A young woman who sometimes attends our meetings, was induced more than a year ago, by a medical friend, while she was yet in the Romish Church, to get herself magnetized, with a view to becoming a medium as a means of earning money. The magnetizing did not succeed, but she has since been subject to violent fits of convulsions. As long as she refrains from attending evangelical meetings she is left quiet, when she comes to them the fits return. I told her that prayer would be her only deliverance, and recommended her to seek Christ earnestly, which she did, but when she does so the fits return with greater violence than ever.
She is a native of Cesena, in the Romagna. Her father having died there some years ago, her mother came to Rome with her, where she married another husband and opened a tobacco shop. About two years ago this young woman was surprised to see a man enter the shop who seemed to be her father. He asked for a particular kind of cigars, and put down a five-franc note in payment, receiving money in change. I should have said that she had already seen him for the first time in the public gardens, where the band was playing. She was sitting upon one of the seats, in the midst of a crowd of people, when this person passed before her, and she was at once struck by his appearance. The next thing that struck her as remarkable was that he crossed before her several times, always going in the same direction, although she never saw him return. Shortly afterwards he came to the shop.
He began to come regularly to the shop, always buying the same cigars, and always changing a five-franc note. At length they determined to follow him out of the shop and ask him who he was. This they did several times, but he always avoided meeting them. He was always accompanied by another man, who used to wait for him outside the shop. At length they succeeded in stopping him one day, when he answered, “I am from Cesena,” their native place; then he uttered the words hastily, “I am not he whom you take me for,” and turned away.
After some time this young woman began to hear a voice calling her whenever she was left alone in the house. She used to hear the voice calling distinctly, “Celia, Celia,” but on going to the room from which it came she could see no one.
Every one has heard of the lottery in Italy. It is the great scourge of the country; it is an incentive to robbery, and swallows up even more of the earnings of the people than wine and tobacco. A person pays a small sum and buys a ticket, writing upon it three numbers between one and one hundred. Every Saturday a drawing is made; if two of the numbers he has chosen come out he gets a considerable sum; if all three, he may win a very large sum indeed. Within the past week a priest thus played one hundred francs. All three numbers came out, and he has won two millions of francs. This is a thing, however, that very rarely happens, and numbers of people are reduced to beggary by gambling at the lottery.
To give a zest to this gambling, a book is published, which gives a number, from one to ninety-nine, to every unusual circumstance that happens. Is there a pane of glass broken in the house, or a rat caught, or a cup of milk spilled, the numbers corresponding are sought out in the book and gambled. So, also, a robbery, a murder, a death, etc. The deaths of Victor Emanuel and of the pope caused many thousands of francs to flow through the lottery. Some months since a depraved young debauchee, of a high family, murdered his sister in a most cruel manner with a revolver, because she refused to give him any more money to carry on his dissipation. He was arrested. His unhappy wife (for he was married) brought him five francs to the jail, the last she had. He immediately sent it out to purchase a lottery ticket, gambling three numbers on the murder that he had committed! It is a common custom to make incantations to saints to guide one to three numbers for the lottery; and many have prayed to the devil, offering him their souls, and have received audible answers, in order to win a terno, as it is called, in the lottery.
This young woman had been told, the year before seeing the strange personage as above related, that if she performed the novena to St. Pantaleo he would give her a terno. It is done in this manner: A book is printed containing nine incantations to the above-named saint. Nine days before the day consecrated to him, July 27, at sunset, one of these is sung to him, and so on each evening until the saint’s day arrives. At midnight the saint is to give the three numbers, if it has been faithfully done. She did this, and then waited for the answer. Exactly at midnight she felt the house shake, heard a clap of thunder, and saw a flash of lightning. She searched for the three numbers corresponding to “earthquake,” “thunder,” and “lightning,” and told her mother of it next day. They had intended to play quite a sum of money on these numbers, but in the end they lost courage and did not do so. The next Saturday at the drawing these three numbers came out. Annoyed at having lost her chance, she resolved to repeat the experiment when the saint’s day came around again. Meantime the mysterious personage above-described had begun calling on her. After having repeated the incantations nine times, she went to the window at midnight, and in the street underneath she saw him looking up at her. He made three gestures that are described in the lottery book, in a very marked manner, and then departed. She took the numbers, and next day told the occurrence to a friend, who said that she would play them also. Next night at midnight it occurred to her to look out, and again she saw her mysterious friend. He made an expressive gesture (in this country it is customary to speak by gestures) implying that all was lost because she had told the numbers to another. She did not play them, her friend played, and lost.
After this she was persuaded to get herself magnetized with a view to becoming a medium, but it brought on convulsions, which have never since left her. Shortly afterwards they were led to the Baptist church in Rome, where her mother became, I have reason to believe, seriously impressed with evangelical doctrines; but the daughter has been tormented every time she has come to meeting. They have now opened some other business in Naples, where they have attended the Baptist church and occasionally come to our meetings. In our new hall we have reason to hope they will be regular attendants.
We have prayed much for this sister, but the devil has done still more by leading her some months since to engage herself in marriage with a young man who is a determined Catholic, or perhaps more probably an infidel. He is in very delicate health. She tries to persuade him to come to our meetings. God has blessed our work to more than one unbeliever.
Our new hall is in the house where this sister resides. On calling there a week ago, while thinking what we were to do to continue our meetings this month, her mother came of her own accord, and proposed to me to take one of her rooms as a meeting-room. We sought the Lord’s direction, and we hope that this change has been brought about for the sake of bringing this young woman out of bondage into the liberty of Christ. We ask our brethren to join with us in asking God to give a victory over Satan in her case. H. P. HEDDON.
FLIRTING
By Dudley Marvin Canright
Even in the eyes of the world, it has always been considered a contemptible thing for persons to engage in flirting. The young man or young woman who will engage in such conduct is always looked upon with contempt. It is not only mean, but it is absolutely wicked. How many hearts are broken and lives blasted by this miserable conduct.
A young man shows special regard for a young lady. He seeks her company, waits upon her, writes letters to her, makes her presents, and perhaps gives her to understand that he has special affection for her. But all the time he does it lightly, only for his own amusement. At length he breaks it all off, and abandons her for some other one; but she has set her heart upon him, given him the best affections of her soul. Now her heart is broken. A shadow has come over her life. She may be convinced that the young man is utterly unworthy of her, but it does not help the case. Nothing can repair the wrong that has been done her. If you had stolen every dollar she had, and turned her into the street penniless, the wrong would have been infinitely less.
The wickedness of the thing is just as great if the shoe comes on the other foot. How, then, can young men or women who fear God lend themselves to such unchristian conduct?
D. M. CANRIGHT.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
Does the fifth commandment refer to the present or the future state? E. P. D.
ANS. We think it refers to the future. In this case the “earth” referred to by Paul in Eph. 6: 1-3, is the new earth, and the “living long” upon it, is the same as the “long life” with which God has promised to satisfy his people; Ps. 91:16; and they will be satisfied with nothing less than eternal life.
ANSWERED BY LETTER: Mrs. W. H. Brown, I. D. H., R. T. Fults, Mrs. C. E. Bell, Wm Evans, J. D. Hough, W. H. Littlejohn, F. N. Bartholomew, G. I. Butler, J. N. Ayers, R. F. Cottrell, J. C. Cole, G. H. Murphy, E. N. Hatt, S. L. Wood, W. H. Beddoe.
Write Nothing You Would Not Like God to Read
Write nothing that you would not like God to read.
MICHIGAN
Labor among the Churches.
On the evening of June 30 we closed a series of meetings at Gaines, Kent county, which had continued for ten days. Had it not been for the fact that we were in a farming community at a time when haying and harvesting were just being entered upon, we should have continued our meetings longer, as the interest was good from the start and promised to increase.
On the 29th of June ten persons were baptized, all of whom united with the church upon profession of faith. Two of them entered upon the service of the Lord for the first time during our meetings; the remainder had previously made a profession of religion. Baptism was administered by Eld. E. H. Root, who came to the place for that purpose, and whose experience has qualified him to administer the ordinance successfully.
Never before has it been our privilege to witness the baptism of ten persons all of whom were in the morning of life, the youngest being thirteen and the oldest about twenty-five years of age. We were forcibly reminded of the saying of John, “I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong.” May God grant that the future lives of all those who have thus publicly put on Christ, may illustrate the “strength” of those who early in life commence the service of the Master.
We left the church, which is small, with a membership increased by about one-third, and evidently encouraged to renew with fresh vigor the contest for the truth of God and the race for eternal life.
W. H. LITTLEJOHN.
Central Lake, Antrim Co., June 30.
We commenced a series of meetings at this point last Sunday evening, June 22. The attendance is small, but increasing. Good attention is paid to the word spoken, and some are already convicted of their sins and feel an anxiety to become Christians. We, feeling our weakness, still desire to be remembered at the throne of grace.
R. T. SISLEY.
Clam Lake, Antrim Co., June 30.
Since our last report, others have taken a stand with us, until there are twenty or more keeping the Sabbath. They have much to do in overcoming their evil habits, and in perfecting Christian characters. Many have never felt the pardoning blood of Christ, and need to seek a deeper work of grace. We remain with them another week to help them in this direction, then expect to commence a series of meetings about sixteen miles north of this place.
JOHN SISLEY.
Birmingham, July 1.
The interest here the past week has been quite good considering the busy season of hay-making, the congregations averaging about one hundred and twenty-five. Bro. M. S. Burnham joined us on Thursday. At our first Sabbath meeting last Sabbath, seventy-five were present, and nineteen gave in their names to keep all the commandments. Probably enough others are keeping the Sabbath to swell the number to twenty-five. We hope for others. Have obtained six more subscribers for the REVIEW, making sixteen in all.
J. O. CORLISS.
WM. POTTER.
Tent No. 3, Hickory Corners, July 5.
Our meetings have been well attended since our last report. Some are interested. We had our smallest congregation the evening before the Fourth. We have just introduced the Sabbath question. The people appear friendly; some have expressed themselves as troubled about the Sabbath.
Cannot report as much progress as I wish I could. Pray for us.
T. M. STEWARD.
Twin Lake, July 1.
I visited Shelby, Oceana county, and spoke once on the Sabbath and twice on Sunday. The church had a business meeting on Sunday. Four persons were taken into the church, the T. and M. work was revived, officers were elected, five copies of the SIGNS were taken from Bro. Newman's hands and transferred to the vigilant society, and some books were placed in the town library. The brethren seem determined to take hold in earnest, and to work in union and harmony. I have spent the succeeding Sabbaths at Twin Lake.
June 5 and 6, I visited some Swedes and Norwegians at Holton and vicinity, Bridgeton, and Fremont Center. Sold and gave away some books, and obtained three subscribers for the HERALD. One Swedish family became very much interested.
Wednesday, June 12, I gave a lecture on temperance and hygiene, at Holton. The audience paid good attention. A young German came on foot twenty-three miles to see me, and learn about the truth. The next Sabbath he kept as his first Sabbath. We have good Sabbath meetings at Twin Lake. Sometimes the friends from Whitehall and Montague attend. One family has gone to Minnesota. Another person has signed the covenant. There are ten or eleven more who desire baptism. The Sabbath-school is prospering. I have received one subscriber for the TIDENDE.
Pray for us.
G. A. CARLSTEDT.
NEW YORK AND PENNSYLVANIA.
Tent No. 2, Newfane, N. Y., July 1.
The interest in our meeting is increasing. The attendance is large on an average, and last evening the tent was crowded, and a hundred or more were seated outside on the fence and in carriages.
Opposition discourses were given in both the churches in the morning on the immortality question, and all came to the tent in the evening to hear the other side. The Methodist minister came with his church, but the Baptist minister appointed a special praise-meeting in his church; but when the time came no one was seen to go to the church but the elder and his wife, and the sexton, and he came to the tent after ringing the bell, so that the elder was left “alone in his glory.”
It is evident that the hold of the ministers on the people is loosening, as it must more and more as the truth gains in power.
The Lord gives good freedom in advocating and defending the truth. To his name be all the praise. S. B. Whitney.
Tent No. 10, Oswayo, Pa., July 1.
The first week we were here, the weather was so unfavorable that we were obliged to take up our appointment for three evenings. This served to make our attendance quite small during the past week, although the weather has been very fine. But the attendance and interest are gradually increasing. Three have already decided to keep the Sabbath.
The majority of the people seem to be our friends, and our temporal wants are well provided for.
Eld. A. C. Spicer, of Battle Creek, Mich., joined us last week and is aiding in the work.
We expect that, with the blessing of God, a good work will be accomplished here. E. W. Whitney. H. E. Robinson.
Tent No. 3, South Harrisburg, N. Y.
We are still having large congregations almost every night. Last evening the tent would not hold the people, although it was in the middle of the week. We are now giving the close, testing truths of our message. The ministers are becoming alarmed for the safety of their flocks, and are warning them to keep away from the tent. Bro. and Sr. Henry Williams are now with us, and assist very much in singing; they also have an organ. Jacob Wilbur. A. P. Bump.
Tent No. 7, Sabinsville, Tioga Co., Pa.
We have now been here two weeks. The interest is increasing. Fully three hundred were in attendance last evening. We are now speaking on the Sabbath question. Five have embraced the Sabbath, and we expect others will soon.
We were challenged for a discussion by Eld. Wilson, an Age-to-come Adventist. Question: Resolved that the Scriptures teach that probation continues after Christ’s second coming. Bro. Wilcox accepted the challenge. The discussion was held in the afternoon, in the tent. The truth gained a glorious victory. The discussion has helped us much, and we look for a good work to be done. T. M. Lane. July 1.
Tent No. 4, Brushton, N. Y., July 1.
The opposition of Eld. C. Pike, a no-law Adventist, has been met, and the truth has gained a complete victory. The shepherds here became alarmed for their flocks, and not feeling able to defend their doctrines before the people, Eld. Pierce, a minister of the Christian Church, telegraphed to Eld. Pike to come and oppose us and our work. He spoke against us in the Christian church, and then challenged us to a discussion, which we accepted before a large audience that had assembled to hear our review of his sermon. He then backed down squarely, and claimed he had not time. We suggested that there were others who could discuss the question, and as Eld. Pierce, who was present, had been urging on the debate, he was just the man to take it up; but he failed to respond, and so their effort to either scare us or drive us from the field resulted in a total failure.
Although this opposition has run our meetings of late in a different channel, and has delayed the decisions of some, yet the prospect at present is more encouraging than at any previous time. In our meetings yesterday there was great solemnity and the marked presence of the Spirit of God. M. H. Brown. H. H. Wilcox.
WISCONSIN
Tent No. 1, New London, July 2.
We have been here about two weeks. Have had an attendance of from one hundred and fifty to three hundred. The interest is good. Have spoken once on the law and once on the Sabbath question. Two have decided to obey.
We have six tents pitched in the State, and good reports are coming in from them. We ask our brethren in Wisconsin to make tent-work a special subject of prayer.
H. W. DECKER.
Tent No. 4, Mukwonago, July 1.
The interest during the past week has been as good perhaps as could have been expected under the circumstances. The weather has been very warm and dry, and during the working days our congregations have been small. But Sunday evening we had a good turnout, and the best of attention was given. Bro. Olds spoke on the seal of the living God. A deep impression was made upon the minds of the people, and hearts were reached. We are hopeful that some will take their stand for the truth. We ask the prayers of our brethren and sisters.
E. M. CRANDALL.
Pulcifer and Manitowoc, July 2.
I spent the first Sabbath after our camp-meeting with the church at home. We had some good meetings. Four united with the church, and an elder was ordained.
The week following I went to Pulcifer. The Lutheran minister at this place23called us to an account for the doctrine we taught. He appointed the time when we should meet him. A large crowd of people came together, and six hours were spent, each speaking fifteen minutes at a time. The Lord gave me much freedom in presenting the truth, and many who had not heard our doctrines had an opportunity here. Some confessed afterward that we stood on very different ground from what they had supposed. The Sabbath following we baptized five precious souls. We hope for further good results from that meeting.
We are now at Manitowoc, with a tent. Have held three meetings. The Scandinavians seem to be afraid to come out.
O. A. OLSEN.
Tent No. 6, Cataract, July 1.
We have held eighteen meetings in the tent. Many of the people say they are convinced of the truth. Seven have decided to obey.
Yesterday (Sunday) a man asked permission to explain “a point we had overlooked.” He opposed our position that the fourth commandment is the seal of God’s law. His reasons were that in the first and second commands God spoke in the first person, and in the fourth command in the third person; therefore the first and second commands were the seal. He wanted to take a vote of the congregation to see whether he was correct. We explained the matter, and asked all who believed as he did to rise to their feet. Not one arose. We then asked all who believed what we had said to rise, and every one in the tent arose except a few who voted neither way.
We hope for a number more in this place. The Lord has been with us and blessed his cause here.
T. B. SNOW. A. J. BREED.
Tent No. 5, Debello, July 2.
We are still at Debello. On Sundays we have large congregations. On evenings during the week they are small. A dozen or more Scandinavians and about half a dozen Americans have decided to keep the Bible Sabbath. A number more are interested, and we trust others will also obey.
O. A. JOHNSON. P. L. HOEN.
WHEN WILL THE MORNING DAWN?
By Rainbow
We have toiled all night on our pathless way,
Our faces wet with the waves' cold spray;
Surely the midnight long since went by,
Yet is no light in the Eastern sky.
Master! ah, when will the gloom be past,
And the morning dawn for us at last?
We have toiled all night, and our frames grow cold,
As the passing hours are slowly told;
Shadows lie thick on the waters still;
The fitful breezes are damp and chill;
We are rowing hard 'gainst wind and tide,
And dangers thicken as on we glide.
We have toiled all night, but the day seems far,
In vain we look for the morning star;
The storm-clouds gather apace behind,
And lightnings flash 'mid the howling wind;
The mighty thunders afar are heard,—
Come, we beseech thee, and save us, Lord!
Ye have toiled all night, ye have done right well,
And bravely breasted each rising swell;
The fierce storms gather, as well ye say,
But for you there comes the promised day.
Be glad, my children! lift up your eyes!
Behold where your Morning Star doth rise!
—Rainbow.
SWITZERLAND AND ILLINOIS.
By D. T. Bourdeau
This morning I came to Orbe, a city of about three thousand inhabitants, situated between Lausanne and Neuchatel, to commence a series of meetings, having previously secured a hall and a boarding-place on reasonable terms. It is market day, and I have improved the opportunity to advertise, first by advertising in the market place, in order to gain access to those from the country, and then from house to house. I have never seen a greater anxiety to read the hand-bills. I first went through Main street and got some to reading at different points, and gained the good-will of some of the children and youth. Then I went through a second time and a third time, etc. Branching out on other streets, groups of from ten to twenty children, who had read or got their parents to reading, gathered around me, asking for more for this one and that one, and helping me at every point, so that in less than three hours I had quite thoroughly advertised our meeting, and that with more than usual ease. Thank God for this good beginning. The first meeting will be held to-morrow evening. I expect Bro. Andrews will be with me.
My courage is good. I believe we shall see the salvation of God in Switzerland. We shall keep trying, and if they receive not our testimony in one city we shall go to another. But we expect to see souls converted to God.
Encouraging news comes from the French brethren in Illinois. A France Frenchman of good abilities, who was favorable to our views when I left America, writes that he has fully united with the commandment-keepers of St. Anne; that Bro. Paul Buzon, of St. Anne, is laboring with success nine miles north of Watseka (while supporting himself); that another brother in St. Anne is encouraged by the conversion of three relatives, among whom is his mother-in-law aged seventy-three years, who had always been a Roman Catholic; that the French brethren and sisters generally are holding on and continue to have an interest in the work both at home and abroad.
My P. O. address is still Morges, Vaud, Switzerland. D. T. BOURDEAU.
Orbe, June 17, 1878.
MAINE TENT.
By J. B. Goodrich
I met Bro. Hersum in Caribou, June 21, and as our tent had not arrived, we went to Woodland, distant about six miles, and held meetings on Sabbath and first-day. Sunday we spoke by request on the Sabbath question. Bro. Sawyer had given some lectures on the prophecies in this place before. (It is about three miles from New Sweden.) Eld. Mills baptized a number here last spring. We had freedom in speaking, and at the close of the evening meeting we requested all who believed the seventh day to be the Bible Sabbath to raise a hand. A goodly number of hands came up. Then we wished all who believed Sunday to be the right day to keep, and had a plain text to prove it, to raise a hand, but no one voted. Seven decided to keep the Lord’s Sabbath, and we learn that one more has come out since we left.
Our tent is now pitched in Caribou village, and we have given six discourses. A few are interested. Much prejudice exists here against the advent faith, and the keep-away argument is being used. I was informed this morning that yesterday was the hottest day ever known in Aroostook county. The thermometer stood 112° in the shade.
We expect to remain here a while longer. Pray for us. J. B. Goodrich.
KANSAS
By Chas. F. Stevens
Osawkee, July 3.
In company with Bro. Sharp, held meetings at Osawkee, Jefferson county, June 22-27. The church at this place has erected a neat and commodious house of worship at a cost of a little over six hundred dollars, all paid for. Size, 24x36 feet; it has a belfry.
The outside attendance was quite large, especially on Sunday when the house was dedicated. Two expressed their determination to cast in their lot with us. One was baptized and united with the church.
CHAS. F. STEVENS.
ALABAMA
By A. O. Berrill
Attala, July 1.
ABOUT thirty are keeping the Sabbath at Gadsden, twenty-three of whom signed the covenant. We left G. one week ago. Last Sabbath we were with them and had a good Sabbath-school and meeting. One man came forty miles to see us and learn about the truth. He was here yesterday, and is to remain till he becomes acquainted with the truth.
We are having a good hearing at Attala. About two hundred and fifty were out yesterday. This is only five miles from Gadsden.
Remember us in your prayers.
A. O. BERRILL.
TOWNSEND CENTER, MASS.
By G. F. Haines; D. A. Robinson
We have now held meetings here a little over two weeks. We have quite thoroughly canvassed the Sabbath question and the prophecies. We expect a few will obey the truth. From the first we have had a good deal to contend with. We find here Adventists of every type, Non-resurrectionists, Age-to-come, and Predestinarianists.
Last Saturday eve, Eld. L. L. Howard came from Fitchburg, wishing to present his “especial light” and review our position on the prophecies. Under the circumstances we thought it best to let him have the evening. For one and a quarter hours he discoursed on the 2300 days, the two-horned beast, and the Sabbath question. He undertook to prove 1. That the days would end in 1880; 2. That the 70 weeks were a part of the 2300 days, but that the 69 weeks were not; 3. That the two-horned beast was a symbol of England, and the miracles it was to work were the improvements and inventions they have made. The above is a sample of his absurdities.
We shall probably move the tent next week. A threat is out to tear our tent down the evening before the Fourth, but we shall take every precaution to prevent it.
G. F. HAINES.
D. A. ROBINSON.
MISSOURI
By George I. Butler
Sedalia, July 3.
Our meetings are still largely attended, our audiences usually ranging from three hundred to eight hundred interested hearers. Books have been taken quite freely. Some over twenty dollars' worth have been sold in a little over a week. We are now nearly through the life and death question. We were really crowded into speaking on this subject. So many came to ask us about it that we saw no other way but to take it up publicly, and so far we see no abatement of the interest. Shall probably take up the Sabbath question by next Sunday. Quite a number have requested us “not to leave till we speak upon it,” which of course pleases us. We stated in our bills on the start that we were “Seventh-day Adventists,” and every report in the paper is headed, “The Seventh-day Adventists.” So the people know of us. And we like this rather better than to have our name not known. That name is getting to be pretty well known to the world, and the impression it makes is not a bad one. Why should it not stand out everywhere?
The papers are doing well for us. We have had a daily report three-fourths of a column long in the largest city daily, so far. The other daily, which is smaller and stopped publishing after a few days, came around at the close of the week, and wanted us to furnish something for the Sunday issue. The people are friendly, and several have asked if we are not going to form a church. We know not what will be the issue, but greatly hope for good results. I have never seen a more encouraging interest than this has been so far. We had a large temperance meeting in the tent Sunday afternoon, presided over by the two Methodist ministers of the place, and another is appointed for next Sunday afternoon. We talked a short time by the invitation of those conducting it. Pray for us. GEO. I. BUTLER.
TEXAS TENT.
By R. M. Kilgore
Terrell, June 25.
Our meetings at Terrell closed with a nine days’ debate with Eld. Caskey, the Disciple champion in this part of the State. He came on Monday after we had closed up our meetings, and had our tent partly struck. In a very pompous manner he said, that he had come to enter upon the discussion, and that he “meant business,” and wanted to make the preliminary arrangements immediately. I informed him that these would have to be arranged before the crowd. A special meeting was called at the M. E. church for this purpose, at three P. M. The house was well filled. The following subjects were agreed upon for discussion: The Soul Immortal; the End of the Wicked; the Seventh-day Sabbath; the First-day Sabbath, and the Perpetuity of Spiritual Gifts.
The principal arguments he used on all these questions were, ridicule, sophistry, and telling funny stories to create a laugh. I have never seen so weak an effort. He evidently did not know anything about these subjects, and he admitted a failure on all but the last. He repeated over and over, that our view of the end of the wicked was “so brand-splinter new” that he had never heard of it, and that it might be true; and confessed that he was badly whipped on this proposition. He said that “although his opponent had knocked him down, he would yet rise and knock him down.” He declared more than once that his mission to Terrell was to tear down this new ism, and that he intended to do it; and in his last speech he again challenged me for another trial, saying that he would “wipe me out the next time; that if I would not accept his challenge he would follow and drive me out of the State; and that I had made my last convert to Adventism in Texas. With these and similar declarations of malice and bitterness he closed his final speech.
I replied, 1. By calling on all who had been made infidels by our labors to rise. Not one arose, though it was repeated more than once that such preaching would make more infidels than believers. (At this point his moderator and himself tried to break up the meeting by dismissing the congregation.)
2. I called on all who had had their faith and confidence in the Bible increased by our labors to rise. More than fifty rose up.
3. I called on those who had taken a decided stand for the Sabbath since hearing the other side, to rise up. Seven rose to their feet.
4. I then asked all who had decided to give up the Sabbath by hearing the other side to rise. Not one.
5. I then called on all who had been strengthened and established in the truth by the debate to rise. Fifty arose.
Rockwall, June 29.—The same night we struck our tent, and the next day we moved to this place, the county-seat of Rockwall county, a village of about two hundred and fifty or three hundred inhabitants. It is well settled in the immediate vicinity. We hope for good results, and shall labor and pray to that end. Bro. I. Caldwell is with me and renders efficient service. Bro. A. W. Jenson has been with us acting as tent master. His place is now supplied by Bro. A. G. Daniels, of Iowa, who has come to labor with us.
Elder Caskey has just called, and informed me that he has come to tear down our work, and that if I will take down the tent and move to another part of the State, he will let me go in peace; but if not he will stay here as long as I do, and will follow me when I leave. He wanted to give me two hours to consider this proposition. I told him that I did not require it. I could tell him now that I had not been sent here to preach by his permission; that I should not consult with flesh and blood; and that his threats did not move me from my purpose so long as I felt that God was with us. I expect to have trouble with him. May God direct. Let the people of God pray.
R. M. Kilgore.
NEBRASKA
By Charles L. Boyd; Daniel Nettleton
Rayville.
Last Thursday, June 27, leaving the tent interest in the care of Brn. Nettleton and Reichard, I went to Rayville and held meetings with the Sabbath-keepers there, over Sabbath and a part of Sunday. Five years ago a part of this company left Wisconsin and came to this State. Some became indifferent, and a part lost sight of the prize and turned back to the world. Last fall, Bro. Worden found us at the tent at Columbus, and earnestly besought assistance. Bro. Nettleton came, and the Master blessed his labors. The Spirit of the Lord preceded the messenger, and the people set their hearts to seek the Lord. Bro. Nettleton labored faithfully; visited from house to house pointing out their sins, and had the satisfaction of seeing some of the wanderers reclaimed, and some new ones added to their number.
My meetings resulted in the organization of a church of thirteen members. Three were baptized, and s. b. was pledged to the amount of $50. One of the candidates for baptism was a child eight years of age. This little girl, and her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother were present at the social meeting on the Sabbath, and all bore testimony of their love for the truth. “The third and the fourth generation” keeping the commandments of God, and looking for “that blessed hope.” CHAS. L. BOYD.
Oakdale, July 1.
Our meetings still continue to be well attended, considering the inhabitants of this place. We have canvassed the Sabbath question, and in part the nature of man. The people are reading their Bibles and inquiring if these things are so.
CHAS. L. BOYD.
DANIEL NETTLETON.
VERMONT
By R. S. Owen; M. E. Kellogg
Tent No. 2.
The interest at Cabot has steadily increased. Our congregation last evening numbered between four and five hundred. Many that were at first cold and indifferent are now our warm friends. Provisions of all kinds are brought in abundance, also beautiful bouquets of flowers. The truth seems to be taking hold of the hearts of the people, and it is a subject of discussion among all classes. The presence and labors of Eld. A. S. Hutchins on Sabbath and first-day were appreciated by us and the audience.
The Sabbath question was presented yesterday, which seemed to increase rather than lessen the interest. Last evening more than sixty teams were hitched around the tent. We are doing all we can by way of visiting the people and praying with them.
R. S. OWEN.
M. E. KELLOGG.
ILLINOIS
By I. G. Colcord; C. H. Foster
Tent No. 3, Newark, Kendall Co.
We commenced meetings here June 1. The Baptist minister tried, in three efforts, to sustain the Sunday Sabbath. Bro. J. F. Ballenger reviewed him each time, with freedom and good effect. Four have commenced to keep the Sabbath, and many more are deeply interested. People generally are studying their Bibles as never before. We have invitations from three towns to hold tent-meetings with them. Some invite us out to dine, and others supply our wants at the tent.
Strenuous efforts are made to keep the people away, but still they come. The good work moves steadily onward in spite of opposition. To the Lord be all the glory. Pray for the work here.