p. 17 | An Appeal to the Sabbath-Keepers in Maine

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 18, 1866

An Appeal to the Sabbath-Keepers in Maine.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS IN CHRIST AND THE PRESENT TRUTH: I have now labored among you for several months. I have been with you in your meetings and at your homes, and know personally almost every Sabbath-keeper in Maine, hence, I think I know pretty well what is needed here. At present, at least, all my interest is here and for you, and the prosperity of the cause in this State. I have already formed a strong attachment, and an unfeigned love for many here whom I believe to be saints of God. I now intend, if God wills, to visit every Sabbath-keeper in Maine once more during the winter.

Now, if you esteem me to be a servant of God, and one who is laboring to build up the truth which we all believe and hold, allow me to call your attention to a few things which I think to be of vital importance to the advancement of the cause in this State. I do hope that each one will consider this as addressed to himself, weigh it with candor, and act upon it in the fear of God.

1. The cause of God is one, East, West, North, and South. This proposition is self-evident. God loves a saint in Maine, just as much as one in Minnesota, and one in Michigan as much as one in Maine. So, every one who has the genuine love of God and the truth in him, has no sectional feelings in this matter, but is interested in the advancement of the cause of God, and rejoices in the conversion of souls in one State as much as in another. Especially should the minister feel so. To-day I am laboring here, next year I may be called to labor in Ohio, or some where else; and I am ready to go in the strength of Christ where I can do any good, even to another continent. Now why should I, or any of those who preach, or love, present truth, be partial to the cause in one section any more than in another? “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,” I am not, nor do I believe that my brethren here are.

We wish to see the truth firmly planted here, and standing on a solid foundation. We wish to see you come into order and system, so that you can work together to the best advantage. We have tried disorder till we were satisfied with it. We have, by experience, found a more excellent way. It seems to me that the time has now come for us to be united in pushing forward this great work. In order to do this, we must have order, system, organization. You love the Sabbath, the law, the third angel’s message, &c., and feel very thankful to God for them. Where did you get these precious truths? Why, brethren from the West have had to leave their homes, their friends, their families, and come away here among strangers and even foes, and labor and toil, day and night, many times under the most discouraging circumstances, for months and even years, to bring you the truths which are so dear to you. If it had not been for organization we could never have done this. To organization and Systematic Benevolence, under God, you owe the knowledge of the truth which you now have. In the past, some have felt an opposition to these things; but I am confident that they will not when they understand them. We have labored here cheerfully, thinking that the day would come when the people in Maine would appreciate the sacrifices that have been made for them, and would in their turn help forward the work not only among themselves but elsewhere. We still think so. Our brethren in the West have done nobly and acted unselfishly in sending both their ministers and their means here to sustain the work among you, when they needed both at home. They are just as much interested in the work here as they are at home. Now let us in Maine show that we also are interested in the general advancement of this work, by doing all we can to aid it. In the past, we in Maine have been looked upon as having little or no interest in the general work of this cause. To clear ourselves of this suspicion, and convince our brethren to the contrary, I propose that we immediately act upon the following points:

2. Sustaining the Review. Here is a paper that is entirely devoted to advocating, defending, sustaining, the Sabbath reform, third angel’s message, and kindred truths which we love. The arguments and reasons for these truths are here set forth in their most attractive and forcible form week after week. Its whole object is to sustain and advance these truths. No other paper will do this. On the contrary, several other papers are being scattered over the land by the thousands, which oppose this work with all the might they have. Now which shall we sustain, the one that defends the truth, or the one that opposes it? Yet I know of professed Sabbath-keepers in Maine, who take these papers that are fighting the truth, also political papers, who do not take the Review! They can give their money to help scatter error and darkness, but to aid those who are defending the truth, they have not a dollar! How can such men pray God to send out his truth and the light on the Sabbath? To such we say, Stop and think how inconsistent you are acting. Will you not be condemned in the last day for such a course? What would become of the cause if every one should do so? (Will some one who does take the Review show this to those who do not? Otherwise they will never see it.)

The Review has not a large circulation, it is printed on the best of paper and in the neatest style, hence it cannot be published as cheap as some other papers. Now let those who wish this paper success, pay a little more than the regular price. I know of many who could do it well enough, and give something besides as a free donation. Shall the brethren in Michigan, New York, and other States, do all this, and we have no interest in it? In other States, many of the friends, no abler than those in Maine, have donated their fives, tens, twenties, &c., to support this paper. Now we can do the same. Hundreds have become interested in the truth, and have finally embraced it, by simply reading the Review. Now have you not some friend to whom you can send it a year? Can you not risk $2.25 for that purpose? At least send it six months for $1.00. You are asking God to send out the truth and convert your friends. Now show that you mean what you say by aiding the work a little. When I get a subscriber for the Review, I feel as though I had done as much as to preach a sermon, if not more. Now even the sisters can preach that way as well as I can!

3. Writing for the Review. This is something that is of no small importance, and ought not to be forgotten. I know of many persons here who have ability to write, if they would apply themselves to it. At least we would like to see a letter from any of them occasionally. Let us let the friends abroad know that we are alive here in Maine, and that we love the truth and are trying to live it out as well as they. In the past, I have seen but few, if any, communications from the brethren and sisters in Maine. This looks like a lack of interest. Improve your privilege, and send in your communications.

4. Systematic Benevolence. This is very small in this State, many taking no part at all, and others paying but very little. It will fall far short of sustaining the cause. Other laborers are now coming in to labor systematically, and they must be sustained. You are all anxious to have labor among you. A new year is now about to begin, and a new arrangement of labor will be carried out for the future. So it would be well to re-arrange your s. b., and raise it as high as you can. Also let the scattered ones join in this with the nearest church to them. This they can do by letter. All have a duty in this matter, from which none ought to excuse themselves. Shall we be reproached with covetousness? Who ought to be liberal, if it is not S. D. Adventists? Yet there are those who profess to love these truths, who will take no part in the s. b. plan, nor give but very little in any way, though they are worth thousands of dollars. These men are deceiving themselves. They are covetous. They love the truth some, but the world much more. They will have to reform soon, or they will never enter the kingdom of God.

Again, I appeal to every Sabbath-keeper in Maine, to immediately do something to sustain the cause of God among you. The way to do this is to put down your figures on s. b. If any wish information about it, I am ready to inform them.

5. The Health Reform. Many of our brethren and sisters are taking some interest in this, but not half what they ought to do. Many more have no interest in it whatever. I feel that this is not right. This is a subject of importance to us. It is time for us to change our mode of living, in order to be prepared for what is coming. We are far behind our brethren in other places. Every family ought to have the Health Reformer. It only costs $1.00 per year. It is time for us to take more interest in this matter than we have.

Now brethren and sisters, do these things, and I confidently believe that the blessing of God will follow. We want to see something done in Maine this winter. We must begin to work and work in the right way, and together, if we do. The ministers are willing to do all that they can; now shall we have your co-operation! Your actions will answer the question.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Athens, Me., Nov. 28, 1866.