Meetings at Adams, Mich.
By Joseph Bates
BRO. SMITH:—At the close of our series of meetings at Hillsdale, Bro. Wilber opened a way for another series of meetings at Adams, some five miles from it, in his neighborhood. We held six meetings here, which closed on First-day evening. The Christian Chapel was freely opened for our meetings, and an increasing attention was manifest to the close. One family came out decided to keep the Sabbath, also two other heads of families from Hillsdale. Three other families that we afterwards conversed and prayed with, became deeply interested during the progress of the meetings, and are now investigating the subject. Some of our hearers had attended some of the tent-meetings at Hillsdale, when Brn. Waggoner and Cornell were there. Bro. Wilber and family were the only ones that decided then to keep the Sabbath. On First-day, Eld. Perry, of the Christian denomination, preached in the forenoon; and we then occupied the rest of the time. In the afternoon some four or five wagon-loads, numbering about forty of the Hillsdale converts, came out to join us, which gave a new impetus to our meetings, and the truth was fastened deeper on the minds of those who were hearing for the first time. The songs of praise from these newly converted souls in the house of God, and in their wagons on their way home singing the "blessed hope," and soul-stirring hymns concerning the coming of our blessed Lord, to call away the saints, and transport them to their "beautiful home," carried me away back in my mind to the joyful and rapturous scenes of 1843, when in company with God's joyous and happy people, who were crying with loud voices, "Fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come;" and to the time when the cry sounding forth still louder, "Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him;" when, ofttimes while the harmonious songs were mingling with these glad tidings of the speedy coming of our Lord, the rumbling chariots, with flaming torches, rushing by the camp like the lightning, would add their solemn testimony that we are "in the day of his preparation." Let the angel of glad tidings pass over land and sea, "to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people!" I thank God for the blessed promise that the earth is yet to be "lightened with his glory," in the finishing up the last message of mercy, before the lamp of salvation shall be extinguished. My heart says, Praise the Lord for all that he has done. His work is onward, and soon it will be finished up in righteousness. Spare thy people Lord. We commenced a course of lectures in this town last evening, about three miles north from where the tent was pitched in July last. JOSEPH BATES. Moscow, Mich., Oct. 8th, 1856.