MEETINGS IN MICHIGAN by Joseph Bates

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

MEETINGS IN MICHIGAN.

By Joseph Bates

Bro. White: Bro. Frisbie took my appointment in Monterey and held meetings with the church Sabbath and first-day, June 15 and 16, while I filled his appointment at the same time in Byron Center, Kent Co. On Monday Bro. F. relieved me to hold a series of meetings in Byron Center, and helped me on my way toward Caledonia. Found the church here hungry for meetings, but could stop but one evening, as I was on my way to meet with the church at Orange. Had a good, free time in trying to show them the way of salvation and eternal life.

Next morning Bro. Ira Gardner took me to his welcome home in Bound. Here I spent two evenings with the church, I hope to some profit. Bro. G. then helped me on my way to the Lowell depot for Ionia, where I found Bro. E. M. Davis waiting for me, and Bro. Howe coming to convey me to his home in Orange, where our Sabbath and first-day meetings were held, June 22 and 23. Some of the people in Orange were still anxious to hear about the coming of our blessed Lord. Some came quite a distance. The church was happily organized and much strengthened in the Lord. Bro. and sister Howe claimed the privilege of taking me some seven miles with their team to the cars, and when about to start on the train for Owasso, I said, "I am very much obliged to you for my ride here." "O no," they replied, "we are a thousand times obliged to you for coming to see us."

June 24-29 we spent with the churches in Chesaning and St. Charles, Saginaw Co., nine miles apart. It was decided for the two churches to hold a conference in Chesaning Sabbath and first-day, 27-29. On inquiry it was ascertained that the village school-house was engaged for a Methodist quarterly meeting. It was then decided to move the meetings to a school-house in the woods between the two places. Some feared we should fail to draw many hearers, but we were happily disappointed, for our numbers increased to a large company. Our social meetings each morning, and exhortations after preaching, were pointed and cheering. At mid-day on Sunday we tracked our way for half a mile through the thick woods to the Shiawassee, where two were buried in baptism. While singing hymn 104,

“Thou hast said, exalted Jesus, Take thy cross and follow me,”

it seemed as though the silent flowing stream and the venerable, tall trees were with us, all listening to the thrilling, joyous sound. Some said, "It's good to be here." From this the church repaired to the humble

dwelling of Bro. Matthews, located in a little cleared spot in the same woods, where five more were respectively added to the two churches, and all united in the ordinances of the Lord's house, and were specially strengthened still to obey and serve him.

A friend who had freely opened his house to help entertain the meeting, and had said he believed, or that the doctrine which we preached looked clear, stayed out by the door of the house listening in preference to any other place, until the communion season was past, and then accompanied us to the school-house to attend the last meeting, which was the most crowded and best of all.

While we were endeavoring to impress the mind with the importance of a speedy preparation for our coming Lord, many were in tears, and sobbing. As soon as I closed my discourse a man arose in the back part of the house and said, "I have served Satan long enough. I am now determined to serve the Lord." The joyful news seemed to thrill the soul of the Sabbath-keeping wife as she rose from her seat with the tears coursing down her cheeks, to thank God for what he was doing, and called on her brethren to take courage. The Spirit began to run from heart to heart, and it seemed as though we were getting into a new place. The brethren loved the place so well that they arranged for both churches to meet and spend the next Sabbath there. JOSEPH BATES. Owasso, Shi. Co., Mich., July 1, 1862.