p. 56 | Meetings at Newark by Joseph Bates

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 18, 1856

Meetings at Newark.

By Joseph Bates

This is a place near Michigan Lake Shore, where Bro. Cornell lectured last Winter, where some ten or more professed to believe and keep the Commandments of God. I found some of them in a very barren, lukewarm state, having never assembled together for meetings of prayer and exhortation since Bro. Cornell left them. In consequence of which, part of them have turned back to their former course and given up the precious truths of the Third Angel's Message, and most of the others had been sinking under discouragements. One of the last named died a few weeks before I came here. She was the wife of Philander Porter, aged about twenty-six years.

We commenced meetings here in the school-house Nov. 28th. Those who still obey the truth resolved and were encouraged to still go forward in the Message. A few others became convinced of the truth and united with them. A great portion of the people in the place are ready to admit that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord; but manifest little or no interest to hear further. The world and its interests are their all-absorbing theme.

At the close of our meetings Sr. E., companion of Jno. Henady, fell asleep after a short illness of three days, in which she was deprived of her sense of hearing and speech. I called to see her before she was taken sick. She said she believed the Sabbath of the Bible was truth, but thought she had not kept it as she was required to. She also expressed a desire to attend the meetings, but did not. She expressed a wish that her husband would be willing to take the Review. We were invited to attend her funeral at the school-house on First-day, the 7th inst., on which occasion the house was well filled once more to hear on the certainty of the near coming of Christ, and an immediate preparation to meet him at the first resurrection, by keeping all the commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus.

My dear brethren and sisters scattered abroad throughout the wide harvest-field, let us wake up and no longer disregard the admonitions and repeated warnings of God our heavenly Father, and the testimony of his dear Son, who is addressing himself to the last state of the church, in the solemn language of, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent." Rev. iii, 19. See also Heb. xii, 5-7. Again, "Behold I stand at the door and knock." Shall we open the door of our hearts and let our best Friend and Saviour come in and sup with us? or shall we hesitate, wait and perish in sight of the kingdom?

JOSEPH BATES.

Newark, Allegan Co., Mich., Dec. 8th, 1856.