Maiden Rock, Wis by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 13, 1873

Maiden Rock, Wis.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

As this church belongs to the Minnesota Conference, I came here and began meetings April 26, and held seven meetings. There are about thirty Sabbath-keepers here, but they are greatly scattered. Not more than half of them can well come together at any one point. This hurts them. Troubles have existed among them from the first, which have greatly injured the cause. We found them still in this condition. Only a few attended meeting, generally; several did not take even the REVIEW; some had gone back to the use of tobacco, always a sure sign of backsliding; some were behind on their s. B. two and three years, nearly all of them a year; no proper record had been kept of the church, or any thing. A sad state of things indeed!

I took hold the best I could, and preached only on practical subjects. Had good freedom, and a large attendance from without. Was surprised to see so much interest under the circumstances. Think a proper effort here would bring out a number. On the Sabbath, five or six young persons made a good start to serve God. Two who had once kept the Sabbath resolved to keep it again, and others took a new hold of the work.

Sunday, three were received into the church, and I sold about $13 worth of books. Monday, we reorganized s. B. $106, which we hope will be raised considerably by others who were not present. Several paid up all the past, and all voted to lay apart their s. B. each month or quarter out of the first money they received. This is the only correct principle to act upon. God requires “the first-fruits.” But many pay every thing else first, and put off their s. B. till it becomes so large that they will never pay it. God’s blessing cannot follow any such course. The church records were made out properly, and things set in order as far as possible.

But all our efforts failed to settle all difficulties. Some who needed the meetings the most did not come at all. The world was of more account to them than the cause of God and their own souls. The best we could do was to leave things to develop further and return here again and complete the work. Time will do much to tell what action must be taken.

Considering the slack, disorderly way everything has been suffered to run on here, it is no wonder the blessing of God has not followed. Most of the church feel encouraged, and I hope for better days here in the future. My health is improving. This is a beautiful country, and physically, I enjoyed my visit here much. D. M. CANRIGHT.