p. 41 | Untitled article

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, December 31, 1867

REPORT FROM CORNVILLE AND ATHENS, ME.

By Dudley Marvin Canright; J. B. Goodrich

DEC. 14 and 15, we held our Monthly Meeting at Cornville. Owing to the bad state of the roads, and to the fact that we had been holding many meetings in this section of late, there was not a very large gathering at this meeting. In view of what had occurred here for a few weeks past, we felt very anxious about how things should turn at this meeting. So on the Sabbath we freely talked about how we looked at the past course of the brethren in this State, the testimony which Bro. and Sr. White had given them, and what we thought their duty was for the future. Then we were rejoiced to see the brethren and sisters come forward and heartily make confession of their wrongs in the past, of their lack of faith in the whole work, of their fault-findings, and of their ingratitude to the servants of God in the past. It was proper that they should make this confession, and we felt satisfied with it. They then publicly endorsed the whole message, and took their stand upon it. May God help them to live it out.

We stayed a few days and labored with the church at Cornville. We found many discouraging things here, but were encouraged with the result of the meetings on the whole. Tobacco had nearly ruined several. They now resolved to make an effort to get rid of it. If they do not, we have no hopes of them. Unbelief and distrust with regard to some parts of this work have made some as weak as water, and have nearly overthrown them. But we hope that things will be different here now.

Sabbath and Sunday, Dec. 21 and 22, we spent at Athens. We occupied the whole time in meetings for examination and confession. We found them more ready to see their wrongs and errors than we had feared. The trouble with them was that they had failed to embrace the whole message, which God is giving his people; hence they were in a condition to easily fall into doubts and trials, and to be overthrown. Satan had taken the advantage of them in this. We tried, and not without effect, we think, to make them see these things and the importance of them. Those who had been reproved, acknowledged the testimony and reproof, made confession, and promised to reform. Systematic Benevolence was re-organized. We also organized a church of ten members, to which six were added by letter. They now have a good house all paid for, which cost $1000. On the whole, we feel satisfied with our visit to Athens.

D. M. CANRIGHT. J. B. GOODRICH.