TENT SEASON by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 30, 1861

TENT SEASON.

By Editor

"The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few." In looking over the great field, and considering the many and urgent calls for ministers to labor with tents the coming season, and then counting the few who are in a measure prepared to go out with the tents, we are driven to the painful conclusion that all the calls cannot be supplied. And on a careful and prayerful consideration of the subject, we have found difficulties in coming to definite conclusions as to our fields of labor.

Bro. Loughborough is invited and urged to New York, but his feelings are West. Bro. Hull is settled at Battle Creek, but is willing to go to New York. The brethren are anxious to sustain him and Bro. Cornell in Michigan, while the brethren in Eastern Iowa call and expect Bro. C. to that field. Bro. Waggoner is invited to Ohio, but the absence of Bro. Hull from Southern Iowa, the state of the cause there, and the need of an experienced man to labor with Bro. E. W. Shortridge, form strong reasons why Bro. W. should go to Southern Iowa; yet the failure to sustain the cause in Southern Iowa is a draw-back, while the state of things in Ohio present discouragements to any preacher against laboring in that State the coming season.

Again, there are as many tents in the hands of the brethren as can be well manned, and the brethren in Michigan are willing to give up the preachers in this State to labor in other States, provided there be sufficient interest in other States to support them, and furnish good tent-masters that our worn preachers may not bear a double burden. There is no tent fit for use in Michigan, and as the cause is one, it would seem better to occupy the tents already in the hands of the brethren, than to buy more and let some of them be idle. Yet means could be raised at once in Michigan to purchase and sustain one or two tents, if thought best to urge preachers to remain, and labor in the State.

Therefore, we recommend immediate action and immediate report of such action, in those States, or localities where they have not taken and reported their action upon this subject, that we may better decide as to our fields of labor. If tent committees, and true friends of the cause be so scattered that they cannot consult in season, let individuals report for themselves immediately to the REVIEW Office. Bro. and sister White are urged to visit Mauston, Wis., and other points in the West, but are not willing to labor as they have done against unreasonable prejudice, and complaints of harshness and severity in their testimony from professed friends of the cause. Could they be assured that the friends of the cause would stand by them in a faithful performance of their duty, and not divide the difference between them and those who have been reproved by them, and thus throw on Bro. and sister W. an additional burden, they might see their way clear to visit the West. Their labors are also needed in Ohio, and perhaps farther east; but unless the way opens fully, or they receive special evidence of duty, they may fill calls in this State at present.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH. M. E. CORNELL. J. H. WAGGONER. MOSES HULL. JAMES WHITE.