in a more solemn manner; and at the last meeting while brother Ingraham was presenting before the people the subject of the time of trouble, and the wrath of God, which will fall upon those who do not seek a shelter by obeying God, many, even of those who declared themselves infidels, were deeply affected, some even to tears. A meeting was appointed in the place the next189Sabbath after the Tent meeting closed; and several came out and associated themselves with the Sabbath keepers who attended the meeting, and stated their determinations to keep all God's commandments. Two men who had been deeply interested during the lectures informed the brethren at the close of the Sabbath meeting, that they had agreed together that if twelve would come out and keep the Sabbath they would commence, but they could wait no longer for that, they should have to obey the Lord. One circumstance occurred near the close of the Tent meeting which strongly reminded us that this is a degenerate age in which we live. The evening after the last Sabbath of our meeting, after the close of the evening meeting a letter was found on the desk which read as follows: "DEAR BRETHREN OF THE TENT: Please choose one of your number to speak on the Sabbath question in my church to-morrow in the forenoon, and I will take up the subject in the afternoon. Please accept of this invitation, and be on hand as soon as half past ten o'clock. "From your brother in the ministry, and pastor of the Congregationalist Church in this place. Wm. D. Chapman." The congregation had nearly all left the Tent when we discovered this letter. All did not look right. Why was the letter put into our possession in so secret a manner? If the minister wished to take up the subject with us, knowing that we were in the place, why had he not come personally to us? Why send to us a letter written so bunglingly as the above and that too at an hour so late, that he must know that all our arrangements would be made for the next day? These questions went through our mind, and led us to think all was not right. We had already given out our appointments, and subjects, for each discourse the next day, but thought it might tend to advance the cause more if we could have a discussion on the Sabbath question. But we desired to have the minister come to the Tent, as we thought it would divide the interest of the meeting to have meetings in the Tent and meeting house at the same time. A friend who was present volunteered to go the next morning and see if the minister would consent to come into the Tent. Yet we had arranged to meet him according to the proposition if he would not come into the Tent. The friend above mentioned took the letter to the minister, who was as much surprised as we were about a discussion. He wrote on the margin of the letter, "I know nothing about the writing of the above.—Daniel Chapman." When we received this testimony we saw at once that all was a forgery calculated to throw us into confusion with our meetings, but "The triumph of the wicked is short." Our receiving the letter after the congregation had left, and making the moves we did in regard to it the next morning, spoiled all the contemplated sport of some low-lived opponents. This effort tended only to enlist the sympathy of the people in our favor, and thus arouse a deeper interest in the truth. The people of the place felt indignant about the letter, and have since made some efforts to ferret out the forger. After this meeting, brethren Ingraham, Hutchins and Mitchell went South about 130 miles from Round Grove, into McDonough Co., to pitch the Illinois Tent, while brethren Sperry and Phillips joined me with the Vermont Tent at White Rock, Ogle Co. The Tent was pitched at White Rock, Sept. 11th. Our meetings held over two Sabbaths and each evening through the week. In all, fourteen discourses were given at White Rock. Although it was under unfavorable circumstances, and with some sadness of heart that we erected our Tent, yet our hearts were made to rejoice ere the meeting closed by seeing the truth taking effect in some hearts, and we trust some will come out to join with God's people in keeping all His commandments. When we left our brethren in Round Grove, we knew not whether we should go, but felt it was duty to push off into some new field and pitch our Tent. We desired to find an Advent band and pitch it near them. We drove to White Rock, where there was once a church of eighty members; but the age to come and other sentiments has left them scattered and torn. We called on the deacon of the church who told us where he thought there was a good place to pitch our Tent. He said if we held meetings near there he should probably come and hear, but gave us to understand that he was satisfied on the Sabbath question, and said "If you should succeed in convincing me that the seventh day is the Sabbath, then you can't tell which is the seventh day." He informed us the way to the tavern, which seemed somewhat cool to us, but we thought perhaps it would be all for the best in the end. We went to the tavern and engaged our board and made arrangements for our meeting. We had held but five meetings when the deacon above mentioned came into the Tent, and acknowledged his interest in what was being presented to the people. He wished to know how we were making out to live, said it was too bad for men to come there and preach to the people for nothing, and pay their own board; said he wanted one of us to go home with him. Before the meetings closed he confessed heartily his feelings towards us, paid our bill at the tavern, confessed the truth, took us all home with him and treated us in the kindest manner. Our interview with this family was sweet. They could not free themselves till they had confessed heartily to the Lord. Said the sister, "Lord thou knowest we had forgotten the admonition to entertain strangers." This brother was ready to assist us in returning seats, and carried us with the Tent twelve miles to the cars. The interest of the Tent meeting continued to increase to its close. It has already proved effectual in bringing several to take a stand on the truth. The meetings will soon be followed up with more labor. On account of the roughness of the weather, and other reasons, it was not deemed advisable to keep the Tent up longer. It became necessary on account of cold before our meeting closed to adjourn to a school house near by. Some rude fellows of the baser sort seemed intent on causing us some trouble, and so commenced their movements at the commencement of the meeting. Every move they made to create disturbance only enlisted the interest of the people in our favor, and opened the way for the spread of the truth among the people. The second evening after meeting, the ruffians, talking loudly about the "law of Moses," went off and got a lamb, and after cutting off his ear threw him into the Tent intending him, as we supposed, as a sacrifice. Various reports were circulated about the speculation with the Tent. At first it was told that we were Mormons, and charged a dollar and a half to come into the Tent. Next it went that we charged twenty-five cents, and lastly the ten cent story went the rounds. During the last of our meetings while we were in a school-house close to the Tent, these rude fellows pulled up over half the small stakes of the Tent, then attached one of the large guys to the axle of a lumber wagon, calculating that the starting of the wagon would pull our Tent over; but they failed in their sport, as the trouble was discovered in season to arrest all difficulty; and, as we told the people, although these fellows had intended us harm, they had actually done us a favor in pulling up our stakes, as they had saved us so much of our morning's labor. Many friends furnished themselves with publications and are searching to see if these things are so. We feel that the cause of truth is still onward in the West. The question was often asked us during this meeting, why we had not placed the truth before them ere this, if we had believed it so long. This was just what they wanted to harmonize the past. Are there not many others waiting for the truth, desiring light. Lord speed thy servants to them in my prayer. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Waukon, Sept. 29th. 1857.