p. 140 | TENT MEETING AT OCEOLA, IOWA

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 22, 1859

TENT MEETING AT OCEOLA, IOWA.

By M. E. Cornell; M. Hull

It is impossible to give a definite report of this meeting, as to the number who have decided to obey the truth, on account of the sickness of our company during the last and most important part of the time, so that we could not visit those interested. However, we have the assurance that several have decided to keep the Sabbath. Our regular hearers were mostly from the country, and we learn that a good impression is made on many minds. Nine were baptized. Hundreds were gathered at the water-side, and while the services were performed, and an exhortation given, solemnity seemed to pervade the whole assembly. May the Lord give the increase, is our prayer.

Bro. Brinkerhoof was with us part of the time, and assisted in preaching the word. Bro. B. was never a professor of religion until he heard the present truth. He had studied law under his uncle, and was ready to be admitted to the bar when the truth found him, and he now feels willing to give himself to pleading the "higher law"—the law of God. Bro. B. will be duly set apart to the ministry, and as such we heartily commend him to the sympathies of commandment-keepers where he may travel.

Eld. Winans, a good scholar and one of the first Methodist preachers in this country, gave us a challenge to debate the Sabbath question. Bro. Hull accepted, and a day was appointed for the discussion of the question,

Resolved, That the seventh day of the week, beginning the count with the commencement of the making of the world, is the only lawful weekly Sabbath.

It was estimated that over a thousand persons were assembled to hear the arguments, and the unanimous decision of all, so far as we could learn, (except a part of Eld. W.'s own members,) was that our position was triumphantly sustained, and that Eld. W. did not argue to the question. Good order was observed by the audience, and a good spirit manifested by the disputants, and we believe a general spirit of investigation was stimulated by the effort. When truth and error are held side by side, the honest and unprejudiced can discern the vast difference that exists between them.

We are now in Knoxville. Have had three meetings here. Last evening about five hundred were present, notwithstanding three other meetings at the same time. The interest is rising very fast, and we hope for much good here.

Since writing the above our congregation has increased to above eight hundred, and some say over a thousand. The country people are just now beginning to come in, and there is a prospect of a good work. O Lord, revive thy work. M. E. CORNELL. M. HULL.

Knoxville, Iowa, Sept. 5th, 1859.

Since we received the above the following has come to hand from Bro. Hull, written from Knoxville.—Ed.

DEAR BRO. SHIRTS: Through the abundant goodness of our heavenly Father, I am permitted to address you. The present truth is onward in this place. So far the interest is very good here, the best we have seen in any place this year. The tent is crowded every night to overflowing. Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Lutherans, and Disciples flock out en masse to hear the truth.

There are a few who have never heard us, who make it their business to circulate all manner of false reports about us. But thus far they have overshot the mark. They have loaded their gun so heavy that the effect has been for them the wrong way. The stories are so large that the people will not believe them, notwithstanding ministers are foremost in circulating them. One Presbyterian minister told his congregation that he knew all about us; that we were Mormons, and still had our spiritual wives; that we were abolitionists, down on education, and would stay as long as we could get sap-heads to hear us. But this attempt to put us down only made him appear ridiculous, and caused his best brethren to lose confidence in him. The Lord has given some freedom in presenting his truth, although my health has been so poor that I have not been able to do justice to any subject as yet. I hope for more physical strength in the future. I shall have to quit the field unless more bodily strength is given to me than I have had for a few weeks past. Brethren, pray for me. M. HULL.

P. S. My address for the present is Knoxville, Marion Co., Iowa.