Peru, Iowa by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 21, 1871

Peru, Iowa.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

THURSDAY, Feb. 28, Bro. Littlejohn and myself came to Chicago. The train being late, we missed connection, and so rested all night at C. Rode all day Wednesday and the night following. Thursday morning, Mrs. Canright joined us as we passed Monroe. That evening we rode 14 miles by stage from De Soto to Winterset, over most terrible roads. Tired enough we were, therefore, when we arrived at Bro. Todd’s, at Winterset. Friday the roads were so very bad that it took us four hours to go nine miles to Peru. We feared that our meetings would be a failure; but we were very happily disappointed. That evening our little house was well filled, many coming from miles around. We stayed over two Sabbaths, and, if possible, the roads grew worse to the last; which means much in Iowa. Yet the attendance was surprisingly large most of the time. One fair evening, all could not get into the house. We both enjoyed very good freedom in speaking. We visited from house to house more or less every day. Much of the time our fare was not very hygienic, and we had to ride several miles after night meetings; yet we felt well, and Bro. L. improved in health. He spoke on the subject of health, and it seemed to be well received.

We found every one holding on, and the meetings well attended. The Bible-class and Sabbath-school have prospered well. During our meetings this time, six more families came out upon the Sabbath, making twenty-one families, and a few in other families who are now keeping the Sabbath in this place. There are some sixty children and youth belonging to these families who are now thrown under the influence of the truth. We feel a great anxiety for them that they may be properly trained. Nearly one hundred, including children, attended our last Sabbath meeting. Most of these will attend every Sabbath. We re-organized the Bible-class and Sabbath-school.

We sold a good amount of books, and obtained several subscribers for the REVIEW, Reformer, and Instructor. At our last meeting, money, materials, and labor, were readily subscribed to seat and paint the house, fence the lot, &c. It pleased us much to see their readiness in this matter. We hope to visit them again as soon as this work is done, and hold further meetings. We still hope for others here.

We did not dwell on practical subjects as much as we designed to. We wish to prepare them for organization as soon as we can. There is much to be done for them yet in many respects. They need to reform in their habits, and learn to bear the cross and become Christians indeed. Oh! that we had some faithful helper, some Aquila or Priscilla (Acts 18), to come and teach them the way of the Lord more fully! This they now need more than preaching. Is there no one to do this kind of work? It is very evident that a work thus begun in a new place should be followed up. I am more and more convinced that it is poor policy to leave such places for new fields. We now go to Washington.

D. M. CANRIGHT.