Meeting in Lisbon, Iowa.
By J. Hart
Bro. Smith : I have closed my meetings in this place, having given twenty evening lectures on the reasons of our faith. For the first part of the time there were from four to six preachers that attended Some were favorable, and might have been more so if it had not been that they knew that we held to the keeping of the seventh day, and also the non-immorality of the soul. They very kindly asked me to let those two subjects alone, as they thought no good could grow out of their being advocated. I asked one if it was safe to advocate Bible truth. He said yes. Then I told him I should feel free in introducing the subject of the Sabbath. Our meeting was held in the church controlled by the school director who opened the house and lighted it during the whole meeting. But it was not long before the ministers saw that their members were becoming much interested, and something must be done. They withdrew some of them; at least, told their members they must not go, then requested the director to close the house. This he refused to do, claiming that we should have the opportunity to present our faith, for he saw nothing in it to injure the morals of the place. The next effort seemed to be to circulate reports of every character. This soon turned to our account, and a reaction commenced. At the last meeting the house was filled, notwithstanding the United Brethren had a meeting in their meeting-house. My subject was from Matt. vii, 28: “The people were astonished at his doctrine.” The meeting closed with a deep interest. Seven in the village have commenced keeping the Sabbath, and one in a village one and a half miles from this. Many more acknowledged they should keep the Sabbath. We hope and trust it may be so. Sunday, I stopped to listen to a discourse by the Lutheran preacher, on the rich man and Lazarus, and some other like passages. His ungentlemanly course stirred the feelings of some of those in the different churches, and also those out of the church. In the evening he gave a discourse on the law and its penalty. Here he claimed that the subject was written something more than a year ago, and also that the one in the forenoon was not prepared for the occasion: thus he hid himself. Many things were said that may prove for the advancement of the cause in the future. Just as I was getting ready to leave I was unexpectedly presented with a written request signed by many names, to return to the place as soon as I could and preach to them more. There has been a revival in this place, as in almost all villages through the land. I therefore felt to tremble in thinking of presenting the subject of Babylon. And never did I have a greater desire that the Lord might lead me to present the subject before the people in a proper manner. I think that I can say that he did assist me in doing it, and that the facts from their own pens compared with what they used to be were stubborn things. We trust there will be a goodly number to enlist in the third message in this place. I think the way is open for a tent-meeting between Lisbon and Mount Vernon. May the Lord direct. I expect to leave to-morrow for home. Yours hoping for eternal life.
Lisbon, Iowa, June 5th, 1858.
J. HART. P. S. Since our meeting closed at this place we have received a letter from Lisbon, signed by 67 citizens of the place, requesting us to return and preach more in that place. We have concluded to comply with the request and take the tent. We shall commence tent-meetings there next week. J. H.
Round Grove, Ills., June 16th, 1856.