p. 253 | MEETINGS IN INDIANA by Joseph Bates

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 24, 1868

MEETINGS IN INDIANA.

By Joseph Bates

AFTER closing my meetings at Burr Oak, Mich., as by last report, I came to Orland, Ind. Bro. Hendry conveyed me some four miles to his home; thence, Bro. J. L. Locke's team, ten miles further to Salem Center. Our meetings on Sabbath and first-day, Oct. 17 and 18, were moved to Turkey Creek, Steuben Co., to accommodate the sick. Those who came long distances, came before the Sabbath. Sr. Mock came some fifteen miles. Bro. P. McLocklin who received treatment at the Health Institute, at Battle Creek, a few months since, and was helped, says he was a room-mate with Eld. A. S. Hutchins, of Vt.; heard Bro. and Sr. White preach; and Bro. J. N. Loughborough give his farewell sermon before leaving for California. After further examination and study he became fully convinced that the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is at hand, and commenced keeping the Sabbath of the Lord our God, and walked some twelve miles to attend our meetings, where he and Sr. Mock were both baptized and much blessed of the Lord, and united with the church. Another sister, who came about the same distance in another team, desired very much to be baptized also, but her husband, who was not a believer, was unwilling that she should go forward at present.

The meetings were encouraging, and blessed of the Lord, and the lonely ones felt glad to meet and mingle their voices together, and celebrate the death and sufferings of their coming Lord.

Oct. 19, Bro. J. L. Locke conveyed me some fourteen miles to the railroad, and I passed on to South Bend, Ind., where I held two meetings. But very few attended, some having moved to too great a distance from the city. Those that came, were glad to learn more respecting our present position.

Bro. James Harvey came fourteen miles for me, and conveyed me to his quiet, peaceful home in North Liberty. Here, from Oct. 22-26, I visited from house to house, held six meetings, and celebrated the ordinances. The brethren and sisters were strengthened in their faith, and anxious to have their meetings interesting, not only for their own benefit, but for some of their friends who manifested some anxiety to hear our position. Their new meeting-house is now finished, and furnished to accommodate some three hundred persons, and all are very anxious to have Bro. and Sr. White come and hold a series of meetings in it.

The churches in Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana have been glad to hear and read the stirring reports from our camp-meetings, and fully believe with their brethren, that our loins should be girded about, and our lights burning, and we be like unto men that wait for their Lord when he will return from the wedding, “lest coming suddenly, he find us sleeping.” Let us all be awake and watching.

At the Allegan Monthly Meeting in Allegan, Sabbath, Nov. 7, a number of loads of brethren and sisters from Monterey and Otsego were present. The meeting was so free and interesting that the brethren decided by a unanimous vote that the next Monthly Meeting, which will be in Monterey, the first Sabbath in December, should be a two days' meeting, to hold over Sabbath and first-day. The Lord add his blessing, is our prayer.

Brn. Sterling, of Watson, and W. Littlejohn, of Allegan, were present, and added much to the interest of the meeting. The former spoke of going west toward the lake shore to hold meetings. The latter has been holding interesting meetings every first-day for

some weeks past, at the White school-house, some two miles northwesterly from Allegan. Yesterday a number of the church were going to accompany him.

JOSEPH BATES.

Monterey, Nov. 9, 1868.