TENT MEETINGS IN MICH by James White

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1860

TENT MEETINGS IN MICH.

By James White

Bro. Smith: Our meeting in Milford has finally closed, having been in operation about four weeks. The first week, as we before stated, a good interest was manifested and the tent well filled, but everything was quiet, and the truth did not seem to get hold of the minds of the people much until Eld. Brittain, a local Methodist preacher, took the stand to oppose the sleep of the dead, on Wednesday evening, Aug. 15. He treated the subject with gentlemanly candor, and was replied to by Bro. Frisbie the next evening in the same manner. This had the effect to rouse the people to deeper investigation, and the false shepherds to greater indignation. The next Sunday evening, the time we expected to close, word came to us from a camp-ground, some eight miles distant, that one of their smartest elders was coming to preach against us the next Tuesday night, and would like the tent if we were willing; and preferring to be present to protect the flock when such an attack was made, we readily consented. At the appointed hour a large congregation assembled, and on came the elder, surrounded by about a half dozen colleagues, warm from the camp-meeting, appearing as if they considered David and his sling of minor consequence.

With great circumlocution the elder proceeded to establish that the Bible was the only rule of truth respecting man as man. He then proceeded to treat us to a dish consisting of a strange committure of philosophy, logic, and misrepresentation, served up with a good supply of sublime ridicule. At the close of his harangue, without consultation, he gave out an appointment for the next evening in the tent, to which we objected, stating to the congregation that we had been grossly misrepresented and wished an opportunity to reply before he went any farther. A scene then presented itself which almost beggars description; the elder raving like a madman, and appealing to the congregation for the tent, while cries of “Every other night,” “Preach on the green,” “Preach out doors,” “We don’t want the old tent,” &c., arose from every quarter. As the result, the elder made an appointment for a meeting in the M. E. meeting house the next evening, saying as he did so, “We will see who have souls.”

The next evening we had a majority of about two hundred at the tent, some of them Methodists who were disgusted with the elder’s course.

We trust the whole affair has worked for good, and hundreds are convinced that we have the truth. Notes of the discourse at the meeting house were obtained, and replied to the evening following.

The community is all alive on the subject, and Pilate and Herod have made friends to crucify the truth. Last Sunday evening Eld. Ransom, a Protestant Methodist who has once been with us, came out against us in the M. E. house, in a ranting manner; but as we were ready to come away, and he is a man of so little influence, we thought it best to pay no attention to him.

About twenty have decided to keep the Sabbath; and others are almost persuaded. An appointment was left for a prayer meeting next Sabbath.

Providence permitting, we shall commence meetings at Ray Center, Macomb Co., next Sabbath evening.

Your brethren in Christ, J. B. Frisbie R. J. Lawrence.