The Tent Meeting in Alfred Center, N. Y.
By James White
ELDER JAMES WHITE, Dear Sir: A mutual friend has put into my hands a copy of the Review and Herald, bearing date Aug. 18, 1863, containing an article written by Eld. J. N. Andrews, containing an account of a meeting held by him and others in the vicinity of Alfred Center, beginning July 10 and ending August 2. As there are several errors in said article, I write this note in order as far as I may, to correct them. It is however my purpose to notice only those which seem to be most important, leaving the others to correct themselves. In this account I do not include the controversy between him and a certain "Professor" leaving them to settle that matter entirely between themselves. I also desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not represent Elder Andrews as intending to misrepresent in the matters I shall notice. I account for his errors of statement in this way. Eld. A. really knows but little of the people in this town, and of that little scarcely anything save what has come to him from persons somewhat alienated in their feelings and excited by the spirit of religious partisan controversy. He was also evidently chafed in his own feelings on account of the not very flattering manner in which his labors in the Advent interest were received here. Besides I find that almost always the infirmities of human nature are such that when a partisan attempts the duties of a reporter, he is likely at least to color questions of interest rather highly in his own favor. The several points I propose to notice are as follows. 1. Eld. Andrews in his letter says, "The Professors of the University are mostly Sabbatarian Ministers" &c., &c. Of the four Professors in the University at the time of his writing only one was a Sabbatarian Minister. 2. He further says, "The extent and bitterness of the prejudice that there prevailed against our views," &c., That the views of the Christians of this Town are in opposition to those of the Adventists in several important particulars I admit: that they are earnestly so too, to some extent may also be true. But that there is anything to justify the use of that strong term "bitterness" I think I am abundantly justified in denying. 3. "The most determined efforts were made to hedge up our way. We applied for a small piece of141ground consisting of gravel and stones and almost destitute of vegetation and of no possible use to the owner. This he refused us though a very free-hearted man, simply because told to do so by his religious guides." There is here another mistake. The "religious guides" of this man told him no such thing. They told him most distinctly that he must act entirely upon his own judgment in the matter. It is not here pretended that the views of these "guides" as to their own obligations in no way influenced the judgment of this "very free-hearted man" but that they refused to take any responsibility as to the "ground" under consideration is a fact. The gentleman referred to, takes the entire responsibility of his own act in the premises. 4. The letter further says "For our doctrines and purposes were so effectually and industriously misrepresented that a large part of the community were induced to covenant together not to attend the meetings." I am glad to be able to say that no such "covenant" was made by the "people." The statement is entirely founded in error.
N. V. HULL.
Alfred Center, Sept. 11, 1863. REMARKS. A few words in reply to the points above enumerated. 1. I may be incorrect in stating that "the Professors in the University are mostly Sabbatarian ministers." If so it was not a willful misstatement. But the case as I understand it is this: Prof. Kenyon, the head of the institution, is pastor of a S. D. B. church. Prof. Allen bears the title of D. D. and preaches now and then especially on important occasions. Of the other two Professors I had the idea, perhaps an incorrect one, that one sustained a relation to the Sabbatarian ministry, similar to that of Prof. Allen. But if I was mistaken in this last case it is less inexcusable than the present statement of Eld. H. that but one of the Professors is a Sabbatarian minister. Only one of them is a pastor of a S. D. B. church, but two of them certainly are preachers of high standing in the denomination. But not to dispute about words I will state precisely what idea I wished to convey. It was that this University is under the control of the S. D. B. denomination and that for the sake of first-day patronage it is made to exert an influence deleterious to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. I am persuaded that Eld. H. himself will not deny this fact. If he does not, there is no controversy between us on the first point. 2. That bitterness did exist in many minds—I am far from saying in all—we have the amplest proof. I will come to particulars if required so to do, but otherwise choose to forbear. 3. It was not my intention to upbraid these "religious guides" as forbidding the gentleman in question to let us have the piece of ground. What I did mean to convey was this, that when he referred the matter to them for advice their influence led him to refuse us. Even Eld. H.'s language above, pretty strongly implies that such was the case. But if the owner of the ground assumes all the responsibility of refusing it, it is very evident that his "religious guides," on their own showing, would have done the same thing had the ground been theirs. 4. As to the misrepresentation of our doctrine, I need only say that it was set forth as Mormonism, Sadduceeism and infidelity. That there was a tacit understanding and agreement among the members of the churches in that vicinity as a whole, that they would not attend the tent meeting I was repeatedly informed. I referred to this thing publicly, and in private conversation while in Alfred Center, and do not remember that one individual denied the fact. Finally I am not conscious of writing under the influence of such motives as Eld. H. assigns. I have set down nothing in malice, but I have called attention to an alarming fact that this Sabbatarian school of science and theology and the able Sabbatarian ministry surrounding it, do occupy a position that makes the Sabbath of the fourth commandment a non-essential in the eyes of those who observe the first-day of the week. O that they might regard the Saviour's warning: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place except thou repent." Rev. ii, 5.
J. N. ANDREWS.