DEAR BRO. WHITE:—I have just returned here from Elizabeth, on my way to the Conference at Green Vale, to commence to-morrow.
After giving two lectures in explanation of the Chart and the Sanctuary, in Elizabeth, we found the lecture-room locked up on Sunday morning. When the question was asked, why the house was shut against our meeting, they answered that our preaching was error, that we did not preach like Mrs. Lambert [formerly Mrs. Chapman.] Her theme is life and death, and the Age to come. She came to hear, and attempted to raise some objections; but finally concluded by making an appointment to meet the people next Sunday, the 5th inst., to give them the Bible view of the Sanctuary, Babylon, &c., &c.
The Presbyterians opened their meeting-house for us, so our meetings continued on through Sunday evening, and a number confessed the truth, and some others, as we were afterwards told, were deeply convicted and admitted that the fourth commandment was binding. Last evening and the evening before, two new places were opened where the people received the message.
Since I wrote last I have spent about two weeks in Crane Grove and Adaline, where some six professed ministers have arrayed themselves against the truth at our several meetings; four of them laboring for days to put it down with their no-commandment and no-Sabbath arguments, &c. Notwithstanding all their opposition, the Lord wrought for Israel, and many souls got their eyes open to see the position their teachers occupied, and the difference between truth and error. It has also caused the sound of the last message of mercy to spread more extensively throughout this region of country, and thus opening a wide field for the united labors of God's messengers, some of whom I expect here this week, and when the Conferences close they will be ready to attend to the "Macedonian Cry," in this part of the valley of the Mississippi.
JOSEPH BATES
Pleasant Valley, Jo Daviess Co., Ill., Mar. 1st, 1854.