| 235 suppleness in bending to the world, but for his constant goodness; his unyielding integrity, his unflinching devotion to the right. Every man knew where to find him; the church knew where to find him, and it never doubted him. His memory is blest, may mine be as dear to the Saints. As yet I have no news of his last hours, I was with him a few weeks ago, and saw then he was passing away. His harness, the whole armor of truth, was on him, and with it he triumphantly passed to the presence of his God. May you and I live as purely, fight as manfully, endure as bravely; and die as godlike. No ostentation in his life, unselfish, always preferring others to himself, and never shrinking at the call of duty. In his death I lose a brother and a friend.
The Herald for August 1, 1878, contained the following:
We were privileged while in Canada, to converse with some of those who were present at the baptism in the River Thames at London, the story of which was told in a letter from Bro. J. J. Cornish, at the time of its occurrence. One brother, Sparks, gave us a succinct account of it, in something like the following style: From the necessity arising out of the fact that all the brethren were laboring during the day hours of labor, their baptisms were performed in the evening, and it was often quite late when they would reach the river. On this occasion they were delayed a little, and when they reached the water it was quite dark. They proceeded along the bank as well as they could, calling to each other from time to time, till they came to a suitable spot; after a season of prayer, the brother who was officiating and the candidate for baptism, started into the water, when suddenly, from above there shone down upon the water a bright mellow light, like yellow sunshine, sufficient in size to cover the place where the baptism was performed, and remained long enough for the performance of the rite. The sensations of the people witnessing it, for it was seen by both those in and out of the church, were various and strange; but all felt that the good powers above had ruled and kindly manifested the approval of God upon those engaged in his service. No more remarkable circumstance than this was the light at Saul's conversion; and we presume the light was of a similar character. We did not witness this display; but we believe the statement of those present on that occasion, and are convinced that it occurred; we did, however, once witness the coming and going of a similar light, and praise God to-day for the evidence that it brought. No one that witnessed this singular attestation of light on the banks of the Thames, Ontario, ought ever to doubt the fact that God is with the Reorganized Church.
On August 12 Elder Bays again wrote of the conflict and its consequences, as follows:
At the afternoon services several preachers were present. I spoke from Mark 16:17, and I seldom have better liberty. The members of the Christian Church-conscious of their defeat in the late discussion with Elder Marquis-had another man present,
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