p. 165 | Report from Maine by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 23, 1866

Report from Maine.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Doubtless many have wondered why we do not report more. Well, it is not because we have found nothing to do, nor because we have not been trying to do it. We have worked all the time to the best of our ability. We have not tried to do anything in new places, but have bent all our strength toward helping and converting those already in the truth.

In this State the cause has suffered wofully in the past. In many places we have found some very discouraging things to contend with, and again some things were encouraging. In many places the work has been left in a half-finished condition to go to ruin. It is more work now to patch this up than it would be to begin and raise up a church in a new place. It has been a warning to us to hold on when we begin in a new place till the work is done, and the brethren and sisters are thoroughly established in all the truth. Then the work will stand and be a light to the world, and a blessing and honor to the cause.

I spent one week in Cornville, where Eld. Stratton lives. For the most part, this is a live church, and I enjoyed the meeting greatly. We had a free time. Four began to keep the Sabbath. Bro. Stratton is wholly in the truth, and his influence is on the right side.

Bro. Andrews spent three weeks at Edington. We think that good was done, and that the church moved forward some. Yet only the first step has been taken there. They need more of the Spirit of God, and more consecration to the work. One embraced the truth, two were baptized, and added to the church.

We spent one week at Topsham. Here is a little company of Sabbath-keepers. But they need to “go forward” a little faster. Bro. Winslow, whose whole soul is in the work, is a great help to them, so that we think they will do very well with a little help.

We have spent three weeks in Portland. Here we found things badly mixed up. The unruly tongue had been very busy among them until they had lost confidence in one another. Their faults were pointed out to them. They saw and confessed them. When we left them we felt that things began to break loose, and clear away. We hope and expect to yet see a united, devoted church in Portland. The Spirit of God has been wofully lacking with some of them. Hence they have been selfish, envious, and unchristian-like in their conduct. We hope to see things go differently there in the future. One embraced the Sabbath while we were there.

There is a little company at Falmouth, four miles from Portland, whom we have visited but not long enough to help them much as yet.

We also spent two weeks at Hartland, where Eld. Goodrich lives. He has been very slow to come into all the truth, and take hold in earnest; hence the Sabbath-keepers there are unorganized and weak. They have been afraid to trust themselves in the work of God. But Bro. G. now sees his way clear to take hold of the whole truth, put his hand to the work with us, and throw his influence on the side of order and the work of God. So we now hope to see the cause move on in Hartland.

There are other scattered brethren through the State whom we have not yet visited.

I have spent eight weeks in Norridgewock. This may seem like throwing away time to those who believe in driving things, but we have thought otherwise.

The work moves on steadily and surely. The interest increases rather than diminishes. All are holding on, and most of them are advancing.

Sabbath and Sunday, Oct. 6 and 7, we had a sort of general meeting here. Bro. Stratton and Goodrich were present, and a goodly number of brethren and sisters from different places. Perfect unity and harmony prevailed throughout. The sympathies, hearts, and souls, of all were united as they have not been before in this section. While we spoke of the unity that ought to exist among the remnant, the rise and progress of the third message, the labors of those who had led out in this work, and how the watchmen ought to see eye to eye, the Spirit of God rested down upon us. Our hearts melted before it, and our tears flowed together. We then felt ashamed of our backwardness

and unbelief in the cause of God, and resolved to take hold together and in earnest. We resolved to risk our all to gain or lose with the third angel’s message, and all that goes with it. Here I felt like shouting, Glory to God, the clouds begin to break away, and a brighter day is dawning upon Maine. At the close of the Sabbath we had a social meeting. God met with us in a special manner, as if to sanction the resolutions which we had formed. The brethren and sisters were prompt in their duties, and free in the Lord. Our hearts were filled with the love of God, and with our mouths we spoke it forth. Some of the time I was so happy that it almost seemed to me that I was on the other side of Jordan. We got a taste of the goodly land at least. We shall not soon forget this day. The Lord gave good freedom on Sunday in speaking to a full house.

I now begin to feel quite at home in Maine. I love the people here, and enjoy laboring among them. My health has improved much since I came here.

The friends present voted to establish and sustain Monthly Meetings among the churches in this vicinity. I feel as though this was a step in the right direction. This will serve to acquaint us with each other, and unite us together. God grant to prosper it.

Brethren and sisters in Maine, let us take hold of this matter in earnest. Let every one feel that they have an interest and a duty in this matter. Let us get out of this cold, dead, state which we have been in, get out to meeting, and bring the Spirit of God with us when we come. Let us keep up with the message, and get into the spirit of what we believe.

Our next Monthly Meeting will be held, if God will, at Cornville, Nov. 10, 11. Elders Stratton, Blaisdell, and myself will be present. Meeting will begin at 7 o’clock, in the meeting-house, on Friday evening, and continue two days. Come prepared to stay through the meetings. Simply coming on the Sabbath or Sunday, amounts to but little. You lose the best of the meetings. We would like to see at least a delegate from every church in Maine, that we may arrange for future meetings. Let those who wish help, come here, and we will see what can be done.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Norridgewock, Oct. 7, 1866.