p. 128 | Call for Help by James Bates

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1860

Call for Help.

By James Bates

DEAR BRO. BATES: Whom having not seen we love; you have heard of us through the Review, and now we beseech you for Christ's sake, to come over and help us. Come quickly, the enemy is upon us, they have united their forces, and surrounded us, and opened upon us their batteries. They have been skirmishing ever since the brethren struck their tent, and yesterday the army, Methodist, Baptist and Congregationalist, by a united call, rallied at the Congregational house, to demolish our little fort; but thanks to our Captain, Jesus, we are all alive, though faint and weary, for we have been through mental toil. Their speaker was a Baptist, Eld. Cornell, of Ionia. He delivered three discourses yesterday to crowded houses, and our enemies, the orthodox, are exulting in our silence; but may our Lord send us help. The same speaker is to renew the onset on Tuesday evening the 28th inst. at this place. Subject, the Sabbath. Yesterday he talked about the immortality of man. We expect you here. Brn. Lawrence and Frisbie promised that you should come and see us soon; but they did not know how much we should need you.

Your brother in the Lord.

WM. APPLETON.

Greenville, Mont Calm Co., Mich.

REPLY.—It would give me much pleasure to visit you and render you all the assistance in my power, by way of still further presenting the present truth. But I am at present unable to do so, as I am confined here with the fever and ague, and have been for several weeks.

"If the Lord will," when I gain my strength and I obtain the means to travel so far, I shall be pleased to visit you.

Jos. BATES.

Monterey, Aug. 29, 1860.

P. S. BRO. SMITH: I send this with the annexed letter for the Review, if you think best to publish it, that others in the message may see the urgent call, and lend a helping hand.

J. B.