Meetings in Jackson Co., Mich.
By Joseph Bates
DEAR BRO. SMITH: At the time I made my late report from Tompkins, May 9th, I was holding a series of meetings in the north-west part of the town of Blackman, where the people gave good attention to the word of the Lord. Some six families became much interested, and readily admitted our position in relation to the second advent of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and the weekly Sabbath of the Bible. Some have subscribed for and become readers of the Review, and are examining and reading our publications. At our last appointment, First-day, May 29th, a preacher by the name of Thompson, well known in the vicinity of Jackson, as a passionate lover of the "Age to Come," occupied the school-house in the forenoon, and staid to attend our meeting in the afternoon at the same house. Our subject was the Sabbath of the Bible. I did not know that he was present. As I closed my subject, he arose and commenced in a most violent manner to declare that the law of Moses [God's law] was abolished, and that there was no Sabbath binding under the gospel, and we had nothing to do with the old Jewish, Seventh-day-Baptist Sabbath; and that the Jews were going to return to Jerusalem, &c., &c., and he had challenged every minister around for the last six years to dispose of it if they could. I replied that I was sorry the stranger had not manifested a better spirit in his remarks. Said he, That's my way! I replied that we had not been preaching about the "old Jewish Seventh-day-Baptist Sabbath," but the Sabbath of the Lord our God. Some of his hearers after the close of the meeting expressed their disapprobation of his violent course. We met with the church in Tompkins the day before, (Sabbath,) and learned that two more had embraced the Sabbath, and one that had given it up some time ago had returned since our meetings had closed there. When we were about leaving, two more expressed a readiness for baptism, and others were deciding. Bro. Wood's youngest son of eleven years, claimed the privilege of walking along through the woods with me to carry my carpet-bag. In conversation on the way he said he loved the Lord and wanted to be saved when Jesus came, and he did not want to go to school where the wicked boys were continually taking God's name in vain. We enjoyed a precious season, praying for him in the woods. He said he wanted to be baptized, and he meant to serve the Lord, and be a good boy. I trust he will. His parents professed the Sabbath several years ago. We held two interesting meetings also in a school-house four miles from Jackson. Battle Creek, June, 1859.