The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-07-28
THE TENT MEETINGS AT OREGON
CITY,

1aklD8 advantage OF your llOeTdilIy |
in presenting opportunity for all parties
aud faiths to have fair hearing,
shall send you a short account of the
tent meetings so recently held in this
place by the Seventh Day Adventist
minister, Elder Van Horn, of Walla
Walla.
The tent was pitched on a vacant lot
near the Methodist church, and lectures
on the prophecies and history, which is
only the fulfillment of prophecy, were
commenced May Goth, continuing five
weeks.
The weather, being at first cold and
rainy, was very unpropitious for great
attendance, but those present gave good
attention. Elder Van Horn is a fine
speaker and handled the various sub
jects which he presented for our consid-
Grafton with perfect understanding.
Did you ever know protracted meet
ing to be conducted during five consec-
utive weeks by one minister without
aid, each evening finding him ready to
speak for one, and sometimes nearly two
hours, completely holding the attention
of his audience from first to last ?
The arguments were so clearly and
forcibly presented that many expressed
themselves convinced and convicted of
duty to act as well as think upon the
truths presented, yet they hesitated to
make start. Seven have signed COW
enant to observe the Bible Sabbath, but
as yet no church is formed. The meet
ings closed on the evening of July I'd.
On the following Wednesday three of
the seven were baptised-one a lady of
culture and refinement, who had at the
tent, and for the first time, heard the
Bible explained to her satisfaction, de-
cided to acknowledge Christ as her Sa-
vior in the symbol or memorial of our
Lords burial and resurrection. There,
by the waters side, with the approving
presence of her noble husband and three
lovely daughters, she cast aside the
world with its vanity for the service Of
God and his dear Son, Jesus Christ.
So comparatively few understand oul
principles of faith, 1 shall take the lib.
erty to summarize them and note briefly
the difference existing among those
called Second Adventists. Of course al
those expecting the soon coming o
Christ are really Second Adventists
but many seem entirely ignorant of the
fact that there are two distinct CLASSES
bearing this name.
One class, keeping the first day of th,
week as a Sabbath, are frequently set
ting day for His undoubted appearing
bring reproach upon all bearing the ap
pellation.
The other class, denominated Seventh
Day Adventists, are so named becaus
they insist upon their adherents' restOr
ing, so far as they are concerned, th
seventh day or Bible Sabbath to it
honorable and rightful position, beini
in their estimation quite as import
ant as any other in the Decalogue-in
deed, being the only commandment il
the law written upon the tables of ston
by the finger of Jehovah that contain
the name of its Author, thus becoming
They claim from facts which the mos
learned have thus far failed to over
I throw, that prophetic time ceased i
1874, and that we are now awaiting tn
4 test which is soon to come upon US, q
to whether we are to obey the behest
n of God or those of man.
d The Sunday question, which is 500
B.. to form that test, in that the denomina
d tions, including all who eXalt the frs
u day above the seventh, shall unite i
e gaining for it an honorable position i
t the Constitution of the United States
e tohen it will be vigorously enforced. {
= this result none can be in ignoranc
}. who read such papers as the Christid
= Statesman, and other religious paper
whom editors and contributors are frs
day observers, and have noted the rapiC
ity with which this sentiment hs
gained ground in the past ten years.
Now, you have doubtless observe
that learned men never, if they ca
avoid it, discuss the Sunday questio
with those who show forth the claim
of the Bible Sabbath in opposition to il
papal rival, Sunday, for learned me
kno1O full well that the first day institI
ton is based on false foundation, an
that it's advocates are like a drownin
man catching at a straw; that the B
bic, either by inference or otherwis
gives no hint that the ten command
ments were annulled and a new la
"A given in their stead, for every one wi
O has the least understanding concernir
n municipal or legislative affairs know
. that when a new law is framed al
n eUen passed, it cannot take effect unit
a. the old law, which the new one is i
or tended to replace, has been declare
=, null and void by the same authority {
- one Of equal power that framed Il
- new.
Learned men not finding any scri
- tural authority for change concerniI
- the Sabbath, it was not surprising th
they did not accept Elder Van Horn
oft-repeated and courteously EXPRESS
:" oHor IF tI,a font aud ifS aDnlia noes f