CLOSE OF THE TENT SEASON

In reference to the closing of the tent season, Eld. Corliss writes: “Our tent-meeting closed the last of April, with a good feeling all around. Thirty-five have signed the covenant. Sunday afternoon I called the brethren together in the tent, and spoke to them on the tithing system. Then I read them a detailed statement of our expenses during the entire tent season, including the seating for the tent, our printing bills at the Bible Echo office, and everything except the cost of the tent itself. This all amounted to between eighty-two and eighty-three pounds. Quite a portion of this had already been paid by the contributions placed in the box at the door of the tent, and by other donations. There still remained, however, a deficit of about thirty-two pounds. This the brethren made up in less than ten minutes. We did not even have to ask them to give; but the first thing I heard after reading the statement was some one saying, ‘I will give five pounds toward making up the amount.’ Then one after another responded so rapidly that I had to ask them to wait until I could take down their names. It did me good to see how they took hold of the work, as though they were perfectly accustomed to it. Thus the first tent-meeting in Australia closes without costing the General Conference anything besides the cost of the tent. We even dare to hope that when it is needed, the brethren will feel able to help themselves to another tent.HSFM 100.4

“Our book sales at the tent amounted to between fourteen and fifteen pounds. We learned at this meeting how to dispose of our tracts. We put them together in shilling packages, and they went off at times as fast as we could deal them out. Some nights we would sell from twelve to fifteen shillings’ worth. In this way we scattered much truth which cannot fail to bear fruit. I would not be surprised if a good many more would embrace the truth from this effort. But I must say that I never saw more persistent effort to hinder and destroy a work. The devil fought to the end.HSFM 101.1

“Everything that could be thought of was tried against us. We were denounced as Yankees, and the people were warned to keep away; but they did not seem to heed the warning. Then the Campbellites challenged us to debate; but when I accepted, they sent a note politely backing out until I should challenge them in writing. So I took advantage of their delay, to present some strong arguments for the truth and against their position. Then the Plymouth Brethren had flaming posters put up all around town with the significant heading, ‘Christians, beware!’ A number of these were posted on high boards in front of the tent. But still the interest increased. All these things seemed to help forward the work rather than hinder it.”HSFM 101.2

In May, Eld. Corliss and I visited Ballarat, which, next to Melbourne, is the most important city in Victoria, being a place of from thirty to forty thousand inhabitants. We were not acquainted with any one in the city, and on Sabbath morning we went out to the park to see if we could find a good place in which to speak on Sunday. We there met a man who was interested in the question of man’s immortality. While we were talking with him, we introduced the Sabbath question; and finally he directed us to a man, who, he thought, was keeping the Sabbath. On going to the place, we found a man and his wife and two daughters keeping their first Sabbath. They had been reading tracts sent by Eld. Israel. They sent us to another family, and they to still another. In the evening we stepped into a Bible house, and found that the proprietor was interested in the subject of the coming of the Lord. He said he had been dissatisfied with the church for some time, and that he now attended only the meetings of the Salvation Army.HSFM 101.3

In May, Eld. Israel visited Ballarat, and raised quite an interest by holding Bible readings from house to house. When he had been there about a week he had readings almost every night, attended by from twelve to twenty of the most intelligent class.HSFM 101.4

After each reading was over, the people would remain together till eleven o’clock, talking on the subjects presented, and, although they saw that to obey would conflict with their business interests, and separate them from friends, yet they esteemed the friendship of God and the riches of Christ of far more value than any consideration of a worldly character. The following extract from the leading paper of the place will illustrate this fact:-HSFM 101.5

“It is remarkable what sacrifices some business people are prepared to make for conscience’ sake. This remark is drawn forth by a notice in the window of a Bridge Street firm, to the effect that in future their establishment will not be open on Saturdays until sunset. The members of the firm in question are not of the Hebrew persuasion, but it seems that they are connected with a new religious sect which has sprung up in Ballarat, and which, after close research into the Scriptures, particularly the book of Exodus, has come to the conclusion that it is contrary to the law of the Almighty to enter into any business on Saturday until the orb which gives us light has set.”HSFM 101.6