TENT MEETING IN ST. CHARLES, MINN.
By Wm. S. Ingraham
BRO. SMITH: Our tent-meeting in St. Charles is closed. Our labors commenced under very discouraging circumstances, some of which I will mention. The wall of the tent was lost on board the steamer Northern Belle, and we have been under the necessity of holding our meetings without it. We shall probably receive it soon or the pay for it. The second discouragement in the way was the condition of the cause we profess to love. Within a circle of ten miles from St. Charles there have been over thirty Sabbath-keepers. Eighteen in one neighborhood have fallen into the Future-Age doctrine and have all given up the Sabbath, have no religious meetings, and are in perfect confusion among themselves. Those that had not given up the truth, were, to say the least a perfect wreck. They had no meetings, but were almost discouraged. Under these circumstances we commenced our labors. We did not look for many new ones to embrace the truth. At our first meeting on Sunday our no-Sabbath friends were on hand, ready for their stump speeches; but it was overruled. Our meeting was one of labor, but the Lord was with us. The result of our meeting has been good. It has been the means of bringing together and permanently establishing fourteen in the truth. They now have their stated meetings. Four new ones expressed their determination to keep all God's commandments. Others are on the point of turning. The Lord help them to obey. I have not spoken of the no-Sabbath people to harm them in the least. I pity them; and I would here warn all to be careful how they follow in their wake. We go from this place to High Forest. I have had all the preaching to do thus far, which is quite too much for one. I would be very glad if some of our preaching brethren could come and help me in the tent. A tent ought to be well manned; but if I must labor alone I will do the best I can. The brethren in Minnesota are doing well in defraying the expenses of the tent enterprise. St. Charles, Minn., June, 1860.