Conference in Lapeer, Mich.
By Joseph Bates
THE new meeting-house was finished and dedicated to the Lord our God on the 12th inst. From thence the Conference continued three days with increasing interest. Some fifty or more professing to keep the Sabbath were present. Some of the brethren from Shelby, Rochester, Canandaigua and Tyrone, came up to the feast. Brn. Waggoner and Lawrence were here by invitation. The clear manner in which Bro. W. presented the sure word of prophecy, the perpetuity of God's holy Law, and how the gospel comes in as a remedy for all its transgressors, with the nature and obligation of the weekly Sabbath of the Lord our God, claimed the attention of all who came to hear; and many appeared to be deeply convicted of the certainty of the sure word of the Lord presented to them. On the third day of the meeting (First-day) we had an interesting season at the water side, where two more were buried in baptism and raised to walk in newness of life; making in all fourteen that we have baptized besides the seventeen that were baptized by Brn. Cornell and Lawrence, before they left here in Sept. last. Several others are still held back by opposing influences which will probably ere long be removed. On the morning of the fourth day, the church convened, and accepted the report of their building committee, and chose a committee to settle all outstanding accounts and hold the house in trust in accordance with the consecration they had made of it to the Lord. In the evening gospel order was attended to by setting apart one of their number to act in the capacity of deacon, after which the church united in celebrating the ordinances of the Lord's house. We were made happy indeed in so doing, rejoicing in our acquaintance with each other, and how the bonds of union were being cemented by our love of the present truth, and the blessed hope (if faithful) of soon seeing that blessed Saviour whose sufferings and death we had met to celebrate. Praise the Lord for all his mercies. Is not the work of God moving onward? Not four months yet have passed, since Brn. Cornell and Lawrence pitched the Michigan tent here in this place and commenced the proclamation of the Third Angel's Message. Now here is a neat and commodious house for the worship of Sabbath keepers, and a church of thirty-one baptized members with their families, besides others that keep the Sabbath in union with them, and many others interested to attend their meetings. All this work has been rising under the proclamation of the present truth, while scoffers and opposition are raging all around. In East Thetford, twenty miles from this, there is another church that is rising out of a dark place. They need help from our brethren when they pass this way. We have spoken of these once before. The first week in this month I spent in Hadley, where we gave seven lectures, in two districts, where the present truth had never been presented. We found that much prejudice against Sabbath keepers had spread here from Lapeer; the towns being only twelve miles apart. Notwithstanding all this, we had no opposition from those who came to hear. Many of them acknowledged the truth of the Sabbath of the Bible, and also believe that Christ is soon coming, but they lack courage as yet to take a stand for the truth. I hope they will not wait too long. Lapeer, Lapeer Co., Mich., Nov. 17th, 1858. P. S. After spending the Sabbath here, I have an appointment to preach in Canandaigua, the 22nd and 23d, from thence to Hartland, Livingston Co., the 24th, to commence a series of meetings.