REPORT FROM BRO. CANRIGHT by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 9, 1869

REPORT FROM BRO. CANRIGHT.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

It has been a long time since I have reported in the paper, yet I have been trying to do something in the cause all the time. Soon after Bro. and Sr. White were with us at South Lancaster, Mass., in December last, I went to Richmond, Maine, and worked some seven weeks with Bro. Waggoner. As the way did not seem to open for further labor, I returned home Feb. 5. When I left home in December, my wife was sick, but doing well, as we thought; but she was soon taken worse, and has suffered exceedingly for over two months. Some of the time it seemed that she must die; yet it appeared to us to be the work of the enemy to draw me from my work. I knew that she had the care and sympathy of the church and friends, who would do all they could for her. So for weeks I worked on, hoping and believing that God would hear our prayers, and help us. Still she grew worse, till they followed James's directions, chap. v. “The Lord heard prayer.” She was relieved of her pain, and in a great measure of her disease. From that time, she has been gaining steadily, and growing stronger, till she is now able to work some. We feel very thankful for this token of God's mercy to us. We feel more than ever that our lives should be devoted wholly to God. Never did we find so kind friends as the brethren and sisters at South Lancaster were during my wife's sickness. They did everything that could be done for us. We feel deeply grateful to them all for it. Such a time shows who are friends indeed.

As soon as I came home, I was taken sick myself with a sort of epidemic that has prevailed very extensively in New England this winter so far as I know. However, with proper water treatment, I soon recovered, so that after a week's stay at home I left again, Feb. 12, for Blakeville, N. H., where Brn. Haskell and Rodman had been holding meetings for a few weeks. There appeared to be quite an interest there, and several had come out on the Sabbath. I think that the brethren have done well, and will see fruit of their labors if they have patience and perseverance to hold on there.

I stayed there one week, and helped them some, and tried to find an opening near by, but did not. So I came to New Ipswich last Friday, and obtained a hall and commenced meetings there last Sunday. Brn. Gould and Hastings live near this village, and have long wanted meetings here. That was why I came. It is a place of some 500 inhabitants, I should judge. Is rather a rich, popular place. The Advent was preached here in '44, and a good company of believers raised up; but since that, there has been no Advent preaching in the place. Of course the people look upon Adventism as a failure. However, this was the best opening I could find, so I went to work, hoping in God for success. I have had four meetings, and my congregation has increased from 40 to 140. I have sold each evening from $1 to $2 worth of books. This looks encouraging.

I learn that the people are becoming considerably excited over it, and say that they want to hear it through. I hope they may continue to feel so. But my experience of three years in New England does not allow me to expect a great deal. If I can live so that God can work through me, I hope to see some embrace the truth here. A few with those here would enable them to have regular meetings. May God hear their prayers and grant it.

I feel very small and weak myself. I know that unless God shall specially help me, I can do nothing but injury to the cause. If God can use me at all I shall be very thankful. I never felt a deeper sense of the holiness and majesty of God, the hatefulness of every sin, and the nothingness of humanity, than now. My soul is astonished that the great God could ever save such wicked sinners as we are. Pray for us that he may bless his own truth.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

New Ipswich, N. H., Feb. 25, 1869.