Bates, John (2)

Bates, John (2), a Baptist minister, was born at Bugbrook, Northamptonshire, England, Jan. 26, 1805. He removed to London in 1827, and procured a situation in a dry-goods store. Soon after he became a Christian and united with the Baptist Church. His thoughts soon began to be directed towards the Christian ministry, and he turned his attention to study to prepare himself for the work. He was designated as a missionary under the patronage of the Baptist Irish Society to labor in Ireland, and was stationed for one year at Ballina, on the western coast. Early in 1834 he removed to the city of Sligo, and became pastor of a small Baptist Church in that place; but soon removed to Coolany, and subsequently to Ballinacarrow, where he labored for a few months, and then returned to Ballina. From this place he made excursions in various directions as an evangelist for nine years. He left Ballina at the close of 1845. The greater part of the next four years was spent in Banbridge, in the neighborhood of Belfast, where he collected a Church of fifty members. In 1850 Mr. Bates came to the United States as missionary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, of which appointment, however, he did not avail himself, but proceeded to Cascade, Ia., where he became pastor of a Baptist Church, which, under his faithful ministry of fifteen years, became strong and influential. In all the region around he did good service as a missionary, and was instrumental in the formation of quite a number of Baptist churches. In 1864 Mr. Bates removed to Canada, and became pastor of the Baptist Church in Dundas, near Hamilton, where he remained nearly three years, and then accepted a call to one of the most important Baptist churches in the province, that of Woodstock. Here he had a ministry of six years, which was richly blessed; but on account of failing strength he resigned in June, 1873. His last ministry was at St. Georgre. It lasted but two years, his death occurring May 8, 1875. See Smith [J. A.], Memoir, Sermons, Essays and Addresses of Reverend John Bates (Toronto, 1877). (J. C. S.)