p. 90 | Untitled article by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, January 21, 1868

PERSONAL.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

At an interview with several brethren and sisters, Bro. Andrews and Bro. and Sr. White being present, the substance of this article was talked over and it was thought best that it should be mentioned through the Review. Hence I write.

It is often the case that some one family of Sabbath-keepers, living near the place of meetings, has to bear the main burden of all meetings in lodging and feeding those who come, and in furnishing hay, &c., for their teams. It is near the meeting-house, so those who have no teams go there. Women who come with small children can get to meeting from there with them the easiest, so they go there. The feeble and old are not able to go far, so they go there. Those who come from a distance with teams, wish to stop at the nearest place, so they go there. Those who are strangers in the place all stop there, and so on, till this family catches a good share of those who come to meeting, or till every corner of the house is full. Now, such families are generally lovers of hospitality, and enjoy having their friends stop with them. They give a general invitation for all to come there as long as they can find any room. They do not feel like turning any away. Other families living out a mile or two further have little or no company at all. This is not equality. However freely it may be given, hay and oats, bed and board, cost something. It can not be otherwise than that this should be felt, especially by those who have but limited means, and have to work for what they get. If they were to receive pay for all this, it would more than liberally pay their s. b. for the year. Yet they are expected to give just as liberally on s. b. as those who live further away and have no such burdens to bear.

The case that suggested this was that of Bro. Geo. Barker, who lives near the meeting-house at Norridgewock. He has a large house and barn, and it has been very handy for all to put up there, and he has been very free to invite them. But he has a large family of his own and only ordinary means of living. From a two-year's trial, it became apparent that he must do one of three things: either, 1. Stop receiving so much company constantly; or 2. Pay little or no s. b.; or 3. Move away and deprive his family of the benefit of the Sabbath-school. We advised him to do the first. The same is true of Eld. Putnam. So it is with Bro. Fellows at Athens, and of others at other places.

Now, what shall be done? Shall we tell our friends from abroad to stay at home, or go to the hotel when they do come? Oh no; we are always anxious to have them all come to meeting. I suggest two things: 1. That those who do come to meeting be a little more willing to go out around among those who live a little further off. I have often noticed a great lack on this point. 2. That those who are situated near meeting-houses and hence are overburdened with company, use a little more prudence themselves about inviting so many. I have seen as great a fault here as on the other hand. It is no one's duty to invite brethren to his house already full, when they are able to go a little further where there are those who would esteem it a privilege to entertain them.

We offer these facts and suggestions for the consideration of our brethren and sisters. I see no reason why any reasonable person should be offended by these remarks.

D. M. CANRIGHT.