Communication from Bro. Bates.
By Joseph Bates
BRO. SMITH:—The Conference at Battle Creek, Nov. 15th-19th, which terminated with such a rich blessing from the Most Holy Place in the heaven of heavens, in answer to continued prayer for light and heavenly aid, respecting our present and future labors, with which blessing each and every one was moved with fresh courage to stand in their lot and act for God, the part assigned them in the wide spread field now whitening for the harvest, until the Master comes to call them to the marriage supper of the Lamb, has continued to cheer and encourage me on to hunt up the scattered sheep of the house of Israel from "the high ways and hedges." After the Conference, by invitation I accompanied Bro. Pearsall to his place at Grand Rapids, about 50 miles North of the Mich. Central R. R. Here we held meetings on the following Sabbath and First-day, on each side of the river, mostly with Sabbath keepers. They professed to be blessed and strengthened and fully determined to persevere in their onward course for the heavenly kingdom. Nov 27th, took steamboat Eastward up Grand River for Lowell and Vergennes. At the last place we spent several days holding meetings every evening and Sabbath and First day. The Brn. although much scattered were zealous to attend the meetings, and were much refreshed by the proclamation of the Word. Some of their neighbors also became much interested. Bro. Ira Gardner's father had recently commenced to investigate the subject of the Sabbath and message, and became fully convinced of its importance, and presented himself for baptism to unite with the church; one other was baptized with him. On First-day we held meetings in Keene, about six miles from V. Here at the close of the meeting, the father of an interesting family decided also to keep the Lord's Sabbath. His friends had furnished him with books and he had begun to read the Review, and as he read, the true light began to shine into his mind. The Lord help him and all his family to keep the holy Rest of the Lord. From the 6th-12th inst., held a series of meetings at the house of Bro. H. Flowers, and at the district school-house. Bro. Brigham's family from North Plains were with us on the Sabbath and First-day. Several who came to hear became much interested. One family decided to keep the Sabbath and prepare for the coming of the Lord. From hence Bro. Flowers conveyed me to Ionia, where we held two meetings. Some heard for the first time and gave good attention except one woman, (a catholic,) who broke in upon me two or three times, especially when I was reading from the Catholic Catechism, showing where the Pope required Sunday to be observed instead of the Sabbath of the Lord our God. Said she, "I should think you had read enough, you had better stop," &c. She gave away however and ceased to disturb the meeting. From the 14th-18th held several meetings in Portland and vicinity. First-day evening we had a very interesting meeting in the Baptist meeting house; the audience gave more than ordinary attention. Our subject was the last message to this generation preparatory to the coming of our blessed Lord. I was made very welcome at the house of Bro. Perry, who with his family is endeavoring to keep the Sabbath in the message. His daughter now with the family from Ohio, became fully settled, and decided to the whole truth. She never had heard any preaching on the Sabbath or message before. I arrived here last evening after a tedious journey of two days' travel. The roads in many places almost impassable by reason of late heavy rains and lightly frozen over. Duty on my future labors, will, I trust, open before me after the Sabbath with the Brn. in this place. JOSEPH BATES. Jackson, Mich., Dec. 20th, 1855.