MICHIGAN by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 17, 1876

MICHIGAN

By Dudley Marvin Canright

ALLEGAN.

Friday evening, Jan. 21, we began meetings in Allegan. Bro. Kenyon was with me through these meetings. Quite a number came from Otsego, and there was a good turnout from Monterey, so that our house was well filled. Circumstances were such that we held meetings all day Sabbath, Sunday, and Monday, and then a business meeting Wednesday.

I gave two sermons in which I reviewed the chart and the messages, and the history of our work. On the Sabbath I preached two sermons with the design of reaching the unconverted and backsliders. I had very good freedom. We felt that the Spirit of the Lord was present to help. At the close of the meeting we made an appeal to those who wished to return to the Lord, and to those who wished to become Christians. There was much feeling with a large number. Twenty-seven came forward. Eight or ten of these were backsliders; and the rest were those seeking the Lord for the first time. After a season of prayer with them, nearly all spoke, expressing their feelings and desires. On Sunday I preached another sermon on the same subject, when two or three more came forward. On Tuesday evening I had a special meeting with the young people alone. Nearly every one took part, and two others made a start.

Though the brethren had made their pledges for this year, we thought best to re-organize S. B. This we did, raising their pledge from $172 to $265.

At different times Allegan has been a strong church; but many of the leading members have moved away, some have died, and others have apostatized, till now it is smaller than it once was. Its membership is now forty-six. Of late, a few prominent members have brought a great trial upon the church. They finally withdrew. We spent a whole day in talking over the matter. As they did not change their minds, we disfellowshipped four persons. All the rest, I believe, are now in harmony and well satisfied upon the subject. I think they will have no further trouble. There was no outside interest here at all. One was received into the church.

OTSEGO.

Friday, Jan. 28, Bro. Kenyon and myself came to Otsego and held a two days' meeting. Here there was quite a good attendance each evening from without. Bro. Kenyon spoke twice. Sabbath morning I spoke on various practical duties which seemed to have a good effect. In the afternoon, at the close of the sermon, twenty came forward to seek the Lord. The most of these were young persons. Special meetings are appointed for them. Bro. Kenyon remains during the week to help them. Here I spoke upon Systematic Benevolence, after which we re-organized it, raising their pledges from $81 to $264.

We enjoyed several very good social meetings with the church. After the sermon Sunday evening, we held a business meeting in which several matters were looked after. The death of their excellent and beloved elder, Bro. Hilliard, made it necessary to elect an elder and a deacon. Bro. Geo. Leighton was chosen elder and Bro. S. Hadden deacon. Both these brethren were then ordained.

On the whole, to me, this was a very pleasant meeting. I found no trials to speak of, the church are united, and there are quite a number of good, faithful souls here. They have a good house of worship, and it is kept neatly.

LEIGHTON.

Tuesday, Feb. 1, I held meeting at Leighton. Bro. Charles Russell was with me. This is a very small, weak church, and they have had a good deal of trouble in the past, and much more at the present. I talked to them nearly all day, and until eleven o'clock at night, but with little apparent effect. Some of them have become so far backslidden from the spirit of present truth as to stop taking the REVIEW, join the Grangers, and do other things entirely contrary to the sacredness of our work. That such persons should get into the dark, where the devil can blind their eyes and easily lead them, is not to be wondered at. I left them without accomplishing a single thing. I think there are a few good members here who will come into the light.

GAINES.

Wednesday I went to Gaines. Held meetings all day, and spoke in their school-house at evening. I found a good little church here, though they needed help in some directions. We looked over all the matters of the church, and attended to those things which needed attention. Bro. Hardy was unanimously elected elder of the church. This step pleased all. We believe that he will be a great help to them now. I spoke upon the subject of Systematic Benevolence, when all who were present promptly re-arranged their figures, raising them from $74 to $146. Absent members will probably raise this some.

We had a good turnout in a large school-house near Bro. Hardy's in the evening. I greatly regretted that I could not spend a Sabbath and Sunday here. There are quite a number of good, intelligent young people, members of the different families here, who make no profession. I am certain that most of them could be brought in with a very little effort. An intelligent school-teacher at this place, who is also a lawyer, has been reading our works for some time. I believe he is pretty thoroughly convinced on most points of our faith. I hope he may have grace from God to walk in the light which he sees.

MONTEREY.

Friday, Feb. 4, I came to Monterey. Commenced meetings in the evening. Nearly all the brethren and sisters came up from Allegan, and there was a general turnout of all the friends in Monterey. The roads were good, and the weather the finest we have had this winter. I had excellent freedom Friday evening in speaking on the prophecies. The brethren expressed themselves as much encouraged. Sabbath morning I spoke on various practical duties. Sabbath afternoon, I spoke on the life and sufferings of Christ, after which thirty-six came forward for prayers. Part of these were the young people who came out in my meetings at Allegan. The rest were from Monterey and vicinity. There was much deep feeling in our meeting. Nearly all those who came forward bore their testimony, expressing themselves as determined to live Christians. It was a good meeting for us.

In the evening, I spoke on the 2300 days and the Judgment. It seemed to be just what was needed. After the sermon, we had one of the best and the sweetest social meetings, which I have enjoyed for a long time. We also had another excellent social meeting in the morning. In the afternoon, I spoke on the subject of S. B., after which, all promptly joined in the plan, raising their figures from $248 to $548. Nearly every one came up well to the Bible plan. We believe the Lord will bless them in this.

Quite a number of outsiders came in Sunday evening, and by request I spoke upon the Saints' Inheritance. The Lord helped much. Monday afternoon we spent in a business meeting. As usual, there were various things to be looked after, but all seemed willing to do what was right. One member was put under censure of the church. On the whole, I enjoyed the meetings at Monterey very much.

Bro. Burnham, from Allegan, will spend two or three days each week for a little while looking after the interest among the young people at Monterey; while Bro. L. M. Jones of Monterey will do the same at Allegan. This is absolutely necessary in order to save what has been gained. One family came out on the truth after our Allegan meeting. Mrs. Canright remained one week at Allegan. Of the meetings there after I left, she says:—

“We had a good social meeting Sabbath day. They all referred to the late meetings as seasons of much encouragement to them. Monday evening the young people came together—nineteen in all—some walking three miles or more. We had a good, interesting meeting with them. All were serious, and with but one or two exceptions all took part. Quite a number prayed, then nearly all bore testimony. Some of these persons were really interesting and very intelligent in what they said, and they all seemed to be in earnest in the work. I felt much better about the result of the effort at the close of this meeting than I did when it began.

During these three weeks in Allegan Co., we believe the churches and the brethren generally have been revived and much encouraged. Some who were doubting have taken a firm stand on the right side, and are now rejoicing in freedom. Several who were wholly discouraged are now of good courage and are engaging heartily in all the work. About sixty have either been reclaimed, or have started for the first time; while the S. B. pledges are $570 above what they were for last year. I see no reason for discouragement for the cause in Allegan County. D. M. CANRIGHT.

Battle Creek, Mich.