Tent-Meeting at Knoxville, Iowa by M. E. Cornell; M. Hull

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 20, 1859

Tent-Meeting at Knoxville, Iowa.

By M. E. Cornell; M. Hull

WHEN we came to this place we were worn down by the labor and care of the last meeting, and the hard journey of 50 miles on the tent wagon. We arrived about 10 o'clock, A. M.—put up at the hotel, and immediately prepared for meeting in the evening. Strength was given us to pitch the tent and notify the people, and, notwithstanding the very short notice, about two hundred came out to hear what the strangers might say. The number increased each evening until the average attendance was from six to eight hundred. We have never witnessed a more steady interest or better order than was maintained from first to last. The Lord gave strength and freedom, and the truth bore away the victory. More than two hundred testified by rising, that they were convinced that the seventh-day was the only weekly Sabbath of divine appointment. We then remarked that as there was a very large audience present, it was no more than fair that an opportunity to be given to vote on the other side, and requested all who still regarded the first day of the week as the true Sabbath, to arise; but not one stood up. Not one dared to hazard his reputation for common honesty, so far as to vote against such an array of testimony as was then before them. Thus the truth triumphed. Praise the Lord for a truth that chains up its enemies—that is so plain and powerful as to convince all, and save the honest-hearted.

During this meeting 57 subscribers were obtained for the Advent Review; and as near as we could ascertain about fifty were keeping the Sabbath at the close of our meetings. Several others were about decided, but wished to hear more on the other side, and have more time to investigate. We hope the admonition of Elijah, "How long halt ye between two opinions?" may come home to them in spirit and power till they are established on the Lord's side.

Bro. Hull is now located at Knoxville, and the friends there have made a noble beginning towards making his family comfortable. We trust his hands will be stayed up while he opens new fields the coming winter. Let the friends in Knoxville remember that when the woman in the parable had lost one of her ten pieces of silver, and found it again, she called on her neighbors to rejoice with her. So the church having lost one of the ten commandments and found it again, will rejoice, and because of love to neighbor, will be anxious that the same subject of rejoicing be communicated to the neighbors round about, that they also may rejoice. A word to the wise is sufficient.

A word in regard to the opposition may not be out of place in this report. One of the ministers of the place came out against us in the Knoxville Journal, over the name "Observer," to which we made a reply in the same paper. It was evident that Mr. "Observer" was looking through the Pope's spectacles (tradition), and that those venerable articles are held in high esteem even among the grand-children.

Another of the clergy wrote against us in the Democratic Standard over the signature "One who thinks," to which we replied, showing that thinkers do not always think right—that "as a man thinketh, so is he," and of course if he thinks wrong he is wrong.

In a sermon on the Sabbath question, one of these Elders pretended to find positive proof for a first-day Sabbath. It was by rejecting King James' translation of Matt. xxviii, 1, and affirming that the Greek word (Sabbatov) in that text in both instances referred to a day, and interpreted it as follows, "In the end of the old Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the new Sabbath," all the while concealing the fact that the Greek word (Sabbaton) also signifies week, and that "week" in the New Testament is never translated from any other word. We did the best we could with our limited means, in exposing this sophistry and the truth lost nothing by this attack.

The clergy of Knoxville appeared to be united only in one particular and that was to do their utmost to put down the Sabbath. No two of them agreed in their positions, and neither one could agree with himself for one hour. Each sermon was full of glaring contradictions, so much so that little children could not help observing it.

Pilate and Herod could make friends in one day and set at naught Jesus of Nazareth, but they could not tell of what he was guilty. Neither can the Dragon's agents now do more than to agree in making war upon the commandment-keepers; for their words of warfare are legion. Error has many heads and horns, while truth is a unit. Because truth cannot be overthrown by reason or the Bible, it is always persecuted.

Our tent meetings are now closed for the season, and it is proper that we make a brief report of financial matters concerning tent operations this summer. We have kept a strict account of all the money we have received and expended since we commenced. We have received $65,50, which has been all expended, and about $10 more which we have not charged to the tent company.

Bro. D. W. Hull was with us till the last meeting and labored faithfully to lighten our burdens. He has our sincere thanks, and may the Lord abundantly reward him for the sacrifice he has been willing to make.

It is with feelings of gratitude that we look back upon our labors and see that the Lord has made us true yoke-fellows, and given us sweet union and harmony in the work. To him be all the praise.

New fields of labor are now opening before us, and we hope to see many new churches raised up in this State the coming winter. May the Lord prosper the work in Iowa, for which let all the church most fervently pray and labor.

M. E. CORNELL. M. HULL.