p. 166 | TEXAS by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 25, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 21.

TEXAS

By Dudley Marvin Canright

DALLAS, Texas, is 860 miles from Battle Creek and is as far south as Charleston, South Carolina, and as far west as Omaha, Neb. I arrived here Friday, May 5. For so short a notice all had been done that could be to get the brethren together, prepare a suitable place for meetings, etc. A fine bower was made of lumber and evergreens which answered for a tent. The brethren have rented a hall for their ordinary meetings. It is near the Union depot on Swiss street, No. 118. Sabbath morning about twenty-five brethren and sisters came in, and we had an excellent prayer and social meeting, nearly all taking part promptly.

I gave a history of our work, and then spoke on baptism and organization. After this a church of eighteen members was organized. Sunday morning we went two miles to a small lake for our first baptism in Texas. Eleven good souls were there buried in baptism. Everything about it was pleasant, and we were all very happy. I spoke each evening on some point of the present truth. I can truly say that the word was received with all readiness of mind.

The next Sabbath other brethren came in, so that there were about forty present. Then we had one of the best social meetings I have enjoyed for a long time. Every one took part, some who thought they could not a week before. Those who were baptized said they had never been so happy in their lives before. After speaking two or three hours upon various duties, we again went to the lake for baptism. It was a beautiful day and a lovely place. We found a large Sunday-school party there. We told them our business, and so they gathered around and witnessed the baptism with the greatest respect. Six were baptized, among whom were a father, mother, son, and daughter, of the same family. All four went into the water together, hand in hand, and remained there till all were baptized. This was so touching a sight that many were moved to tears.

All these were thorough southerners, one a Confederate soldier. Two of those baptized before were also Confederate soldiers. Ten more joined the church this Sabbath, making twenty-eight in all. Then Bro. E. G. Rust was elected and ordained deacon, after which we celebrated the ordinances. All entered into it heartily, and the Lord blessed them greatly. They will not soon forget this meeting. A very fine-appearing S. D. Baptist family living near here heard of our meetings, inquired us out, and attended upon the Sabbath. They will now attend every Sabbath; we are glad of this.

Sunday morning we came together and organized a T. & M. Society of thirty-two members, every one paying a dollar for membership; $69 more were paid and pledged for a tract fund. Then I set before them the subject of Systematic Benevolence. All entered into it heartily, making a pledge of $264.80. Considering their circumstances, this was liberal. I sold quite a number of books, and obtained nine subscribers for the REVIEW, nine for the INSTRUCTOR, and five for the REFORMER.

In the week between, I went out twelve miles to the home of Bro. A. B. Rust, and then ten miles farther to visit a family of new Sabbath-keepers. Bro. Rust's neighbors urged that I should preach to them. A new house was being built near there, so they seated it and appointed a meeting at 3 P. M., Thursday. As the notice was short and work was pressing, I did not expect many. But at the hour appointed, here they came from every direction, afoot, on horseback, and with wagons, men, women, and children, both white and black, to the number of a hundred or more. The horses were lariated around the house, border style. Here I saw something new,—the whites all seated inside the house and the colored people all outside,—an invariable custom through the South. I had the best of attention, and a deep impression was made. I advertised our papers and two came up and subscribed for the REVIEW and six for the INSTRUCTOR. Our tracts were taken readily. We were strongly urged to come back and tell them more about these doctrines.

Near here Eddie Capman, one of our young brethren, has a night school three evenings in the week for the colored people. I attended one evening. It was held in a little log cabin about 12x14. In this were rude seats with a rough table in the center. On this was an ordinary lantern for light. Around this table were seated about a dozen colored people, ranging from parson Green Medlin, with his white locks, down to little children of eight or ten years. All the older ones had been slaves. Now they were learning to read, spell, write, etc. The younger ones seem to get along well; but the older ones have hard work of it. To me it was really touching to see a man of forty trying to learn his letters. But the effort is commendable, and many of them do better than could be expected.

We find that there are now about sixty Sabbath-keepers in Texas, but considerably scattered. Dallas is the center, as it is of all Northern immigration. Brethren from the North are constantly moving in, and so are thousands of others from all the Northern and Western States. We now have one church and a Tract Society organized. About half of these persons are Southern people who have moved here from Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, etc. Like good Christians, they are now sending the truth back to their friends in these States. We expect to see fruit of this in opening fields for the truth in the South.

The Southern people who have embraced the truth here love it just as dearly as our Northern people, have taken hold of it just as zealously, and receive the health reform and all parts of the message just as readily as any people I ever saw. All have given up tobacco, and pork is laid aside. In this section there is but little prejudice now against Northern people,—not enough to stand in the way of judicious labor in the truth. I see no reason why Northern Texas is not just as good a field as any of the Western States. A tent can be run here the year round. There are plenty of good openings to preach in school-houses where brethren live.

It seems to me that the time has come for labor among the freedmen. But it will have to be a distinct mission. A man can not labor for them and for the whites too, as the white would not associate with him if he did. There is no objection to laboring for them and teaching them, but it must be separately. The colored people can not attend schools nor churches with the whites, and little or nothing is done for them by the whites. They are left to shift for themselves as sheep without a shepherd. At least that is the way it is here. They are anxious to be taught, and would welcome laborers among them. They are locating in small settlements where they can get land. Could a man and his wife come among them with a tent in which to hold school for the younger ones and meetings for the others, I am sure many would embrace the truth readily.

Our brethren are very anxious to have a faithful minister sent to Texas as soon as may be; but will give no countenance to any one unless sent by the General Conference.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Little Rock, Arkansas, May 16.