WESTERN TOUR by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 9, 1858

WESTERN TOUR.

By James White

AUGUST 22d, about midnight, we took the cars at Battle Creek for Crane's Grove, Ills., and reached that place the 23d, just before the Sabbath, and were kindly received and entertained by Bro. and Sr. Newton. Sabbath forenoon we met with the few friends of the cause in that place at the house of Bro. Jacob Berry. Here we were happy to meet Bro. Ingraham. He had come to the West to labor, and if the way opened to obtain a sojourner's resting place for sister Ingraham and the children, to remain till duty calls to some other field. Bro. Ingraham does not enter into other men's labors, as the manner of some is; but enters new fields, and raises up firm and warm friends of the cause. Then as the difficulties of a new field are overcome, and he more fully enjoys the fruit of arduous labor, he leaves for a new field. Thus he has torn away from dear friends in Pennsylvania, and has commenced his labors in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. We have never felt a deeper interest in any mission than in this. In order that Bro. Ingraham might enter at once upon the work to which God has called him, we furnish him with $300, which we have borrowed, to purchase a humble home, and take his notes. These notes we shall present to the friends of the cause, and give them an opportunity to make payments on them as they may esteem it a pleasure to do.

At Crane's Grove we spoke to the people in the school-house several times; but our meetings were interrupted by a few unruly spirits who call themselves Adventists. While speaking for the first time in the place, we were broken in upon by two men and one woman, all at once. These disorderly spirits seem to pattern after one Eld. Collings who holds meetings with them. We think his lack of candor, fairness, truthfulness and good manners has hardly a parallel among professed ministers at this day. At least we never before met his equal. We venture to say that no man can present views differing from his, where he is, without being disturbed and abused. He seems to be as uneasy as a fish out of water unless he can get up an unhappy debate, and jangle with those who differ from him. And what seems to place him beyond hope of reformation is that he glories in his shameful course.

We told Mr. Collings that we would not suffer him and his friends to break in upon us while speaking, and throw our meetings into confusion. It was evident also that the people of that vicinity, with few dishonorable exceptions, were opposed to the nervous raillery of these disorderly persons. And we hoped to enjoy the privilege of worshiping God without interruption during the General Tent-meeting. But Sabbath afternoon, after we had spoken about half an hour, J. M. Stephenson came into the Tent, and in a few minutes broke in upon us, requesting us to read certain verses. We declined, requesting the privilege of finishing the discourse without interruption, and referred to the conduct of others in the place which we did not hesitate to call unchristian and ungentlemanly. Mr. Stephenson then arose and read the verses, giving us the privilege of waiting until he had got through. Mr. Stephenson seeing that we were not willing to be broken in upon, chose his time at the close of nearly every meeting to hold a large portion of the congregation in the Tent as long as he chose, and talked to them as it suited himself, and the baser sort who responded to him in vulgar triumph.

First-day a business meeting was appointed in the Tent at the close of the afternoon service. And as Mr. Stephenson could not be deprived of his usual speech, he took his position but a few rods from the Tent, and called around him those who chose to hear him. He was distinctly heard by all in the Tent, which was no small interruption; but this we had to hear till the speaker closed his harangue.

At the close of the discourse in the evening, Bro. Waggoner corrected some false statements which he heard during the business meeting, to which Mr. Stephenson immediately replied. Then Bro. Waggoner made a still further correction. It was half past nine, and three in the stand wished to speak. But Mr. Stephenson rose up again, and being requested to give others a chance to speak, said, holding his Bible in his hand, I will have the last word. His actions were in harmony with his assertion. He even appealed to the sympathy of the people in his behalf, on the ground that his religious freedom was abridged by our refusing him a chance to break in upon us in the midst of a discourse!! Such egotists never see the necessity of religious freedom only on one side. It was painful to witness his course; but the brethren chose to patiently suffer it. Had he taken such a course at our Tent-meeting at Iowa City, Iowa, or at Monroe, Wis., the civil officers would have secured to us, without being solicited, the privilege of worshiping God unmolested. We never call on them for help, and never object to their doing their duty as officers of the peace.

During the discussion Mr. Stephenson was kept in his place by the presence of three moderators, and we could not help noticing how much more like a gentleman he appeared. But unfortunately for him, his frequent earnest and rapid stump-speeches during our meetings had made him very hoarse. But of the discussion we will not now speak.

One morning during the discussion, a friendly person asked us the following question: Have you heard that forty of your most substantial brethren at Battle Creek have given up the Sabbath? We replied that we had heard no such news. The person replied that Eld. Stephenson had a letter stating that this was the case. We soon saw that the no-Sabbath men were exulting over the news. Said some, It must be true, for Eld. Stephenson has the letter. At noon we saw a crowd around Mr. Stephenson, who held a letter in his hand, and on learning that it contained the latest news from Michigan, we asked him to read the letter to us. He declined, saying it was badly written; but granted us the use of it during the intermission, in which time a friend furnished us a copy. As such persons generally complain when Editors make beneficial alterations in their communications, we will give the letter as it is written. Here is the letter which caused so much joy in the ranks of the no-Sabbath men:

Mr. J. M. Stephenson dear ser pleas give me your views of the second chapter of revelations and especially of that woman Jeasable that Calls her self a prophecies and seduce the my servants turn to the second Chapter 20 verse and examine the remander of the Chapter and see if it does not Carry us down to the end she Commenced her prophecy amongst the methodest then with the Advents and now with remnant the reason I send you this is because we were told here in the Church that the ten Commandments no Sabbath was the seal or test miss and mr White have been here and miss white had a revelation here and she saw that we must believe her visions or be lost and in this vicinity about forty good substantial members made up thare mind to follow the teachings of the Bible rather than her visions they are made a test here and allover the state before her visions the bible falls and so does moral Character atleast it is so here the visions in them is salvation pleas write to me assoon as you Can after the discussion with white test him on the visions if passible Yours in the love of the truth Joseph. J. Perkins Otseg Alligan County michigan.

The above is a true copy. SETH NEWTON. ANNA M. NEWTON. Crane's Grove, Ills., Aug., 1858.

We will make a few statements in regard to the above letter.

1. Mrs. White left the Methodist church about two years before the Lord appeared to her in holy vision.

2. Her vision at Otseg was an exposure of the sins of Mr. Perkins and others, and messages of comfort to honest, desponding ones present. Nearly all present were in tears as they listened to the relation of it. Eld. Cranmer, the leader of the faction, then stated with much feeling that he believed the work to be of God. The statement that all must believe the visions, or be lost, can be regarded in no other light than a willful falsehood, as fifty persons then present from Monterey, Allegan, Otsego, &c., will testify.

3. The statement from Bro. and Sr. Leighton below is all that need be said in regard to "forty good, substantial members," &c. Not one of them has left the Sabbath to our knowledge; but Eld. Cranmer, a man who is a notorious tobacco eater, and who has for years lived without family prayer, has succeeded in drawing after him a few disaffected persons, from many of whom the church had withdrawn fellowship.

TESTIMONY.

We, members of the church at Otsego, Mich., being on a visit to Battle Creek, have read the letter of Joseph J. Perkins, and testify that Mr. Perkins's statement that Sr. White had a revelation that we must believe the visions or be lost, is utterly false. Sr. White did have a vision in our midst last Winter, which no one then present opposed. Even Eld. Cranmer then testified that he believed it to be of God. He has since drawn off with him eight of the church only, all of the men being tobacco eaters. Mr. Perkins is also reporting that Bro. White receives $2 a day for his services in the Office. Bro. Smith has this morning examined the Office books, and we find that instead of its being $2 a day, it has averaged $3.17 a week. GEORGE LEIGHTON. ROCKSILDA LEIGHTON. Battle Creek, Sept. 6th, 1858.

4. These contemptible falsehoods in regard to the "Bible," "character," "salvation," &c., we will not spend words upon. Those who make these lies know what they are doing. And there are those throughout the dominion of the dragon who love these lies which are reported against the commandment-keepers. J. N. Seymour of this State is doubtless furnished with a new set to peddle where he goes. We would warn the lambs of Jesus to beware of him. Perhaps no scripture language is more applicable to this subject than Rev. xxii, 14, 15. Mark well the two classes, their present work, and their destiny: "Blessed are they that DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates INTO THE CITY. "For WITHOUT are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever LOVETH AND MAKETH A LIE." J. W. (To be Continued.)