Monterey, Aug. 11, 1871
By Joseph Bates
QUARTERLY meeting for Newton, Burlington, and Convis, was held in the new meeting-house in Convis, Sabbath and first day, July 29, 30. Much interest was manifest in gathering to this meeting to receive the blessing of the Lord. One was added to the church; two others applied, one for admission, and one for baptism; another sorrowing deeply for all his past transgressions, sought forgiveness of the Lord. July 31, I held a meeting with a few friends in Grass Lake. August 1–7, I met with the church in their quarterly meeting in Genoa. Here we held six interesting meetings, and celebrated the ordinances as divinely appointed. A brother and his companion, who recently commenced keeping the Sabbath in the message, at Howell, came and were baptized and united with the church. Another who had been waiting, came ten miles and was baptized. A young lad of thirteen who had sought the Lord in Locke, came with his parents some twenty-six miles, and was baptized. The church was encouraged and strengthened in the Lord to press forward in the message. God bless, encourage, and strengthen, all those we have visited, is our prayer. I accepted the invitation and had the pleasure of being at the Health Convention at Battle Creek, July 27, and was highly gratified with the entertainment, and good order, and arrangement of the meetings. I hope the orderly and attentive hearers who listened to the extemporaneous addresses of Bro. and sister White on that occasion will endeavor to profit by their teaching how to live, and how to avoid disease and sickness, and have health and strength to glorify God in their bodies and spirits which are his.