p. 140 | MEETINGS by Joseph Bates

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 22, 1859

MEETINGS

By Joseph Bates

In Ionia, Clinton and Shiawassee Counties, Mich.

Our meetings commenced in North Plains, Ionia Co., Aug. 13th, and continued two days. Brethren from the adjacent towns came to the gathering, and seemed cheered and blessed in meeting once more, to commingle their prayers and exhortations, and feast on the word of life. They evinced an increasing desire to have the "gold, white raiment and eye-salve" offered them by the faithful and true Witness, to sweeten the last message of mercy, and fit them to overcome all the temptations of the enemy. They cheerfully united in the systematic plan of benevolence, as recommended by our last general conference at Battle Creek, and seemed anxious to have gospel order, and live out all the strait truths of God, and keep company with the main body of the church of God. Some few came to hear and learn, and we hope they will erelong see it important to obey.

From thence, by invitation of Bro. I. A. Olmsted, we commenced a series of meetings in Orleans, Ionia Co., some twelve miles further west. Bro. O. and companion recently decided to keep the Sabbath of the Lord, after Bro. Frisbie had closed a series of meetings in Orleans, and seemed to feel a strong desire that their neighbors and friends should have one more privilege to hear the word. Our meetings continued from Aug. 16th to the 24th. Much interest was manifested to the close. It was evident they had ears to hear, and I hope hearts to obey. A few expressed a willingness to keep the Sabbath, while some fifteen or twenty acknowledged its claims.

At the close of our Sabbath meetings a blind man who had been led to the meeting, got up and declared that he had been a Sunday-keeper for sixty-seven years, but he would never keep it again; for he was now satisfied that the seventh day was the Sabbath of the Lord our God. Yes even the blind that cannot see the light of day, can see by the lamp and light of God's word, that the seventh is the rest-day of the Lord. I felt an unwillingness to leave this people, while they evinced such a willingness to hear; but two other previous appointments some thirty and fifty miles eastward required my attendance.

We commenced our conference in Green Bush, Clinton Co., Aug. 27th. The church here had been in trial about the way, and somewhat scattered. They were however much pleased to have a series of meetings, and manifested a strong desire to learn all about the way, and do all their duty as fast as things could be made plain. Our meetings continued three days, in which time they were much cheered and strengthened, and some of their neighbors listened with attention, and we hope were in a measure benefited. Calls were urgent to present the truth in neighboring towns here, and other places also where we held meetings. The church expressed a strong desire to move in union and harmony with the main body to reach the mount Zion of God.

At Owasso, Shiawassee Co., conference commenced Sept. 1st, and closed the evening of the 5th. Brethren gathered in around from twenty-five to thirty miles, hungry for the word of life. Four sisters came from Conway and Locke, some twenty-five miles, and managed their own team. Notwithstanding our place for meetings (school-house) was situated in the woods, yet four Methodist ministers came to hear. One of them said at the close of one of the meetings that our subjects respecting the atonement, and proclamation of the second coming of Christ was all dark; it was well known that Mr. Miller had made a mistake, and the speaker was also mistaken; and he was in the dark, having received no light from the discourse, and did not believe half a dozen of the congregation had understood me. I replied that I was very sorry that he was so dark in his mind, that I could not help him; but I would settle his difficulty about the congregation, by calling upon all that had with him been listening to the subject to raise their hands, if they had understood me. The minister began to count the uplifted hands, and saw how he had misjudged in the matter, and said, "I will take that back, sir. I acknowledge that I was mistaken, but in relation to the atonement, the last evening it is evident you was mistaken, for the atonement was all finished when Christ died upon the cross." I asked him if his atonement was made eighteen hundred years before he was born. He insisted that all the

atonement that was ever to be made was at the cross. We cited the ixth of Dan. for proof that the Saviour died after sixty-nine weeks, which was the first part of the twenty-three hundred days of Daniel's vision. But Daniel was told, unto twenty-three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed, or the work of atonement begin. This certainly was more than eighteen hundred days [years] after the Saviour died on the cross. Here the evening meeting closed.

At this conference four decided to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. One of them, a young married man, said, "I have made up my mind to serve God the rest of my days. Pray for me." When we left, his companion was deciding to go with him. The other three came from Corrunna to learn our position. The church here also made their arrangements to enter fully into the plan of systematic benevolence, and do what the Lord requires of them in the third angel's message. The last evening the church convened to attend to the ordinances of the Lord's house, and received the blessing of the Lord. Praise his holy name!

JOSEPH BATES.

Burns, Shiawassee Co., Mich., Sept. 8th, 1859.