The Tent Meeting in Memphis, Mich.
By R. J. Lawrence
BRO. WHITE : Thinking that the readers of the Review would be glad to hear something from me concerning the interest attending tent-labor this season, I avail myself of this opportunity to write. We came to this place June 22. We made our business known, and inquired for a place to set the tent; but we did not get one, and get the tent erected on it, until Friday, the 26th. We, however, commenced meetings in the Baptist meeting-house Wednesday evening, the 24th. There were about eighty present the first evening, and the second nearly two hundred. The people began to be interested, and our congregation increased to about seven hundred. The interest increased with the congregation. The people began to say, "These men know their own business, and know how to keep it to themselves." As we advanced on the chains of prophecy, showing our whereabouts in the world's history, by the prophetic periods, the two-horned beast, modern Spiritualism, the signs of the times, &c., the people listened with an eagerness and seeming relish that would characterize a hungry man when sitting down to a well-furnished table; for they began to say, "We never saw it so before, how plain it is! Why have we not seen these things before? We have read them over and over, but could not understand them. But now, O how plain! We have learned more about the Bible since these men came here, than we ever knew before." The time had now come to bring out those truths that would test their faithfulness to the word of God, such as the mortality of man, no future life without a resurrection. Some reported that we preached that man had no soul. Others resorted to those familiar texts commonly advanced, such as the rich man and Lazarus, the thief on the cross, Paul's desire to depart and be with Christ, the souls under the altar, &c., notwithstanding the numerous positive texts to the contrary, such as, the dead know not anything; man dieth, his breath goeth forth; in that very day his thoughts perish; the Saviour's declaration that we shall be rewarded at the resurrection of the just; Paul's crown at the last day; Peter's inheritance, to be received at the last time, &c. But a few weighed the testimony, saw a beauty in it, and endorsed it. Then came the law of God, in harmony with the gospel, and the perpetuity of the seventh-day Sabbath as God's mighty cleaver, to bring out a people that should be holy, without spot or wrinkle, prepared for translation at the coming of Christ. Then resort was had to the arguments (if arguments they may be called) that the world is round, and the same time cannot be kept as a Sabbath, time has been lost, and you cannot tell what day is the Sabbath; the Sabbath has been abolished, and there is no holy time in this dispensation, sustained by Paul's meats and drinks and sabbath-days, &c. O, how hard it is for some persons to yield to plain truth, especially when it crosses their former views. What an inclination there is to fix up for themselves a seemingly better way. The Pharisees and Sadducees are not alone in offering to God the doctrines and commandments of men for religious worship. Neither are Papists alone in thinking to change times and laws. But Protestant ministers and people are in sympathy with those changes, and do not seem to realize the force of that declaration of the Saviour's, "In vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men;" a conclusive proof that such worship is not acceptable to God. But to return. The interest in our meetings continued to increase. Men who labored hard in the hay and harvest-field, have told us that they were so tired when it came night, that it seemed to be their duty to stay at home; but they wanted to hear what was said on the different subjects presented at the tent, therefore could not bear the thought of staying away. And they have attended regularly from evening to evening, coming from one to six miles around. We established prayer and social meetings at the tent evenings at half-past 6 o'clock, which were quite well attended. Some began to talk out their convictions of truth and duty. We gradually brought out the strait testimony before them, which made the way look so narrow that some began to say, "It is too straight for us, we cannot walk in it." But selfishness and pride began to give away, and the deep emotion manifested by many gave evidence that the Spirit of God was performing its work in their hearts. Baptists, Methodists, Congregationalists, and non-professors, are bowing to its peaceful scepter. Last Sabbath, Aug. 1, there were about three hundred present, forty-five testimonies were given; and at the close an expression was taken to know how many had decided to keep the Sabbath, when one hundred and nine arose to their feet and stood long enough to be counted. The Lord is doing a great work here through his servants. Many are being brought to see the light of truth as revealed in his word. Great interest is manifested to obtain books and tracts, treating upon the various subjects of Bible truth. This gives us courage, and we feel to labor on in the cause, striving to do our duty, that we may become free from the blood of souls, and stand acquitted at the appearing of our Lord. Yours in hope of life. R. J. LAWRENCE.