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"TtjOSE TENT MEETINGS:" 
 
 A RHYMING RECITAL 
 
 Founded on Actual pacts and Evepy-day Experiences. 
 
 J 
 
 ~ 
 
 BY M; B. DUFFIE. 
 
 To those self-sacrificing ones, — Ministers, Colporters, Bible-workers, Mis- 
 sionaries, and others, who are laboring and praying for the uplifting of the 
 Standard of Truth against error- of whatsoever name or kind, this little work 
 is respectfully dedicated. 
 
 * 
 
 BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN. 
 1889. 
 
^%i 
 
 www kccotoxh* .0 ^ ov coa^ss x* w ^* \w. 
 
f •?• f 
 
 hi PREFACE, in 
 
 ^JV penning the following pages, it has been the design 
 of the writer to hold up before candid and unbiased 
 minds a few of the inconsistencies and perplexing ob- 
 stacles placed in the path of those who, with no otJier 
 weapon in their hands than the open Bible, go humbly 
 forth to present to an unwilling world unpopular truths. 
 That the picture is not overdrawn, many ca?t attest. We 
 have no quarrel with the clergy, many of whom are hon- 
 est, God-fearing men, living up to the best light they 
 have. Those who feed themselves and not their flocks, 
 who " have seduced my people, saying, Peace, and there 
 was no peace" (Eze. ij:io), we leave to figJit it out with 
 their Bibles, and settle the matter zuith their conscience 
 and their God. 
 
 Trusting a perusal of this little work, which lays no 
 
 (3) 
 
claim to literary merit, may lead some weary mariner to 
 consult the Great Chart, and see where he is on the sea 
 of life ; hoping some one may be induced to demand a 
 " thus saith the Lord" in lieu of tradition, and praying 
 that many may be led to zvalk in the shining way, and 
 gain a home in the so on- coming kingdom, 
 Is the wish of 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
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When we saw some quiet strangers 
 Putting up a nice, clean tent." 
 
"Those tent meetings." 
 
 To the grove across the common 
 
 Flocked the boys in great delight, 
 Circling 'round some poles and cordage 
 
 And a lot of canvas white. 
 We had seen no flaming posters, 
 
 And we wondered what it meant 
 When we saw some quiet strangers 
 
 Putting up a nice, clean tent 
 
 " They shall pitch their tents." Jer. 6 : 3. 
 
— 8 — 
 
 Then we listened for the music, 
 
 Watched to see the merry clown; 
 For you see we thought most likely 
 
 That a show had come to town. 
 But when bills announced such preaching 
 
 As would make the Bible clear, 
 We determined to arrange it 
 
 So we all could go and hear. 
 
 "The crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places 
 plain." Isa. 40 : 4. 
 
 " For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed : 
 neither hid, that shall not be known." Luke 12: 2. 
 
WjlP^i^CALi: 
 
 "Then our pastor, Elder Slimniens, 
 Came to make a little call." 
 
— 11 — 
 
 Then our pastor, Elder Slimmens, 
 
 Came to make a little call 
 And advised us, as a Christian, 
 
 Not to go down there at all; 
 'Cause those preachers were misleading, 
 
 With their charts and oily speech; 
 But it only seemed to make us 
 
 Want to go and hear them preach. 
 
 " He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is 
 folly and shame unto him." Prov. 18 : 13. 
 
Well, we waited until evening, 
 
 When we just prepared and went, 
 And with many friends and neighbors 
 
 Soon were seated in the tent 
 Everything passed off in order, 
 
 When the service had begun; 
 Not a smile, much less a titter, 
 
 Though we knew some went for fun. 
 
 " How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts." 
 
 Ps. 84: 1. 
 
 " The name of the Lord is a strong tower : the righteous 
 runneth into it, and is safe." Prov. 18 : 10. 
 
Well, we waited until evening, 
 When we just prepared and went." 
 
15 
 
 Then, by way of introduction, 
 
 One of them arose, and said, 
 If we'd give them our attention 
 
 To the words they spoke or read, 
 They would try, with Heaven's blessing, 
 
 To present, explain, unfold, 
 Many of the hidden treasures 
 
 In that Volume, quaint and old. 
 
 " Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain 
 
 Ps. 27 : 11. 
 
 " Take fast hold of instruction ; let her not go : keep her ; 
 for she is thv life." Prov. 4 : 13. 
 
— 16 — 
 
 There were all out village people, 
 
 Lawyers, doctors, merchants, too, 
 Listening closely to that sermon, 
 
 Which was something fresh and new 
 Full of cheer for souls despairing,— 
 
 Echoes from that better shore. 
 Well, such preaching and such singing 
 
 We had never heard before. 
 
 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned 
 among themselves, saying, What thing is this ? what new doc- 
 trine is this ? " Mark 1 : 27. 
 
— 1 
 
 Thus we sat there every evening, 
 
 Listening to those themes so new, 
 (Ah, it seemed those humble preachers 
 
 Had the Spirit through and through!) 
 And the power of God attended 
 
 Every word that they did say, 
 As they told us of the coming 
 
 Of the certain judgment day. 
 
 " And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God ; 
 and the books were opened : and another book was opened 
 which is the book of life : and the dead were judged out of 
 those things which were written in the books, according to 
 their works." Rev. 20 : 12. 
 
— 18 — 
 
 They declared the book of Daniel 
 
 Was a wide, prophetic field, 
 Like the book of Revelation 
 
 To the world should be revealed. 
 Lest some had their doubts about it, 
 
 And for those who'd like to know, 
 Ee proposed to search the Scriptures, 
 
 For mayhap those things were so. 
 
 " Write the vision, make it plain upon tables, that he 
 may run that readeth it." Hab. 2 : 2. 
 
 " Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man 
 that getteth understanding." Prov. 3 : 13. 
 
He explained it there before us, 
 From the symbols on the chart.'' 
 
— 21 — 
 
 He explained it there before us, 
 
 From the symbols on the chart; 
 In his hand an open Bible, 
 
 Which he seemed to know by heart. 
 It was shown the "beasts" were kingdoms, 
 
 Which the Lord declared should rise; 
 Then he named the verse and chapter, 
 
 Which we read with much surprise. 
 
 " Thou art this head of gold." Dan. 2 : 38. 
 
 " These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which 
 shall arise out of the earth." Dan. 7:17. 
 
Every evening something different, 
 
 And presented in a way 
 As to leave no doubt about it; 
 
 For we saw, as plain as day, 
 One by one those fatal errors, 
 
 Which have got so firm a hold 
 On the hearts and minds of people, 
 
 Like a scroll right there unrolled. 
 
 " And with many other words did he testify and exhort, 
 saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." Acts 
 2 : 40.. 
 
23 
 
 If we had but read our Bibles, 
 
 We had found it as he said, — 
 Of the living good, translated, 
 
 And the righteous, sleeping dead 
 Joining hands in shining pageant 
 
 When the King of kings appears, 
 To ascend with him to glory, 
 
 There to reign a thousand years. 
 
 " And the dead in Christ shall rise first, then they which 
 are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in 
 the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." 1 Thess. 4 : 16, 17. 
 
 " Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resur- 
 rection : on such the second death hath no power, but they 
 shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him 
 a thousand vears." Rev. 20 : 6. 
 
— 24 — 
 
 After which, the Holy City 
 
 Shall descend from God on high, 
 Where no ill shall ever enter, 
 
 Where is heard no moan or sigh, 
 But the gladsome, joyful chorus 
 
 Which the ransomed then shall sing, 
 Where fond lips, long silent, greet them, 
 
 And where Christ shall reign as king. 
 
 " And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming 
 down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for 
 her husband." Rev. 21 : 2. 
 
 " The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of 
 our Lord, and of his Christ ; and he shall reign forever and 
 ever." Rev. 11 : 15. 
 
Every night just after meeting, 
 Neighbors stopped to speak a word.' 
 
'Every night, just after meeting, 
 
 Neighbors stopped to speak a word, 
 And to search neglected Bibles;— 
 
 'Twas the only theme we heard. 
 One declared the proof was plenty 
 
 That the Saviour changed the day, 
 But, of course, what verse or chapter, 
 
 Couldn't just exactly say! 
 
 "And searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things 
 were so." Acts 17 : 11. 
 
 " Search the Scriptures ; for in them ye think ye have 
 eternal life : and they are they which testify of me." John 
 5 : 39. 
 
_28 — 
 
 Deacon Scraggs was grave and thoughtful, 
 
 But remarked, with wheeze and sigh 
 That the Bible shows that Christians 
 
 Go to heaven when they die. 
 Some had hopes that he could prove it, 
 
 He so versed in Bible lore; 
 But he didn't seem to find it, 
 
 So, of course, we heard no more. 
 
 "Soman lieth down, and riseth not; till the heavens be 
 no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." 
 Job 14: 12. 
 
 "His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth ; in that 
 very day his thoughts perish." Ps. 146 : 4. 
 
— 29 — 
 
 Some had taken much for granted, 
 
 With no thought lout it was true; 
 Elder Slimmens so declared it, 
 
 And they thought of course he knew. 
 But on looking up the matter, 
 
 Pitching in with all their zest, 
 Some could see it was defective, 
 
 That it would not stand the test 
 
 " To the law and to the testimony ; if they speak not ac- 
 cording to this word, it is because there is no light in them." 
 Isaiah 8 : 20. 
 
 " He that walketh uprightly walketh surely ; but he that 
 perverteth his ways shall be known." Prov. 10 : 9. 
 
— 30 — 
 
 Many said 'twas Bible doctrine, 
 
 Which they knew they should obey, 
 But their business sure would suffer, 
 
 Being such a fruitful day; 
 Others feared the world would spurn them, 
 
 If they boldly took their stand 
 With such plain and humble people, 
 
 To observe the Lord's command. 
 
 ' ' But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, de- 
 ceiving your own selves." James 1 : 22. 
 
 "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they 
 shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, 
 and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake." 
 Luke G : 22. 
 
:il 
 
 Some declared these very subjects 
 
 They had read some time before 
 In some papers some one sent them, 
 
 Which were found beside the door; 
 And had rummaged through their Bibles, 
 
 If perchance they might not find 
 Just one single ray of comfort 
 
 Which should ease a troubled mind. 
 
 " And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and 
 shall be turned unto fables." 2 Tim. 4 : 4. 
 
 " He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, 
 even his prayer shall be abomination." Prov. 2*8 : 9. 
 
— 32 — 
 
 Some professed to have a theory 
 
 That the days the Lord employed 
 To construct the world we habit 
 
 (Which at first was dark and void) 
 Were made up of years unnumbered, 
 
 Hot of four and twenty hours, 
 In the which the dew and sunshine 
 
 Should beget the herbs and flowers! 
 
 " And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called 
 Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." 
 Gen. 1 : 5. 
 
— 33 — 
 
 "And the evening and the morning" 
 
 Each of those six days did bound, — 
 Evening, morning, evening, morning, 
 
 As the earth turned round and round. 
 If that first God-given Sabbath, 
 
 Which should make his people glad, 
 Was made up of countless ages — 
 
 What a rest-day Adam had I 
 
 " And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. 
 Gen. 1 : 31. 
 
34 
 
 This, you see, would make him older 
 
 Than the Bible records show ; 
 So, of course, can not be trusted, 
 
 And 'twere well to let it go. 
 Science, simple, pure, and truthful, 
 
 On the solid rock shall stand; 
 Ever in accord with reason, 
 
 With God's word go hand in hand. 
 
 "And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred 
 and thirty years : and he died." Gen. 5:5. 
 
 " Keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding 
 profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely 
 so called." 1 Tim. 6 : 20. 
 
 " For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. 
 Fur it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." 
 1 Cor. 3 : 19. 
 
oO 
 
 Some declared that way back yonder, 
 
 Where or when they failed to say, 
 That the earth was. lost in darkness, 
 
 When all records blew away! 
 If that's true, how could the Saviour, 
 
 That good Shepherd of the sheep, 
 Know for sure which day was Sabbath, 
 
 Or what day they ought to keep? 
 
 "And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and 
 taught them on the sabbath dans." Luke 4 : 31. 
 
— 3G 
 
 Some had asked, with smiles derisive, 
 
 If these things they heard were true, 
 Why the wise did not accept them, 
 
 Why they did not teach them, too. 
 As it was when faithful Noah 
 
 Preached, and wrought upon the ark, 
 Just a few did gladly listen, 
 
 While the world was in the dark. 
 
 "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to 
 confound the wise ; and God hath chosen the weak things of 
 the world to confound the things which are mighty." 1 Cor. 
 1:27. 
 
— 37 — 
 
 So it was when Christ, the' Saviour, 
 
 Came to dwell upon the earth; 
 Those who walked in joy beside him 
 
 Were not those of noble birth; 
 Those who followed him confiding, 
 
 Through the valley, down the glen, 
 Were but simple, common people, 
 
 Only humble fishermen. 
 
 " For ye .see your calling, brethren, how that not many 
 wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many r.oble, 
 are called. " 1 Cor. 1 : 26. 
 
— 38 — 
 
 Some remarked, in seeming candor, 
 
 As a point on which to doubt, 
 If 'twas true, why had their pastors 
 
 Never seen or found it out? 
 Others claimed it made no difference, 
 
 Any day, in fact, would do; 
 If that day was only Sunday, 
 
 They, of course, would add thereto. 
 
 " And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the command 
 ment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." Marls 
 7:9. 
 
 " Whoso despise th the word shall be destroyed ; but he 
 that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded." Prov. 
 13 : 13. 
 
— 39 — 
 
 Others, too, who felt within them 
 
 That these things no doubt were so, 
 Heard enough to twice convict them, 
 
 Then refused to longer go. 
 They did reason much in this wise 
 
 (Be it said unto their shame),— 
 If they did not go and hear it, 
 
 They, of course, were not to Name. 
 
 " For if we sin willfully after that we have received the 
 knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for 
 sins." Heb. 10 : 26. 
 
 "Therefore, to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it 
 not, to him it is sin." James 4 : 17. 
 
— 40 — 
 
 Many were so stirred about it 
 
 They could hardly sleep or eat, 
 And besieged their troubled pastors 
 
 As to just what day to keep. 
 They, of course, were greatly puzzled; 
 
 Something must be quickly done, 
 Or their flocks would all be scattered, 
 
 And their bread and butter gone. 
 
 " And said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our 
 wealth." Acts 19 : 25. 
 
 " Our craft is in clanger to be set ab naught." Acts 19 : 27. 
 
— 41 — 
 
 Other schemes were then suggested, 
 
 Which should keep the folk at home,- 
 Fried-cake parties, donkey socials; 
 
 Yet they seemed inclined to roam. 
 Pastors hurried hither, thither, 
 
 Making calls all through the day, 
 Pleading with their sev'ral people 
 
 From that tent to stay away. 
 
 " Having a form of godliness, but denying the power 
 thereof ; from such turn away." 2 Tim. 3 : 5. 
 
 " He that speak eth truth showeth forth righteousness ; but 
 a false witness, deceit." Prov. 12 : 17. 
 
— 42 — 
 
 Then the preachers all discovered 
 
 What appeared a dearth of grace 
 Hence, revivals were the order 
 
 In the churches of the place. 
 But the weather being sultry, 
 
 Many seemed to be content 
 With their stock of grace already, 
 
 And did hie them to the tent. 
 
 " Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least com- 
 mandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the 
 least in the kingdom of heaven : but whosoever shall do and 
 teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of 
 heaven." Matt. 5 : 19. 
 
"Then the pastors called a meeting, 
 Which was held till very late." 
 
— 45 — 
 
 Then the pastors called a meeting, 
 
 Which was held till very late, 
 But at which it was decided 
 
 There should be a joint debate 
 Of these questions so perplexing 
 
 To their people everywhere ; 
 So they sent for Elder Scroggins, 
 
 And for strife did all prepare. 
 
 "These men do exceedingly trouble our city." Acts 
 16 : 20. 
 
 "And hired counselors against them, to frustrate their 
 purpose." Ezra 4:5. 
 
— 46 — 
 
 In the days when came the deluge, 
 
 With its foaming waters wide, 
 When the rising, surging billows 
 
 Laughed at death on every side, 
 Man and beast, so oft in conflict, 
 
 From their war rings then did cease, 
 Glad to share a friendly hill-top, 
 
 Live a moment there in peace. 
 
 " And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of 
 fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing 
 that creepeth upon the earth, and every man : all in whose 
 nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, 
 died." Gen. 7 : 21, 22. 
 
Till the tent did come, the pastors 
 
 'Gainst each other were arrayed, 
 And most railing accusations, 
 
 It is said, were freely made! 
 But a change of heart attacks them 
 
 Ah, how tender do they grow, 
 As they meet to pool their issues, 
 
 And resist a common foe! 
 
 "And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends 
 together; for before they were at enmity between themselves." 
 Luke 23 : 12. 
 
— 48 — 
 
 Well, one evening, after preaching, 
 
 Elder Slimmens 'rose to say 
 That the wish of all his people 
 
 Was to know the proper way ; 
 That the preaching was erroneous 
 
 They had heard within the tent, 
 And to prove that that was certain 
 
 Was their righteous, just intent. 
 
 " Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what 
 to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to 
 shame." Prov. 25 : 8. 
 
Therefore, in behalf of others, 
 He would throw the gauntlet down." 
 
— 51 — 
 
 Therefore, in behalf of others, 
 
 He would throw the gauntlet down, 
 For a fair and free discussion 
 
 At a certain church in town. 
 As no other plan would please them, 
 
 They at last obtained assent, 
 Only that the said discussion 
 
 Should be held within the tent. 
 
 " Refrain from these men, and let them alone : for if this 
 cause or this work be of men, it will come to naught : but if it 
 be of God, ye cannot overthrow it ; lest haply ye be found even 
 to fight against God." Acts 5 : 38, 39. 
 
How, the habit of this people 
 Leans unto the side of peace ; 
 
 But the clamor for discussion 
 Seemed not likely soon to cease. 
 
 Hence, the challenge was accepted 
 In a calm and modest tone, 
 
 While their prayer went up to Heaven, 
 
 " Lord, we trust in thee alone/ 9 
 
 "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably 
 with all men." Romans 12 i 18. 
 
— 53 — 
 
 Then they said they came arrvong us, 
 
 Not for strife or vain debate, 
 But to lead mankind to Jesus 
 
 Through the strait and narrow gate. 
 They designed to preach the Gospel, 
 
 And the cause of Christ to plead, 
 Basing naught upon tradition, 
 
 As the Bible was their creed. 
 
 "His truth shall be thy shield and buckler." Ps. 91 : 4. 
 
 " But the Lord is my defense, and my God is the rock of 
 my refuge." Ps. 94 : 22. 
 
 " And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the 
 Spirit, which is the word of God." Eph. 0:17. 
 
— 54 — 
 
 Well, the battle opened briskly 
 
 By the pastors, priest and cure, 
 Who were better Bible pounders 
 
 Than expounders, that is sure. 
 We prefer to see the Scriptures 
 
 Held wide open in the hand; 
 But their closed, neglected Bible, 
 
 Lay there pummeled on the stand. 
 
 " And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of 
 a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, 
 saying, Read this, I pray thee ; and he saith, T cannot ; for it 
 is sealed." Isa. 29 : 11. 
 
 " They are shepherds that cannot understand ; they all 
 look to thei"/ own way, every one for his gain from his quarter." 
 Isa. 56 : 11. 
 
— 55 — 
 
 Thus employed were several evenings. 
 
 People came from far and near ; 
 Elder Scroggins was a preacher 
 
 They had all desired to hear ; 
 Some had cherished expectations 
 
 That he soon would- now efface 
 Any doubts that might be harbored 
 
 By the people of the place. 
 
 "They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The 
 Lord saith ; and the Lord hath not sent them : and they have 
 made others to hope that they would confirm the word." Eze. 
 13 : 6. 
 
 "But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest : for as 
 concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken 
 against." Acts 28 : 22. 
 
— 56 — 
 
 They had chosen Elder Scroggins 
 
 To assist in this attack, 
 As they knew he had but lately 
 
 On this people turned his back ; 
 And they heard he would be willing 
 
 For a certain sum per night, 
 To attempt their extrication 
 
 From their present sorry plight. 
 
 - > 
 
 "From that time many of his disciples went back, and 
 walked no more with him." John 6 : 66. 
 
 " Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse 
 things, to draw away disciples after them." Acts 20 : SO. 
 
 "In the latter times some shall depart from the faith." 
 1 Tim. 4 : 1. 
 
"As he rose to speak, their yearnings 
 Seemed to pat him en the back." 
 
— 59 — 
 
 As he rose to speak, their yearnings 
 
 Seemed to pat him on the back ; 
 And their courage rose, whenever 
 
 He did take the proper tack. 
 For they did not wish to swallow 
 
 All the doctrines they had heard, 
 And had hoped that Elder Scroggins 
 
 Could lout half confirm the word. 
 
 " For the time will come when they will not endure sound 
 doctrine ; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves 
 teachers, having itching ears." 2 Tim. 4 : 3. 
 
 "He that hateth, dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up 
 deceit within him." Prov. 26 .: 24. 
 
— 60 — 
 
 Elder Dug gin thus did reason : 
 
 There is now no Sabbath day ; 
 For, you see, — well — he was certain 
 
 That God's law was done away! 
 Said 9 t was wrong to steal or murder, 
 
 Worship gods of wood or stone ; 
 Till we saw the point objective 
 
 Was the fourth command, alone. 
 
 "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, 
 one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all 
 be fulfilled." Matt. 5 : 18. 
 
 " They that forsake the law praise the wicked ; but such 
 as keep the law contend with them." Prov. 28 : 4. 
 
— 61 — 
 
 It was surely quite apparent 
 
 Each had done his level best 
 To oppose, refute, discomfort ; 
 
 But each one upset the rest. 
 They had pulled up all the flowers 
 
 In their efforts 'gainst the weeds, 
 For their statements, so conflicting, 
 
 Were adverse to all their creeds. 
 
 " Some therefore cried one thing, and some another; for 
 the assembly was confused, and the more part knew not where- 
 fore they were come together." Acts 19 : 32. 
 
— 62 — 
 
 It was clear they weren't united 
 
 On the plan they should pursue ; 
 For old Elder Butts asserted, 
 
 With a very great ado, 
 That a day was lost, most surely, 
 
 And had never yet been found; 
 While another could n't keep it, 
 
 'Cause, you see, the earth is round. 
 
 " Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be 
 no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined to- 
 gether in the same mind and in the same judgment." 1 Cor. 
 1 : 10. 
 
Then did Boggs begirt. his loins; 
 
 Ah, he launched out most sublime f 
 He declared that all was needed 
 
 Was a seventh part of time! 
 But old Elder Snooks insisted 
 
 That it came about this way : 
 Way back yonder, Sunday, somehow, 
 
 Had become the seventh day! 
 
 " Fur many bare false witness against him, but their wit- 
 ness agreed not together." Mark 14 : 56. 
 
 "For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch him- 
 self on it, and the covering narrower than that he can wrap 
 himself in it. " Isa. 28 : 20 
 
— 64 — 
 
 Some might think, and very justly, 
 
 That the Lord had changed his mind 
 That he'd formed a wrong conclusion, 
 
 Hence his laws no longer bind. 
 Some were led to ruminating, 
 
 By what law shall guilt be tried, 
 If that law is abrogated 
 
 For whose honor Jesus died? 
 
 "He will magnify the law, and make it honorable." Jsa. 
 4:> : 21. 
 
 "Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall 
 not pass away." Mark 13 : 31. 
 
— 65 — 
 
 Boldly out again struck Slimmens 
 
 For to prove that he was right; 
 But in vain; he lost his bearings 
 
 As he drifted from the light. 
 That he now was getting worsted 
 
 Was a fact which all could see 
 That were not a trifle biased, 
 
 And had hoped it would nt be. 
 
 " That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children 
 that will not hear the law of the Lord , which say to the seers, 
 See not ; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right 
 things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits." Isa. 
 30 : 9, 10. 
 
— 66 — 
 
 There were those at ease in Zion 
 
 Till those other preachers came ; 
 But the arguments against them 
 
 Some observed were rather lame ; 
 Such as quoting from the " Fathers " 
 
 (Who, of course, are long since dead), 
 Which they used instead of Scripture 
 
 To sustain what they had said. 
 
 " Making the word of God of none effect through your 
 tradition, which ye have delivered ; and many such like things 
 do ye." Mark 7: 13. 
 
 " In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the 
 commandments of men." Mark 7 : 7. 
 
— 67 — 
 
 It at first appeared peculiar 
 
 That those learned men combined 
 Could not from their Gospel knowledge 
 
 Just one little verselet find 
 To .overthrow the affirmations 
 
 Of those quiet men, and meek, 
 Who had knelt and asked for wisdom 
 
 Ere they dared attempt to speak. 
 
 " And in nothing terrified by your adversaries ; which is 
 to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, 
 and that of God." Phil. 1 : 28. 
 
 " The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not 
 found in his lips ; he walked with Me in peace and equity, and 
 did turn many away from iniquity." Mai. 2 : 0. 
 
— 68 — 
 
 But we saw it now most clearly, 
 
 How it happened to be so ; 
 There is nothing left to tie to 
 
 When we let the Bible go; 
 For it is our chart and rudder, 
 
 As you no doubt will agree, 
 And the moment we shall lose it, 
 
 Why, of course, we' re all at sea. 
 
 " In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence ; and his 
 children shall have a place of refuge." Prov. 14 : 26. 
 
 " Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my 
 path." Ps. 119 : 105. 
 
 " And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the 
 Spirit, which is the word of God." Eph. 6:17. 
 
— 69 — 
 
 After hurling each projectile 
 
 Which they all could bring to hear 
 They got out of ammunition, 
 
 With that flag still waving there! 
 Then, as they did struggle, flounder, 
 
 Beeper still in error's mire, 
 Truth brought up her Bible batt'ry 
 
 And again did open fire I 
 
 " At thy rebuke they fled ; at the voice of thy thunder they 
 hasted away." Ps. 104 : 7. 
 
 " They were confounded because they had hoped ; they 
 came thither, and were ashamed." Job G : 20. 
 
— 70 — 
 
 Not a note had they to help them, 
 
 But the texts they quoted, stung; 
 Ev'ry head was filled with Scripture, 
 
 While the spigot was their tongue. 
 Elder Slimmens lost his temper ; 
 
 Ah, he raves like everything, 
 And is wound around their fingers 
 
 Like a common cotton string! 
 
 "And the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake 
 plain." Mark 7 : 35. 
 
 " He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his 
 neighbor cometh and searcheth him." Prov. 18 : 17. 
 
— 71 — 
 
 From the battered, crumbling ramparts 
 
 Of tradition's last redoubt, 
 They are driven in discomfort; 
 
 They retreat in hopeless rout! 
 Thus, the truth will ever triumph, 
 
 Though opposed with hoof and fang; 
 Every missile hurled against it 
 
 Only proves a boomerang. 
 
 "For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the 
 truth." 2 Cor. 13 : 8. 
 
 " The desire of the righteous is only good ; but the expecta- 
 tion of the wicked is wrath." Prov. 11 : 23. 
 
They began to change their tactics, 
 
 When they saw just how it stood ; 
 And we could not help lout notice 
 
 They were acting rather rude ; 
 For we heard them whisper "Advents" 
 
 Shout "fanatics'' "robes" and "cranks" 
 But to all of which, the others 
 
 Simply bowed and murmured, " Thanks." 
 
 " Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, 
 ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly." Acts 19 : 36. 
 
 " Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days 
 scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the 
 promise of his coming ? for since the fathers fell asleep, all 
 things continue as they were from the beginning of the crea- 
 tion." 2 Peter 3 : 3, 4. 
 
— 73 — 
 
 We will say in this connection, 
 
 (And to which who can dissent?) 
 That a sneer or smile expansive 
 
 Is no sort of argument ; 
 We have learned from observation, 
 
 As a pretty gen'ral rule, 
 That the side is nearly vanquished 
 
 Which resorts to ridicule. 
 
 " For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear 
 of the Lord." Prov. 1 : 29. 
 
 "There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel 
 against the Lord." Prov. 21 : 30. 
 
One by one the preachers left us 
 
 There beneath that canvas dome; 
 Long before the meeting ended, 
 
 Each had sought his peaceful home. 
 Now they tell of points omitted, 
 
 Which they shall most gladly show 
 When those " troublers" are departed, 
 
 When that tent and all shall go! 
 
 " And he answered, I have not troubled Israel ; but thou, 
 and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the command- 
 ments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim." 1 Kings 
 18 : 13. 
 
— 75 — 
 
 It is said these very preachers 
 
 Had been here not long before, 
 But they failed to get a hearing, 
 
 For the trustees locked the door ; 
 Then they saw the school director, 
 
 But he would not give consent; 
 Not a roof did offer shelter, 
 
 Which accounts for yonder tent. 
 
 "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will 
 send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for 
 water, but of hearing the words of the Lord ; and they shall 
 wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, 
 they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and 
 shall not find it." Amos 8 : 11, 12. 
 
 " And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then 
 shall they know that a prophet hath been among them." Eze. 
 33 : 33. 
 
— 76 — 
 
 As those preachers, all together, 
 
 Could not find the slightest flaw 
 In the doctrines there presented, 
 
 Now they clamor for a law 
 Which shall silence all dissenters, 
 
 And apply the legal birch 
 To the backs of all who differ 
 
 From the tenets of the church. 
 
 " Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are 
 Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." Matt. 
 22 : 21. 
 
 " Leave the matter of religion to the family altar, the 
 church, and the private school, supported entirely by private 
 contribution. Keep the State and the church forever sepa- 
 rate."— L r . S. Grant. 
 
 " Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment 
 of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" — U 8. 
 Constitution. 
 
They would change the Constitution 
 
 By amendments, now, you see, 
 And secure for them a "corner" 
 
 On the world's theology ; 
 Thus revive the Inquisition, 
 
 With its thumb-screw, knout, and rack, 
 Which would start the car of progress 
 
 On the backward, downward track J 
 
 " And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O 
 Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood 
 on them that dwell on the earth ? " Rev. 6:10. 
 
 " The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to 
 make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the com- 
 mandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." 
 Rev. 12 : 17. 
 
— 78 — 
 
 They declare the Constitution 
 
 Should include Jehovah's name. 
 (Just as though the Lord felt slighted, 
 
 Or 'twould add unto his fame!) 
 More than that, they say the Saviour 
 
 Shall he ruler of the world, 
 E' en before he takes the scepter, 
 
 Ere his banner is unfurled! 
 
 " Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world." 
 John 18 : 30. 
 
 " Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice." 1 Sam. 15 : 22. 
 
 " Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto 
 you more than unto God, judge ye." Acts 4:19. 
 
— 79 — 
 
 When the meetings were near ended, 
 
 And all minds were deeply stirred, 
 An expression then was taken 
 
 In regard to what they'd heard; 
 All who fully were persuaded 
 
 It was truth without disguise, 
 As it had been shown by Scripture, 
 
 Were requested then to rise. 
 
 "But rise and stand upon thy feet." Acts 2G : 1(3. 
 
 " For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ ; for it is 
 the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." 
 Rom. 1 : 16. 
 
— 80 — 
 
 Now, the tent was rather crowded, 
 
 Filled was every chair and seat; 
 But about two thirds the people 
 
 'Rose and stood upon their feet. 
 Then they gave an invitation 
 
 Unto all who would obey, 
 To remain just after meeting, 
 
 When the rest had gone away. 
 
 " He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peo- 
 ple with his truth." Ps. 96 : 13. 
 
"Happy voices joined the singing, 
 
 Humble forms did kneel in prayer. 1 
 
— 83 — 
 
 Then, when nearly all departed 
 
 (Ah, it was a goodly sight, 
 Though but seven had decided 
 
 They would walk within the light), 
 Happy voices joined the singing, 
 
 Humble forms did kneel in prayer, 
 Pleading that their names be written 
 
 In the Lamb's book, over there. 
 
 " For where two or three are gathered together in my 
 name, there am I in the midst of them." Matt. 18 : 20. 
 
 " But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." 
 Josh. 24 : 15. 
 
— 84 — 
 
 
 
 They resolve, with Jesus helpin : 
 
 That from hence they each will try 
 So to walk that he can own them 
 
 At his coming" by and by ; 
 For the promised, coming Saviour 
 
 They are watching day by day, 
 Praying that the jagged edges 
 
 By his grace may smooth away. 
 
 " Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what 
 manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and 
 godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day 
 of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and 
 the elements shall melt with fervent heat." 2 Peter 3 : 11, 12. 
 
Going down into the water 
 As their Lord ball done before.' 1 
 
As they all desire baptism, 
 
 Now they gather on the shore, 
 Going down into the water 
 
 As their Lord had done before ; 
 Ah, it was a gladsome symbol 
 
 (As they rose from out the wave,) 
 Of the coming resurrection 
 
 From the lowly, gloomy grave. 
 
 " And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway 
 out of the water." Matt. 3 . 16. 
 
 " Then they that gladly received his word were baptized." 
 Acts 2 : 41. 
 
 " Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death : 
 that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of 
 the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For 
 if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, 
 we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." Rom. 
 
— 88 — 
 
 Learn thou now a goodly lesson, 
 
 One in which a moral lies: 
 Do not trust to vain tradition, 
 
 Search the Word with open eyes. 
 Though the world despise, forsake thee, 
 
 Though the hosts of ill unite, 
 Go thou forward, e'er rejoicing, 
 
 In the great and wondrous light. 
 
 ? \> 
 
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 " Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wav- 
 ering ; for He is faithful that promised." Heb. 10 : 23. 
 

 
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