REPORT FROM BRO. SNOOK.
By B. F. Snook
I BEGAN lecturing here on Wednesday, the 18th of Sept. The interest to hear was good when I began, and grew better as I advanced with my subjects. I never saw people more anxious for the truth than this people seemed to be. They came out in large crowds and filled the house to overflowing, so that we had a good sized audience standing at the door and windows. At the end of the second week, as I came to my deciding lecture on the Sabbath, it commenced raining and continued so for a week, with short cessations. This threw us back a week, and destroyed much of the interest. But I returned and resumed my course, though much discouraged. On arriving we were informed that Eld. Kellison and wife of Wintersett, Iowa (both preachers of the Newlight church) were in town, and going to preach that evening, I went to hear, of course. Kellison spoke, and soon began throwing out hints about us, and finally remarked that "the old Jewish Sabbath had been changed, and that now we are commanded to keep the first day." After he was through he called on me to say something. I arose and remarked that he had contradicted what I had been preaching, and that he must now make his statements good, or take them back. He tried to evade, but when hard pressed consented to preach on the change of the Sabbath the following evening. I went to hear him, and replied to him as soon as he was done, and the people en masse, say I most triumphantly sustained my positions. I proposed the following to him. He stated a number of times that Sunday was the Lord's day. "Now sir," said I, "if you will show that the Son of man is Lord of the first day, I will give up that you are right, and if I can show that he is Lord of the Sabbath, you must give up that I am right. Now sir, will you abide by this?" "Well," said he, "I am in for anything fair." Said I, "Is not this fair?" "Yes," said he. Imagine my hopes then! I was sure he was honest enough to make the confession. I called on him to prove his point, but he refused to try it. I then proved by Mark ii, 27, 28, that the Son of man is Lord, not of the first day, but of the Sabbath-day. This of course settled the question; but how do you suppose he evaded the force of this evidence? "Oh," said he, "the Son of man there is not Jesus Christ." This brought the disgust of the house upon him. His own brethren were absolutely ashamed of him. The interest now revived again, and so we have continued till the present. About twenty-five decided in favor of the truth yesterday. I think there are near one hundred persons around here who are well convinced of the truth, but O how hard for them to come out! Though a few have come out, and are going to make the effort, may God bless them, and keep them in the way, and save them at last, is my prayer. Batavia, Jeff. Co., Iowa.