p. 78 | Iowa by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 20, 1872

Iowa.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Jan. 9 to 17, was some five miles south of Pleasantville and eleven miles west of Knoxville. The friends came in from all around on the Sabbath, and we had a sweet and solemn season. One family came out on the truth, also another person from Sandyville. There were some dozen or fifteen Sabbath-keepers near here before. So it was decided to have regular meetings here in the future instead of going further away.

Jan. 20 and 21, at Osceola. Preached several times, and held a number of meetings for organization. Outside attendance still good. One more came out on the Sabbath. All seem to be coming up well and getting into the work. Nearly, if not quite, all now have overcome their tobacco, taken up family prayer, bear their testimony in meeting, &c. We have partially organized the church, and shall take time to finish it.

Jan. 26 to Feb. 5, at Decatur City. Found a good little meeting-house, well finished and furnished all but seating. There were good temporary seats however. The debts are all paid. Bro. Caldwell has done generously in carrying this through. The weather was very cold much of the time so that the outside attendance was small, but our friends all attended promptly, and we had many plain talks with them on practical subjects. Here were some who had known the truth for years, and were still using tobacco, tea,

and coffee, having no family prayers, &c., while others, who have but just come into the truth, have reformed on all these things. Christians who are looking for translation must clean up, and straighten up on these points. We talked these things over plainly, and they were kindly received, and all resolved to reform. Tobacco was laid aside, and all took up family prayer. This encouraged us much.

We organized s. B. to the amount of $160. Organized a parish to hold and control the church property; also organized a church of twenty-four members. Sold a good number of books, and obtained several subscribers for the REVIEW, Reformer, and Instructor. Some one must return there shortly and administer the ordinance of baptism.

Sunday afternoon, came to Leon with Bro. and sister Dawson, and stopped all night. I enjoyed the visit very much and felt that the Lord was working for them. They seem very near to me for the love they show for the truth. If they now bear the test well, I feel very hopeful that God will make them useful in his holy cause. I now go to Richland. D. M. CANRIGHT.