REPORT FROM BRO. BATES.
By Joseph Bates
DEAR BRO. SMITH: When I wrote you last, we had just commenced a series of meetings in Blackman, which continued from April 12th to 24th. This was the first time our position had ever been announced in that neighborhood. I was told that for the last three years with few exceptions they had had no religious meetings there. After a few discourses some became interested. Some said, "He proves his doctrine;" others, "It is true, but I cannot keep the Sabbath on account of my business," &c., &c., so that quite a number were convicted, and I hope will yet decide to "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." I have since heard that they are still excited about the subject. I hope some one of our brethren will go there and help forward them into the keeping of the Sabbath. We had several invitations to come again. Bro. Van Horn became very much strengthened and fully settled henceforth to work for God. His father made us welcome at his house. In company with Bro. Van Horn we rode to Onondaga, where he with eleven others, decided to keep the Sabbath at the close of our meeting in March last. By request we appointed to preach in the same school-house again the 27th of April. When we came to the house, and were about to commence the services of the evening, a man arose and stated that I should not be allowed to preach in the house, because the doctrine which I preached was unscriptural and pernicious, and had caused distraction and was dividing families. As the meeting had been appointed by the consent and wish of one of the trustees of the house, who with his family had decided to keep the Sabbath of the Lord a few weeks previous, and he had not yet entered, I replied that the speaker was a stranger to me, and therefore as I did not know what authority he had in this matter, I should wait and learn. Said he, I am one of the owners of this house &c., and I will put it to vote; which was done by calling on all opposed to my preaching in the house to manifest it by uplifted hands. He then declared it a vote. A few moments after this, Bro. Wolcott, the director, came in, and objected to their proceeding as illegal, and that it was right to proceed with the meeting; instead of which two or three commenced in an outrageous manner upon the director, declaring their vote, and their right to abide by it. The speaker of the house left his seat and approached Bro. W. in a menacing attitude, declaring with a loud voice what he would do with him if he saw him at work again on the Sabbath day (Sunday.) As soon as I could be heard I stated that it was not my wish, neither did I believe it was the will of the Lord that I should preach to them, and I should not attempt it. We were then invited, and appointed our meeting at Bro. W.'s house near by, with an invitation to all who wished to hear, and peaceably withdrew and enjoyed our meeting without interruption, leaving the voters to themselves rejoicing over their wonderful victory. I was told that Eld. Tapley, Wesleyan Methodist, (their stated preacher) was with the voters, and raised198his hand and voice to prevent my preaching in that house. During the winter he held a series of meetings in said house for a revival, and reported a number of converts, two of which and some of his supporters and hearers, decided after hearing me, to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. He did not come while I was there, but soon after I left for another place he appointed to preach to sustain Sunday-keeping; but failing to do this to the satisfaction of many who heard him, and also to show a "thus saith the Lord" for the change or abolition of the Sabbath of the Lord, he next resorts to the unchristian course described above. The grave charge, that the unscriptural doctrine which I preached was distracting and dividing families occurred as follows: viz.: 1st, a husband and wife became deeply interested in the Bible doctrine which we presented. The wife became fully satisfied and cheerfully commenced keeping the Sabbath; the husband did not. 2d. Another family, the father and daughter became so much interested that he first advocated, but afterwards denounced it. The daughter (one of Eld. P.'s converts) believed with all her heart, and commenced to keep the Lord's Sabbath. Her mother did not come to our meetings. She at first forbade her daughter keeping the Sabbath, and afterwards granted her the privilege to keep it. This father and mother were particular friends and leading members in Eld. P.'s congregation. Tompkins, Mich., May 4th, 1859.