Tent Meeting at Charlotte, Mich by John Norton Loughborough

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Jul 29, 1862

Tent Meeting at Charlotte, Mich.

By John Norton Loughborough

THIS meeting closed Sunday afternoon, July 13, after having continued about six weeks. The interest was good from the commencement to the close. We had a congregation most of the time of from six to eight hundred, and on Sundays, day and evening, our congregations were about ten or twelve hundred. We had held meeting but a few days when the people kindly opened their doors to entertain us, and for which they received the bitter censures of an offended clergy. We are grateful to the citizens for their kindness to us.

We had not labored long before opposition manifested itself. First, an Eld. Atchison, Protestant Methodist, came out with a discourse of ollapodrida, composed of Sabbath, Life and death, Millerism, Brethren in Battle Creek, and other et ceteras, thrown together in a most confused and grotesque manner. His effort consisted of so much more empty talk than argument that a sensible citizen said the best likeness he could get for the effort was to call him a "blow-snake."

Next Eld. Williams, a Congregationalist minister, came into the tent to set the people right on the Sabbath question. After reading the texts usually relied upon in the New Testament for Sunday-keeping, he gave us a treat from father Barnabas and some of his fellow-helpers. He told us, however, that orthodox churches did not believe in keeping any definite day; they believed in keeping the institution. But in order to commemorate the resurrection of Christ they kept the institution on the first day of the week as near as they could. He tried to make his strongest point against the Sabbath on the fact that the world was round. Admitted that this would weigh against the Sunday institution as much as it did against the Sabbath. Said there had never been any difficulty in regard to this matter yet, but thought there would be soon, as the settlers of the world were about to meet. His effort told for the truth, instead of against it. And as he wound up with a personal attack upon us he very quickly killed all the influence his discourse might have had on some.

Our next opponent was Eld. Joseph Jones, who went into a seven days' discussion, which has already been justly noticed by Bro. Smith. We need add nothing to what has been said of it save this: the Eld. told some of the people before the discussion commenced that there were some that were inclined toward this doctrine, but they would see the matter all strait after he had discussed a few days. We are inclined to think he told the truth in this; for some of his members begun to ask for their names to be taken off the church-book, about the third day of the discussion. This discussion only tended to fasten conviction in the minds of those who were almost persuaded of the truth.

Bro. White was with us and assisted much in preaching two Sabbaths and first-days of the meeting. Sister White accompanied him the last Sabbath, and her pointed testimony riveted conviction on many feeling hearts. We here express our gratitude for their assistance rendered in the meeting, and trust they will favor us with like help at each of our tent-meetings in the State this season.

The people manifested their interest during this meeting by purchasing $46 worth of our tracts. We left with them over twenty of that excellent work of Bro. Andrews', entitled, History of the Sabbath. Quite a number subscribed for the Review. Twenty were baptized. More than that number have taken a decided stand upon the truth. Just how many, we are not prepared to report definitely. We feel that our own souls have been watered while trying to water others, and we are encouraged to still strive to labor on in the good cause of the Lord.

Our meetings commenced in this place last evening. Over two hundred and fifty came in to hear the opening discourse. They listened with interest for one hour. Pray for us, that the Lord's blessing may attend our effort here also.

J. N. Loughborough. MOSES HULL.

Ionia, Mich., July 17, 1862.