p. 21 | Items at Monroe, Iowa by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 11, 1870

Items at Monroe, Iowa.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

A SUDDEN DEATH.

An incident occurred here this week that forcibly reminded me of the apostle’s language, James 4:14: “Ye know not what shall be on the morrow; for what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Sunday evening I lectured on the sleep of the dead, to a large congregation. A young man was present who took a lively interest in the meeting, singing, &c. After meeting closed, about nine o’clock, he spoke with much interest about what he had heard. He went home, retired to rest, and at two o’clock in the night his family awoke to find him a corpse. A post mortem examination showed that he died with the heart disease. How suddenly was he cut down! How little did he expect, while in meeting, that that was the last meeting he ever would attend; and how little did we think that one then in meeting would so soon be a corpse—would so soon close his probation. From that he must pass to judgment. How solemn the thought. This strongly impressed my mind that every time we preach it may be the last sermon some will hear till they are called to judgment, and that we ought to say something for them so that our skirts may be clear.

A GOOD ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE TRUTH.

While speaking on the state of the dead last Sunday evening as above mentioned, Prof. Carpenter, of the Oskaloosa Disciple College, was present. At the close of my sermon he spoke several minutes in a very friendly manner. He plainly told the people that he discarded the doctrine of souls’ going to Heaven or hell at death—that with me he believed that both righteous and wicked slept in the grave till the resurrection. Many other things he also said in perfect harmony with what I had preached. This we thought was a good acknowledgment for the time and place, and we think it will open the eyes of many here, especially of his friends, and help them to listen candidly. By observation I find there are very many in the different churches, who are not Adventists, who are discarding the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, eternal torment, &c. Whether they will acknowledge it or not, the influence of Adventism is here very plainly manifest. All these things give us courage to labor on.

PERVERSION OF THE SCRIPTURES.

The Methodist minister, in preaching the funeral sermon of the above-mentioned young man, said, in referring to his sudden death, “His case is an exact fulfillment of the scripture which says, ‘For in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh;’” thus applying the coming of Christ to the death of every man. What could be farther from the correct application of that scripture than this? When Christ spoke this language he was not talking of death, but was giving the signs that should herald his glorious second advent. This application is of frequent occurrence among immortal-soulists. It virtually does away with the second coming of Christ, making him come to earth every day, and perhaps every hour for the last 1800 years. With such perversions of the word of God as this, the professed church of God has been blinded to the signs of the times, and prepared to be overtaken as a thief when the Lord comes.

FEASTING.

Eating, drinking, and riotous feasting, were to be a sign of the last days. Luke 21:34; Matt. 24:37–39. This sign is certainly fulfilled before us. An example came under my notice at this place: “GRAND SUNDAY-SCHOOL FESTIVAL, a splendid supper by the ladies, fresh oysters in abundance, ice cream, confectionery, and numerous other GOOD THINGS TO EAT.” This was the grand advertisement which the members of the Methodist church scattered all over the country, by which to draw in the lovers of pleasure; 2 Tim. 3:5. What was the object of all this? It was to get money for the church. But from whom did the money come? All those who loved good things to eat, and a grand time of fun and pleasure. To obtain this, the church members knew that there was a large class who would pay dollars where they would not pay cents for the cause of God; so they get up everything that will gratify their love of pleasure and their appetite; such as, rich cakes, pies, candies, &c., which only pamper a perverted appetite, and destroy life; and the proceeds of this was solemnly dedicated to the cause of God. Truly, Babylon is fallen; from such turn away.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Monroe, Iowa, Nov. 13, 1869.