LETTERS by Joseph Bates

Publishing Committee · Saratoga Springs, N. Y. · Aug 5, 1851

LETTERS.

By Joseph Bates

(From Bro. Bates.)

DEAR BRO. WHITE: After parting with you and sister White at the Western depot in Boston, I proceeded to Bro. Leonard Hastings', (New Ipswich, N. H.) where we had a profitable and interesting protracted meeting on the Sabbath and first day, (June 14th and 15th.) Some of our brethren from adjacent towns met with us. Parents and children seemed anxious to learn, and obey the present truth.

June 16, Bro. Hastings and myself started for Bennington, where we found several other brethren hungry for the present message. They are so seldom visited by the Messengers that the truth seemed to do them much good. May the Lord bless and strengthen them for the conflict that lies in their pathway.

Bro. L. Martin and myself started for East Lemster the 17th. Spent the night with Bro. S. Smith's family. Bro. John Andrews and myself started for Newhaven, Vt., the 18th, to attend a conference which was held in a schoolhouse near Bro. E. Everts, on the Sabbath and first day, (21st and 22d.) Here I was very agreeably surprised to meet with so many brethren and sisters from the adjacent towns, come together to honor the Most High God, in keeping his Holy Sabbath, where but a few months previous, little or no interest on this most important point was manifest. The present truth connected with the third Angel's message was listened to with deep interest. God blessed his waiting people, and others see that the Sabbath truth could not be refuted.

At the close of this meeting other meetings were appointed, and were attended by the preaching brethren in the adjoining towns during the week. I afterwards learned by Bro. E. Everts that the people were much stirred up in relation to this last work. Lord speed thy truth.

I reached Westford the 24th, and had a refreshing season with brother and sister Leach, and reached Johnson the 25th. Here the little church were struggling for victory. The scattered ones were soon convened at Bro. Loveland's, and we enjoyed two precious seasons in talking out the past and present truths connected. They have had much to try them respecting their present position, but they feel assured of victory, while they are under the banner of the third Angel, and strictly follow his message.

Started for Waterbury the 26th, to attend a conference to be held at Bro. E. P. Butler's, Sabbath and first day, (28th and 29th.) Quite a number present. The first part of the meeting things moved rather heavily, but the Lord gave us help from the Holy Sanctuary, and we were much refreshed. The truth in the types, and Angel messages, cleared away the mist and fog that our opponents are endeavoring to blind us with. Some attended for the first time, and gave their testimony for the truth. Our prayer meetings early in the morning were much blessed of the Lord. Prevailing prayer is inseparably connected with fasting.

Held two meetings at Bro. R. Lockwood's in Waitsfield the 30th. They had been in some trial there in consequence of one or two of their company objecting to the true time to commence and close the Sabbath. They claimed sunset to be the beginning and end of the day, whereas Jesus our teacher and pattern has shown that the day ends at even, at the termination of the twelfth hour of the day. See Matt. xx, 1—12. Here I met with Bro. Wheeler who had been holding a conference of days in Granville, and was on his way to his appointment in East Randolph to hold another.

I also visited Granville and Rochester. At the latter place we labored to set things in order, and hope that our labor will not be lost. If brethren are not united in their worship of God here, they cannot reign together with him in heaven.

On my way to North Springfield, Vt., I called on some of our brethren in Randolph and East Bethel. They were preparing for their conference. In Springfield there are a number of professed Adventists in a Laodicean state, very unwilling to hear the present truth. Bro. Benoni Lockwood and wife received me very kindly, and assented to all the truth in the third Angel's message. I believe they will commence the keeping of the true Sabbath. On first day, July 6, I held a public meeting at 5 P. M., and nearly all that attended were strangers. I left early on the 7th, for Boston, and met with the brethren in Winchester, Mass. This little company are struggling for the whole truth. I pray the Lord to give them victory.

Within two years the true Sabbath keepers have increased four-fold in Vt. and N. H. Within one year we believe they have more than doubled their number, and they are daily increasing as the paper and the Messengers go forth. In these two states alone, conferences have been held within a few months, where one year ago not one believer in the message could be found. We speak of this to the praise of God, and his rising cause, and to strengthen his dear children to press together; and also to encourage all honest Advent believers to examine the third Angel's message for themselves. God forbid that we should boast of our position, only to the honor and praise of his name; but we ask all sincere seekers after truth to show if they can, another company on this earth that are coming up in accordance with the declaration of God's inspired prophets, as this company now is. Again, we ask Advent believers, who profess to be so sure of immortality when the Lord Jesus comes, to look again, and see if these same Sabbath-keepers are not daily leaving their ranks, and swelling the ranks of those who are embracing the third Angel's message. The true believers that are alive at the second coming of the Lord, will be found united in the last message. How is it possible then, that those who stand aloof from this message, and are already divided into two parts, and subdividing and diminishing daily, can expect that they shall, or can be gathered to the fold of Christ?

Affectionately yours, JOSEPH BATES. Fairhaven, July 11, 1851.