TENT MEETINGS IN OHIO by G. W. Holt; T. J. Butler

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 2, 1860

TENT MEETINGS IN OHIO.

By G. W. Holt; T. J. Butler

Sickness and feeble health prevented the tent operation in this State, until the first of Aug. We then raised our tent in Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., a pleasant village with a thickly populated country around it. Our meetings opened favorably, with large and attentive congregations, although considerable prejudice existed against us in consequence of some misrepresentations of our faith and practice by some persons who were here on a visit from Michigan, who were very zealous in notifying the people that we were the followers of a woman, that lived in Battle Creek, who had visions directing us what to do, which we received as divine : upon which we built our theory. Ministers and people nevertheless came out to hear our position explained.

After hearing numerous quotations from the prophets, apostles, and Jesus Christ, their prejudice gave way, and many became deeply interested in the harmonious system of truth which we advocate. Infidelity yielded to divine truth; and men who before were considered rank infidels now became our warmest friends and advocates of the Holy Bible, the great foundation of our most ardent faith.

A preacher of the Disciple church commenced opposition to the law of God. He gave us however no new light o the no-law subject. His positions were taken up in the tent, and made to appear in the light of truth, in their natural darkness. He then requested of us the stand to make another attempt, which was granted him. His first sally this time was with what he supposed to be the weapon that would lay to the ground the whole code of moral precepts written by the finger of God, and forever put an end to the controversy! We were notified beforehand that Eld. C. had something wonderful against our position that we did not think of. Of course we were prepared for a dreadful shock. At the hour appointed the man appeared with the instrument in his hand! It was a paper entitled, Western Christian Advocate, out of which he read with great emphasis concerning a tent in Iowa, that was moving from place to place in that State, accompanied by one Cornell and others who preached dangerous doctrine, &c. He then attempted to patch up a former discourse of his, and somehow he got nine of the ten commandments, after they had been dead and buried, raised to life and placed in the epistles. This he accompanied with considerable slang, closing up with an air of triumph, pledging us his horse, "as fine an animal as he ever drew a line over," if we could find "Jewish Sabbath" in the epistles. He then retreated, with as many as preferred the narrow platform of the epistles alone to the broad foundation of the apostles and prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. None followed him except his church.

Several from a distance attended our meetings with interest, and bought books with the conviction that we had the truth. Five young converts were baptized, and fifteen or twenty have decided to obey the truth; while many others are satisfied we have the truth and remain our warm friends. We ardently hope they will take up the cross, and go with us to mount Zion.

The church of God in Royalton will meet on the Sabbath of the Lord, for worship in the Freewill Baptist meeting house.

G. W. HOLT. T. J. BUTLER.