The Monthly Meeting at Canaan, Me.
By W. H. Blaisdell
We have just closed another of our Monthly Meetings in Maine. Though the weather has been very cold, and we were somewhat crowded, through the kindness of the brethren and friends in Canaan, we were all provided with comfortable homes. There were upward of one hundred and twenty Sabbath-keepers present, besides a goodly number from this vicinity who are friendly to the cause of truth, and many who came in, either from a feeling of curiosity, or from a desire to learn what is truth. Brethren and sisters here met from the different towns of Athens, Cornville, Skowhegan, Norridgewock, Maddison, Rome, Fairfield, China, Clinton, Hartland, Palmyra, Canaan, &c. The preaching brethren present were Howard, Stratton, Putnam, Canright, and others. We came together Sabbath evening, at six o’clock, for a prayer and social meeting. The meeting this evening seemed quite free, still we did not seem to get down underneath the burden where we could all lift together, as is necessary, to enjoy the good blessing of the Lord. We found that it would take something more than a goodly number of brethren and sisters to make a good meeting, and that we were not sure of a good interview at our Monthly Meetings, unless the blessing of the Lord attended us. We closed the meeting this evening, feeling that we must lay hold on the promise of God and pray more earnestly for his blessing, or we should not get it. Sabbath morning, at nine o’clock, we met again and enjoyed a good social meeting; about fifty of the brethren and sisters spoke of their hope, and it seemed from their testimonies that the cause of truth had recently taken an onward march in nearly all the towns above mentioned. One young man took up his cross for the first time in this meeting. Two discourses were given to-day; one on the message to the Laodiceans, the other on the righteousness of God’s law. The Lord gave good liberty in speaking. Evening after the Sabbath was also devoted to prayer and exhortation. The interest in this meeting was about the same as it had been in the morning. This interview closed with a feeling that the social meetings of that day had been interesting and profitable, and such as we should have thought exceedingly good meetings a few months ago; but not quite so good as we have enjoyed in some of our last Monthly Meetings. It seemed to be the prevailing prayer in the hearts of God’s children, that he would more especially pour his blessing upon us ere the meetings closed. Some good prayer-meetings were enjoyed among them that evening after retiring to their homes. Sunday morning, at nine o’clock, we met for our last social meeting. God heard our prayers and gave us his blessing. The brethren and sisters felt like working for the Lord. We were glad to hear the exhortations of some who stood up and told us that they were profane, wicked men a few months ago, but were now praying people, and were willing to deny themselves and take up the cross. It cheered our hearts to hear their testimonies, and to see them rejoicing in hope of everlasting life with the people of God. This was indeed a good meeting, and at its close we felt like laboring more earnestly for God in the future, and that we were more willing to suffer in the cause of truth. After our social meeting we listened to a discourse from Bro. Howard on the condition of the church and world while the disciples were waiting and looking for the Lord to come. The Spirit of God rested on the Speaker and hearers. Bro. Howard enjoyed much freedom in speaking, and we felt that it was a blessing to us all. In the afternoon, Bro. Canright spoke to us on the Sabbath of the New Testament. He enjoyed much liberty in showing the slippery foundation of the argument for Sunday-keeping. The interest of the meeting seemed to increase from the time we came together in the morning, till its close in the afternoon. After Bro. Canright’s discourse, Bro. Putnam gave us some words of exhortation, which seemed to come forth in the Spirit and power of God. The people were deeply convicted of the truth. The closing exercise of the meeting, was the singing of a hymn, the sentiment of which may be seen in the following lines: “A few more storms shall beat
On this wild, rocky shore;
And we shall be where tempests cease,
And surges swell no more.
A few more struggles here,
A few more partings o’er.
A few more toils, a few more tears,
And we shall weep no more.”
While singing this hymn, the Spirit of the living God seemed to rest upon the entire congregation. The hearts of the brethren and sisters were melted down before, and now sinners were made to feel their need of salvation, and it seemed apparent that many wished that they were numbered with the people of God. At the close of the meeting, many moist eyes could be seen as the brethren and sisters separated, again to associate more or less with the world, again to worship God alone, in their own families, by their own firesides. Thus closed another of our Monthly Meetings, and we felt that it had been a blessing to nearly all the brethren and sisters who attended. In these meetings, several decided to keep the Sabbath. Union and harmony prevails among us in this region, and we feel to thank God for the signal manner in which he has blessed us within the past few months. Oh! such meetings as we have enjoyed! Thank God, we will give him the glory. Even sinners tell us that we have never had such meetings before. May the Lord help us to be humble before him, that the cause of truth may move steadily onward in the hands of those to whom God has entrusted the last message of mercy to a perishing world. Canaan, Me., Jan. 14, 1867.