REPORT FROM NEW IPSWICH, N. H by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 4, 1869

REPORT FROM NEW IPSWICH, N. H.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

I HAVE now spent two months in this place. One week Bro. Waggoner was with me, and Bro. Rodman one week. Brn. Rodman and Haskell were here one week while I was absent. The rest of the time I have been alone. I have labored hard, but I feel as well and strong now as when I began. I think the Lord has helped me. Sixty discourses have been preached here. The attendance has usually been pretty good. I think I have sold about $70 worth of books; have obtained 24 subscribers for the REVIEW, 12 for the Instructor, and 3 for the Reformer. This shows that they are a reading, intelligent class of people. Fourteen are now keeping the Sabbath. These, with Brn. Hastings' and Gould's families, make a company of nineteen. Others, also, living near by, come here to meeting, so that we have about twenty to twenty-five out on the Sabbath.

Bro. Hastings is a man of long experience in this work, and I think will make them a good faithful leader. His influence in community has been excellent, and it has helped my preaching much. This is as it should be.

Among those who have embraced the Sabbath we have a goodly number of excellent singers. This will be a help to their meetings if they take pains to use it to the glory of God, which I think they will. Most of those who have embraced the truth have come by families, which makes them so much the stronger. There are five such families. Nearly all who have embraced the truth were, when I came here, either backsliders or those who never made a profession. Now they are nearly, or quite, every one praying men and women. Yet right in this village it is reported by ministers and church members that no one was ever known to be converted by this preaching! God pity such willful slanderers.

Several others commenced to keep the Sabbath when I first presented it, who have now left it. For the last

three or four weeks strong opposition to the truth has come up here from the churches. Slanderous reports have been circulated, threats made, &c., as usual. This has withered away those who had no depth of soil. Matt. xiii, 1-8, 18-23. Many others are still deeply interested, convinced, and convicted. We hope for some of them. The cotton mills have proved a snare to many. If they keep the Sabbath they will be turned out of the mills. Few have enough of the fear of God to do this. Many of them say that they will keep the Sabbath as soon as they can get work out of the mill, which I hope they will do soon.

Last week I had a discussion with Rev. Mr. Lee, of this place. He is reputed to be a very learned man, both in the languages and sciences. Is the author of the book called, “Eschatology.” He has opposed my meetings from the first, but with poor success. At last he wished to debate the question. He drew up the following question, which I accepted just as he worded it: “Admitting the duty of observing one day in seven as a Sabbath, is any particular day of the week enjoined in the Scriptures upon the Christian church as such Sabbath?”

Of course I affirmed that there was a particular day, while he denied it, and took the seventh-part-of-time theory. We were to discuss it as long as I desired, as he would not consent to this before. I found him uncommonly easy to meet, as is generally the case with these so-called learned men. He could hardly get out arguments enough to make the discussion interesting. Did not answer my proof texts at all, nor attempt it. His arguments did not touch the question at all. This was so apparent to all that when we were through he denied that he had been on the negative at all.

Said I, Mr. Lee, did you not write this question?

“Yes,” he replied.

Did you not draw it up to suit you?

“I did.”

Did I not take the affirmative?

“Yes, you did.”

Did you not take the negative?

“No ! ! !”

At this absurd and manifestly untrue declaration, the crowd enjoyed a hearty laugh, as well they might. He spent the greater portion of his last speech in using smut and blacking against the Adventists in general, and me in particular, always the last resort when better arguments fail. The discussion has done the cause of truth much good here. Our friends are stronger, and we have more of them than before.

They will have regular meetings here every Sabbath in Union Hall, besides prayer-meetings during the week. Sabbath, April 24, was my last meeting with the brethren and sisters. About thirty were in, and we enjoyed a sweet season together. It did my soul good to hear those who were just starting talk about the truth, and their determinations about living it out. May good angels meet with them.

Sunday, April 25, we met and organized s. b. to amount to $100. All were pleased with the plan, and adopted it willingly. This is the right spirit. Sunday evening, I preached my farewell discourse to the people. We had a full hall, as many as had been out at any time before. I compared our teachings on numerous points with the teachings of Paul. All listened candidly, and I think were benefited. Unsolicited and unexpectedly the friends made me a fine and very acceptable present. May the Lord bless them for it.

That there will be no discouragements here, or that none shall fail, is too much to expect; but I hope they may have faith and courage to trust in God and hold on to the end. From here we go to South Lancaster to spend a week; then we start for the West. Bro. Rodman designs to be here May 22 and 23. Hope he may have a good attendance.

D. M. CANRIGHT.