Meetings in Western Mich.
By Joseph Bates
BRO. WHITE: In order of our appointments we held six meetings with the church in Wright, Ottawa Co., from Sept. 27 to Oct. 4 and closed with the funeral services of Sr. J. R. Ginley. Her sudden and unexpected death caused a deep feeling in the hearts of her brethren and friends in W. One young woman recently converted, was baptized, and two were added to the church. Said the brethren, we have had a good meeting. The Lord added his blessing in celebrating the ordinances of his house. October 5-10, we held five meetings with the church in Fair Plains. The churches in Orleans, and West Plains united with them, and the Lord blessed and strengthened his people. Bro. R. from Cato, Montcalm Co., where Brn. Frisbie and Strong recently raised up a company of Sabbath-keepers (not yet organized) was drafted, and experienced much difficulty and detention on his examination before the district marshal, not because he was not well recommended by his brethren and officers of his town, and also by the elder and clerk of the church in Fair Plains, but because he did not present a certificate from the clerk of his church. This of course he could not do. Here again our brethren will learn the importance of organization. October 11 and 12, held two meetings in Bushnell, Montcalm Co. Two families of Sabbath-keepers and their neighbors had become deeply interested while attending to Bro. Philip Strong's course of lectures, which he was obliged to close on account of ill health, and return home. Many are still interested and anxious for Bro. Strong to return. October 13-16, held six meetings in Orleans, Ionia Co. Brethren from Fair Plains, North Plains, Bushnell and Ionia, came together here and enjoyed a cheering precious season worshiping the Lord and celebrating the ordinances of his house. Sabbath, Oct. 22, good encouraging meetings with the church in Monterey. Two recently converted were buried with Christ by baptism, at the close of our meeting; one of them a young man who volunteered and served his country three years in the present rebellion, and who immediately on his return home volunteered to serve the Lord, hence forth and forever. Two other candidates are waiting to go forward in baptism the next Sabbath. Our sick, thank the Lord, are coming up. JOSEPH BATES. Monterey, Mich., Oct. 26, 1864.