MEETINGS IN MICH by James White

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 8, 1862

MEETINGS IN MICH.

By James White

DEAR BRO. WHITE: I closed my lectures in Oakland, Feb. 24, without further interruption. Went to Lapeer the 28th, and spent the Sabbath. Went to North Branch March 2d. March 3d, in company with Bro. Sanborn, I visited the trustees of the Freewill Baptist society to see if we could get the use of their log meeting-house for lectures. One gave his consent, so far as he was concerned as an individual. The second gave his, providing the third would. But said he, I

shall not come and hear you. The third would not give his consent upon any consideration. I asked him if he thought we should injure or defile the house. Said he, I should commit sin. I answered, Sin is the transgression of the law; what law will you transgress to let us have the house? Said he, I take the Bible for my guide. Well, said I, the Bible says, Do unto others as you would that others should do unto you. We talked some more, but all to no purpose.

The house was built with the understanding that it should be free for all denominations, and built on Bro. Sanborn's land. Brn. Sanborn, Barnes, Marsh, and Day, then Baptists, but now Sabbath-keepers, contributed liberally toward building the house. Bro. Sanborn feeling himself abused, took possession of the house, locked it up, and sent them word what he done. They have no title for the land, and had refused to have one. We occupied two evenings, when a mob came on, headed by the deacon of the church, who was the trustee above mentioned that took the Bible for his guide. They entered the house, took out the stove and pipe, the seats and windows and door, both upper and lower floors, and carried them off. We then held meetings in Bro. Sanborn's house until first-day, when the brethren came on with lumber, nails, stoves and pipe, and put in the floors, made a new door, set up the stove and nailed up the windows, and we had a meeting in the house in the evening. When our enemies saw that their plan had not carried as they had intended in breaking up our meetings, they threatened to tear off the roof, when a complaint was made to the authorities; and as the mob was apparently about to perpetrate the deed they were met by the officers and informed that if they wanted to save themselves a term in the penitentiary, they had better desist from any further depredations. After this we were left to peaceably occupy the house to the close of our lectures. Bro. Sanborn was then notified not to make any more repairs on the house for they had not relinquished their claim to it yet.

Our meetings were thinly attended on account of the prejudice, the people being principally Baptists. I gave nineteen discourses, much to the encouragement of the church. Three more decided to keep the Sabbath: a Methodist class leader and his wife, and one other.

I left North Branch Tuesday the 18th. Came to Lapeer with the expectation of organizing the church on the following first-day. Visited some and held one meeting preparatory to it, but was prevented by the arrival of a messenger just before the Sabbath, bearing the news of the death of Bro. Charles Hough, and requesting me to return to Rochester on first-day at eleven o'clock. Spoke twice on the Sabbath to the church in Lapeer. They feel very much disappointed at not receiving a visit from Bro. Loughborough.

After the Sabbath I rode home thirty miles, got home at midnight, after an absence of a little more than three weeks. I learn that some ten are keeping the Sabbath as the result of the lectures in Oakland. They think the work is not near all done there yet. The church and society of Oakland met to re-organize, and called a vote to shut us out, but the vote was negatived, so that we can occupy the house when it is not occupied by them.

Our brethren think the work is not half done. We would be glad if Bro. Cornell or Hull or Loughborough could come and spend a little time there.

Yours striving to overcome, R. J. LAWRENCE.

Rochester, Mich.