MICHIGAN by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 9, 1876

MICHIGAN

By Dudley Marvin Canright

ALAIEDON.

Friday, February 18, we came to Alaiedon. Bro. Kenyon was with us. As it was the State quarterly meeting, quite a number of brethren came from other places. Bro. Root, Fargo, Frisbie and others were there. Friday evening the meeting-house was filled up with our people and some outsiders. I preached with some freedom.

Sabbath day the house was filled with our own people. Bro. Kenyon gave us a good discourse on the Judgment. I felt very free in the afternoon in preaching to the unconverted and backsliders. The Spirit of the Lord seemed to move on many hearts. When an opportunity was given, over thirty came forward to seek the Lord. I have seldom seen deeper feeling in any meeting than we had here. Several times nearly every one in the house was weeping. Two or three brethren who had once been strong in the truth, but had fallen away from it, now came forward with the rest. This caused great rejoicing and hearty thanksgiving to the Lord. The most of those who came forward then arose and expressed their feelings and their determination to seek the Lord. This was an excellent meeting, one long to be remembered. The house was filled again in the evening.

Sunday morning I spoke upon the subject of S. B. As it has been in many other places so it was here, but few, if any, of the brethren had come up to the Bible plan in pledging or in paying. But after having the matter set before them, all renewed their pledges, raising the pledge of the church from $140 to $335. I strongly urged upon them the necessity of paying their pledges by laying apart the first-fruits of all they receive. We hope they will do it here now.

Sunday evening our house was simply packed full. Eld. Frisbie preached. We can form some idea of how numerous our people are becoming in Michigan from the fact that every Sabbath for the last four months, each Sabbath in a new place, I have met with just such a crowd of Sabbath-keepers as this, sometimes larger, and in a very few cases smaller, besides holding a great many smaller meetings during the week, and yet I have visited only about one-half of the brethren in the State.

I was sorry to find that this church had fallen into the bad habit of being very noisy during meeting. Many go out and come in, shift their seats, and in other ways disturb the meetings; and children are allowed to do the same. I spoke of it several times, but it did not have much effect. I am glad this is not so generally with churches that I have visited. I advise them to set themselves earnestly at work to correct this fault.

Business meetings were held Monday and Tuesday, and some matters of trial were looked after. There has not been that harmony and union here that there ought to be, and they have suffered in consequence. Had the church walked in the light and kept up with the spirit of the message, it would have been different. I am ashamed to say that both the elders of this church, with several others, had joined the Grangers; but I am happy to say that they were now ready to heartily confess their mistake, and stand clear in this matter. It may do for other people to join the Grangers, but it is entirely out of harmony with all the principles of S. D. Adventists, and these brethren so stated. The members of this church need to drink deeper into the spirit of the message. Theoretically, they are in harmony with all the work, but they do not seem to realize its sacredness. However, we found them a good-hearted people, and willing to be taught.

While here we had the pleasure of visiting the family of our uncle, Mr. Manning North. They attended our meeting and received us very cordially. We did not find them opposed to our people, as we had supposed they were. We enjoyed our visit with them very much.

LOCKE AND ANTRIM.

Wednesday Bro. Root and I went to Locke, and held meetings all day and evening with the churches of Locke and Antrim. We had a good turnout of both churches, as nearly every one was present. We re-organized S. B., raising that of Locke from $34 to $125, and that of Antrim from $70 to $143. Locke is an old church. They were in a trial of a very peculiar nature. Their elder had joined in with the Free Methodists, claiming that they were raised up by the Lord to work in union with us, in giving the message of Rev. 18: 1–4. It seemed astonishing to us that any man should be so blinded. He had used his influence to draw the entire church into it, but both churches stood straight and square on the question. The matter was freely examined, and I think there will be no further trouble about it now. Bro. J. M. Avery was elected and ordained deacon, and appointed leader of the Locke church. Bro. Olmstead was elected and ordained elder of the Antrim church, and Bro. Henry Banks deacon. The church at Antrim is young and promising. I liked the appearance of the brethren very much. We left the brethren feeling in good spirits. Bro. Root remained to spend the Sabbath at Antrim.

GENOA.

Thursday I met with the church at Genoa, in the house of Bro. Carpenter. All the members were out, and I had a very pleasant interview with them. They are so scattered that they only have monthly meetings. We found them all in harmony, and of good courage. They raised their S. B. from $129 to $167. They are very anxious that a tent should be pitched in Howell, six miles from Bro. Carpenter’s. There are several Sabbath-keepers in Howell now, and most of the others could meet there. I should judge that this is as good an opening as I have seen in the State.

D. M. Canright.