Meetings in Michigan by Joseph Bates

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 23, 1872

Meetings in Michigan.

By Joseph Bates

SABBATH and first-day, Dec. 2 and 3, met with the Allegan Co. quarterly meeting at Otsego. This was a good, cheering, heavenly meeting. Brethren from Allegan and Monterey were there. Services closed with the celebration of the ordinances.

The Otsego church organized a Christian Philanthropic Society as suggested by Bro. White in REVIEW for Oct. 17, 1871, Allegan and Monterey churches having previously organized.

Dec. 7–12, held six meetings with the church at St. Charles, and celebrated the ordinances. The neat, clean, and orderly arrangements in the interior of their new meeting-house made it a very interesting place for the worship of God. The Lord blessed and strengthened his people.

We were called to Fremont, seven miles distant, to visit and pray with the sick and dying. The Lord blessed sister Elenor Overton who is now asleep in Jesus.

The 13th and 14th, visited and held meetings with the church in Chesaning.

The 15th, called to St. Charles to attend the funeral of sister E. Overton. From thence, Bro. Ezra Griggs took me in his cutter to Tittabawassa, sixteen miles. Here we held eight meetings on the Sabbath and first-day. A deep interest to hear was manifested by those outside of the message. The church was encouraged and strengthened in the Lord.

Dec. 18, in company with Bro. and sister Marsh, who paid my fare, I went some forty miles to Edenville, where we held some interesting meetings with a company of Sabbath-keepers, some of whom had recently decided to keep the Sabbath.

The 20th, came to Saginaw. Here, in answer to prayer, the Lord strengthened and raised up sister Bartholomew who had not borne her weight for some six months.

The 21st, held one meeting in Owasso. Bro. J. M. Avery met me here and took me to Locke, twenty miles, where we held eight meetings Sabbath and first-day, and the church organized a Christian Philanthropic Society for the dissemination of tracts, etc. Blessed Lord, still strengthen, cheer, and bless, thy waiting people, to get ready for the soon coming of our dear Lord and Saviour.

Dec. 28 to Jan. 3, 1872, at Battle Creek, at the annual General Conference of the S. D. Adventists, and meeting of the Publishing Association, also preaching and praying seasons which were deeply interesting, where almost the entire body of ministers, Office-hands, and people, covenanted with God by a rising vote that they would commence the year 1872 and labor to serve and obey him as never before. O Lord, in Jesus' dear name, help us, with this dear people, to fulfill our sacred promise, and may all thy remnant, waiting people also enter into covenant with thee.

JOSEPH BATES.

Monterey, Jan. 6, 1872.