Meetings in Indiana by Joseph Bates

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 16, 1862

Meetings in Indiana.

By Joseph Bates

Bro. WHITE:—By invitation of Bro. M. Kellogg, I held a series of meetings in the town of Portage, Porter Co., Ind., which continued every evening for two weeks commencing Aug. 20.

This was the first time this people had ever listened to our position. Bro. M. Kellogg and wife, with his father and mother moved here from Ionia, Michigan, a few months since. Many of the people in their neighborhood manifested an interest to hear, and six declared their intention to keep the Sabbath, so that there was a company of ten Sabbath keepers when I left, and they were expecting that some others who were deeply interested would join them. One was baptized.

Soon after our meetings commenced one of the congregation invited me to call on him. I called the next morning and found his wife on a sick bed, sorely afflicted. She had been told by her family about our preaching, and desired to hear me. Before praying with her, we conversed relative to our position and the importance of her commencing to keep the Sabbath, as the first step. She said that she had been convicted for some time, that the Seventh day Sabbath was the right one to keep, but she had not known how to get about it.

She continued, saying, I had a little book, on the subject of the Sabbath, sent me by my sister in York State, which convinced me, but she sent no letter with it to explain whether she was keeping the Sabbath herself, &c. But, said she, I will begin now, and keep it, for I know it is my duty. A daughter sitting by, who had attended our meetings, (whose husband had gone to the war,) said, I shall keep the Sabbath with my mother. After praying with them, the mother seemed much blessed and when I left the place, was so that she sat up a good part of the day. After this, her husband came to our Sabbath meeting, and confessed the truth, and said that he would keep the Sabbath; also another daughter.

I asked Mrs. McFarlin, (that is her name,) where her sister lived, and her name. She answered, Eliza Ann Ferren, wife of David Ferren, of Clarkson, Monroe Co., New York. The title of the little book is, ‒A Word for the Sabbath.– I hope this statement will encourage others to send little books on the Sabbath, and other works to their relatives and friends, and tell them how deeply interested they are, in the doctrines they contain. It may be as likely to convince them as a three weeks' visit. And then how glad you will be. Moreover the angels in heaven will rejoice. And very likely, if by such a little winged instrument, they should be led onward to obtain eternal life, and you should be so happy as to be saved with them; how many ten thousand times your glad heart will leap for joy, on hearing that soul, ascribing honor, glory, and everlasting praise to Him who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb, for moving you, their never-to-be-forgotten friend, to send them that little book.

Brother, sister, hurry, and mail the little books, that they may speed their flight, and reach your impatient friends, before the dreadful storm that is now gathering, shall sweep all the living away with wailings of unutterable anguish and despair, except those who are sealed with the seal of the living God.

I have been holding meetings in this place the past Sabbath and first-day. More soon.

JOSEPH BATES.

North Liberty, Ind. Aug. 1862.