Meetings in Mich by Joseph Bates

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 13, 1863

Meetings in Mich.

By Joseph Bates

BRO. WHITE: My last report was from Tyrone, Livingston Co., Mich. From thence, Sept. 8, I came to Milford, where I remained two days, and held two evening meetings in the district school-house. I was much pleased with the order and harmony manifest among them, and their strong desire to be in union with the remnant of God's people.

Sept. 11, came to Memphis, Macomb Co. Here, for the first time, I became acquainted with the brethren and sisters referred to in the reports of Brn. Cornell and Lawrence, during their labors in July and August last, with the Michigan tent. Many of them were in deep trial in consequence of the strong and determined opposition which had arisen after the tent left for Hadley, and some had given up the Sabbath. During our stay here, from Sept. 11 to 30, we made many interesting visits to the families of these dear friends, in and around the village, and held fifteen preaching and social meetings with them, in all of which a deep interest was manifest to hear the present truth.

Four commenced to keep the Sabbath after we came. Sunday, the 19th, five were baptized: one of them, a brother, supposed to be so far gone with consumption that it was doubted whether he could be buried in the water with safety. He was anxious to go forward. Two brethren bore him in his chair out into the stream, where he was buried with Christ by baptism with as much composure as his companion who had preceded him. Some ten days afterwards he said to me that he hoped to live until the coming of the Lord.

A Baptist minister was sent for from Canada to quiet the people's minds in relation to Sunday-keeping. He preached a long discourse in the Methodist church to a crowded house. After he closed his meeting Bro. Cornell asked the privilege to make an appointment, and was denied. The minister from Canada declared that no person should be allowed to speak in that house, unless he believed that the first day of the week was the Christian Sabbath. Uproar and confusion followed, and some time elapsed before the multitude left the house.

The following evening Bro. Cornell reviewed the discourse in the Baptist house, much to the satisfaction of the friends of the cause, and all others present, who were lovers of free speech, law and order.

At Detroit I met my companion on her way home from New England, where she had been spending the summer with our children and friends, much improved in her health.

October 2, came to Battle Creek in time to attend the meeting of the Publishing Association. Here order and harmony prevailed. On the Sabbath spoke to the brethren here. They were also strengthened and instructed by the preaching of Bro. Waggoner and Frisbie. I return to Monterey in the morning.

JOSEPH BATES.

Battle Creek, Mich., Oct. 7, 1863.