Reply to False Charges Against Bates
By Editor
These individuals were present at the meeting referred to, in the article published in the Harbinger of July 10th, and know whereof they affirm. But for not publishing that article, containing false charges against Bro. Bates, "C." states that the conductors of the REVIEW AND HERALD have "forfeited all claim to respect, either as Christians or honorable men!"—And charges us with giving evidence that we love a lie!!! Such abuse will open the eyes of the candid. The next thrust in the article headed, "Vain Talkers" is at the character of Bro. J. Bates, yet his brethren are associated with him, and all ranked as liars!—After quoting from an unguarded letter from H. C. Mason, making certain inquiries relative to Eld. Marsh's house, furniture, &c., and stating that Bro. Bates was circulating unfavorable reports relative to Eld. Marsh in Mich., C. adds: "The above is not a tithe of the falsehoods those men 'feel called' to circulate." He then goes on to show that Bro. Bates is a liar, in circulating reports in Mich. unfavorable to Eld. Marsh, and adds: "All liars shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." The conscientious, uninformed reader of the Harbinger who is ready to receive all that is taught in that paper, by this time could easily imagine that he saw J. Bates, and his brethren that keep the commandments of God consuming amid the flames of the lake of fire and brimstone. But we will let H. C. Mason speak for himself. He voluntarily sent us the following, a few days since addressed to Eld. J. Marsh. "I will say a few words in regard to my inquiry which I wrote to you which was this, the report as stated by one Joseph Bates that you had the past season been building one of the nicest brick houses in the city of Rochester, and that you had bought a sofa that cost $150 00, and that you had bought a piano for your daughter that cost $300 00, and that you and your family dressed in all the extravagances of a city life. Now the remarks that I have to make are these, not expecting the report would come out in full, but only an answer to it, and not knowing the privilege you would take with the report, I should have been more precise in laying it before you. Now as there were several persons in the room, and all engaged in talking, at the same time, I may have mistook friend Bates' reply as to what use you put your receipts to. And as regards the prices of your furniture, I got them from other sources, as a report.
H. C. MASON."