The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-12-06
ENGLAND PRAIRH

ENGLAND PRAIRIE
To the Editor of the Northern Pacific Farmer.
As winter has come and brings US
some leisure and your former COR
respondent Topsy, has gone away,
| may report the items Of news from
England Prairie occasionally. But
the harvest is past, farm labor is
snded and the only excitement now
is Elder Greenup and his. protracted
revival meetings, which have been
held in. the school house into this
fourth week. Elder Greenup is a
Free or Shouting Methodist, and his
first prospects for gathering congre-.
cation here were much more promis.
ing than were those OF the Advent.
lists, Congregaticnalists, Mormons,
United Brethercn and Episcopalians
who had each in turn tried to plant
their respective creeds here. Sever
al sensible people say that Mr.. Green.
up shows more zeal than discretion
and injured his influence here by an
attempt to confutc and confound the
Advents and Elder Collins, who wor-
ship in an adjoining school district.
/ was absent at the time, but am
told that Mr.. Greenup sent notices
to the leading Adventists appointing
the time that he would meet them at
England Prairie school house and de-
molish the doctrines of that sect.
The house was filed by mixed con-
gregation, expecting hear the
peculiar doctrines of the Methodists
and Adventists fairly explained and
contrasted by their respective
champions, Greenuf and Collins.
Greenup took the floor, and spoke all |
day. Collins requested only fifteen
minutes to answer and explain, but
was refused permission, Mr.. Green
ups obstruction tactics alienated |
many ofhis friends and diminished !
his audiences and influence. This |
may account for the meagersattend-
ance at these protracted meetings.
But these fault finders give other
reasons for rejecting Elder Greenup's
advice and style of worship; they
say, these are the same long and loud
prayers and exhibitions of the ancient
;the same thanking of Lord
that they are holier, wiser, happier
and better than other people, and of
which Christ says. "their present
gratitied self love and good feeling is
heir sole and simple reward;" and
hey prefer to follow Christ's direc-
lions, enter their closet, shut the
door, pray in secret and get the re-
ward promised. 1t is only fair to
,ay, that these charges are made by
the unconverted, who naturally seek
excuses for rejecting the offers of re-
3emption and in searching for the
truth and right. We must make due
discount for exaggeration. Any un-
prejudiced observer attending these
will conclude, that if Elder
Greenup fails to convert all the peo-
pie of this valley it will not be for
lack of honest purpose and faith, but
only tor lack Of power to convince
and persuade. He claims to speak
and work under the immediate in
spiration of the holy spirit. yet many |
of his expositions are disjointed and |
confused, and his illustrations from
history are not reliable. He will at
tribute the words and acts of John |
Knox, to king Robert Bruce, transfer
the abduction of Charley Ross, from
Philadelphia, to Chicago, or quote
from Stearns Tristram Shandy, 'Who-|
tempers the wind to the shorn lamb"
as text of scripture. Long practice
and experience has made,him voluble
but he has never learned to be accu.
rate. But after all this theorizing on |
the imperfections of Elder Greenup
and his doctrines, all admit that his |
persistent blundel ing labors |
have made = deeper and bett er i'm
preston on this people than any of
the conventional, educated ministers
could have made under the circum-
stances, and the hope is expressed
that, with the very efficient help of
Elder Knight, these conversions may
be thorough and lasting. It cannot
be expected that everyone will be
convened, although all desire to he
saved and blessed. The conditions
depend upon belief, and some people
cannot believe as they wish; when a
proposition is presented they weigh
the evidences for, and against it; If
The evidence is against their wish.