VISIT TO VERMONT AND MAINE by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 3, 1868

VISIT TO VERMONT AND MAINE.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Monday, Sept. 28, I left Lancaster with Bro. Bourdeau, and the next day arrived at Enosburg, Vt. This was my first visit to this State. Was glad of the opportunity to form the acquaintance of so many good brethren and sisters. I enjoyed the meetings during the Conference much. The brethren seem to be firm and united in all the truth. This gives them strength.

Monday, Oct. 5, I took the cars and came as far as Manchester, N. H., and stopped all night with Bro. Smith. The next day I met Bro. Rodman on the cars, bound for Norridgewock, Maine. In company with Bro. Winslow and Sr. Anna Hale we stopped that night in Skowhegan, at the good home of Bro. Asa B. Atwood. He and his family are whole-hearted in the truth, and are growing strong in the faith.

The next day I returned to Norridgewock, after an absence of over five months. One had fallen in death since I left; a few had gone away; the rest were alive, and making some efforts to overcome.

Thursday morning the Conference began. It was very manifest that this Conference was in its infancy, and that the churches, delegates, and officers have much to learn. I hope this Conference was a good school for them. Only a few delegates were present the first session, or even the first day. Not a single church had made a proper report of their standing; and the s. B. reports were in a very confused condition indeed. However, experience is a good school in which to learn. Probably it will be different in the future. It should, and will be if the officers do their duty.

The sessions of the Conference were instructive and profitable to all. There was no opposing element during the whole Conference. The rebellious, fault-finding spirits of last Conference had either been converted, or had withdrawn themselves from all connection with the Conference. For this we thank God. The prospect now is that this element cannot long exist in the State. May the good work be complete.

A goodly number of brethren and sisters came in on Friday, and we truly enjoyed a sweet, encouraging season Sabbath and Sunday. One feature was especially encouraging to my mind. The Conference, and all the people present, on Friday, unanimously expressed their regret for the opposition which Bro. and Sr. White received here in the past, and for the slowness of this people to receive all the truth, and live up to it. Then they solemnly promised God to do better for the future. As soon as we had done this, God did bless our meeting. As if to show that they meant what they had said, in a few minutes' time about $350 were pledged, and most of it paid, on different benevolent objects. This was the best that Maine has ever done in this direction. The Conference also donated $100 of its funds to the General Conference, $50 to the California Mission, and $50 to the Publishing Association. This is as it should be. There are able men, rich men, in Maine, who can do for the cause if their hearts are only in it. But they have been woefully behind in this in the past. The sure result has followed,—spiritual death. Now as they begin to do better, may God return unto them with his blessing.

By the urgent request of the friends, I stayed another week at Norridgewock. A Mr. Fletcher, who claims to be a Methodist minister, and whom I met last winter at New Vineyard, was at Athens, opposing the truth all he could. He sent me a challenge to discuss the Sabbath question. So I went and met him. But he proposed so unreasonable and unfair a proposition for debate that I would not discuss with him. I drew up eight different propositions, either one of which I offered to discuss with him; but he would not. So we had no discussion, and he left the place. I stayed and preached to them, and reorganized s. B. to amount to $64. They are doing better here than I expected to find them. Hope God will encourage them in the truth.

Returned to Norridgewock, and spent Sabbath and Sunday. They needed help very much on several points. 1. A spirit of the world and politics had gained

a fearful hold on some. This will certainly ruin them unless they let it alone. 2. Several were getting the moving spirit. This is very bad. It soon ruins a church and does few or none any good. This I trust is now checked. 3. Disorder and confusion were entering largely into their Sabbath meetings. Children were not governed nor kept still; but allowed to run, and play, and talk, and cry, all through meeting. The officers in this church had not done their duty in this matter for fear of offending some one. The consequence was that God's house was dishonored, and his Sabbath desecrated. I showed them these things plainly. All acknowledged it, and steps were taken to secure better order in the future. On Sunday I was pleased to see proper order and silence, showing that it can be had. 4. Many were becoming somewhat discouraged and fearful. This is always bad. It destroys our spiritual life. I tried to encourage and comfort them with the promises of the Lord. Hope they feel encouraged.

This is a large church, and an important place for the cause in Maine. It should not be neglected. They need much more labor and watchcare than small churches of 10 or 20 members. It cannot be reasonably expected but that among so many some will occasionally get into trial, neglect duty, do wrong, or even backslide. It would be a miracle if they did not. So they need continual watchcare to keep them in the path of duty.

I, as well as others, have felt a deep interest for this church. I feel so still. But it is hard laboring for a church when they think that they know more than their minister, and when they want to give instruction rather than receive it, and when they find fault with what is done for them. This was the feeling of many here last spring, and this was the reason why we left them. I think that we moved right. Now there is a very different feeling here. They are willing to be taught and reproved. A few days' labor will do more for them now than weeks would have accomplished before. I hope they will continue to feel so, and then God will send them help.

We had a very pleasant time in reorganizing s. B. No one found any fault, or pulled off. Most of them raised their figures from what they were last year. This was a very good indication of their condition. On Sunday, many of our old friends came in to meeting, and I enjoyed the privilege of talking to them.

Monday, I came to Topsham and held a meeting at evening. Reorganized s. B. here also. Tuesday evening I stopped at Falmouth and held a meeting in the school-house. After preaching we reorganized s. B. Came to Portland the next day and did the same thing there. Thus closed my visit to Maine. On the whole, I feel encouraged about things in this State. I hope and pray that God will give his servants wisdom, zeal, and energy to sufficiently carry on the work here the coming year. D. M. CANRIGHT. Boston, Mass.