TENT MEETING IN REPUBLIC, OHIO by John Norton Loughborough; T. J. Butler

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 21, 1858

TENT MEETING IN REPUBLIC, OHIO.

By John Norton Loughborough; T. J. Butler

This meeting which commenced Sept. 2d, continued twelve days, during which time we gave sixteen lectures. A deep interest was manifest to hear, and the Lord gave good liberty to speak the truth. On the whole it was the most interesting meeting we have held this season.

At first the report was afloat that we were "Free Lovers from Berlin Heights," and but few would come into our tent; but the second evening the tent was nearly filled. Our congregations continued to increase, and at our fifth meeting the tent would not hold the people, and scores of them lay outside the tent on the green grass. A great anxiety was manifest to hear till the meeting closed, and the people purchased over $40 worth of books, to aid them in their investigations.

The ministers of the place, some four in number, troubled us but very little with their presence, and as we were about to leave, one of them began to raise the cry of "wolf." Our reply was, if we are wolves, he was a hireling, for when the hireling seeth the wolf coming, he fleeth and leaveth the sheep, and the wolf catcheth them; but after all we were not willing to admit that we were wolves; for we had come with the truth of God's word, and not to steal sheep.

There was but little public opposition to the views advocated in Republic, except an attempt which was made to show that the 2300 days did not terminate in 1844, but extended far into the future. The ground taken to sustain this position, was that the 2300 days commenced with the taking away of the daily, and that the 70 weeks were not a part of the 2300 days. The Lord gave us liberty in reviewing the subject of the time, and we never felt firmer on our position than that evening, and most of the people seemed satisfied that we had the truth.

Several have already come out on the truth in Republic. Our prayer is that others may walk in the light which their eyes behold, lest darkness come upon them.

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