The Kentucky and Tennessee Conference by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 1, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 47, No. 22.

The Kentucky and Tennessee Conference.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

From Dallas, Texas, I came via Little Rock, Ark., and Memphis, Tenn., to Elizabethtown, Ky., where the Conference was held. Bro. Osborn had just received his new tent, which we pitched in a beautiful grove of large shade trees, on the farm of Bro. Barr, five miles from town. About thirty-five brethren and sisters came in from different parts of Kentucky and Tennessee. There are now five churches in these two States, and about one hundred Sabbath-keepers. They are very much scattered for so few.

After preaching an hour Friday afternoon, May 19, we proceeded to organize the Conference. All were agreed and in harmony in all the work. Quite a number of the neighbors came in at evening and paid good attention. Sabbath morning, at 5:30, they had a good season of prayer. At 8:30, we enjoyed an excellent social meeting; nearly every one took part. It did my heart good to hear them tell of their love for the present truth. Almost all of them were Southern people; some of them had been slaveholders and rebels during the war, with strong feelings against the Northern people. But now they have laid all these things aside. We found them just as warm-hearted, confiding, and true as our Northern people. So far as I can see, they are as ready to hear us and learn the truth from us as though we were Southerners.

There is some feeling yet, more than there should be I think, against granting equal rights to the colored people. Still, this is wearing off. There are three colored people here who keep the Sabbath, and they are members of the church with the others. These feel anxious to have a mission started among the colored people. All agree that the way is now fully open for that work, if persons can be found to do it.

We filled up all the time Sabbath speaking on various practical duties. At 5 P. M., I spoke to the unconverted and to those desiring baptism. There was much feeling, and ten came forward; some, for baptism; and others, embracing every unconverted person in the audience, to seek the Lord for the first time. Among the latter was Bro. Osborn's daughter, which greatly rejoiced her parents.

Sunday forenoon, we had a large audience from the surrounding country and village. Scores of these came on horseback—a prevailing custom in the South. We had perfect order and the best of attention. Eld. Osborn spoke in the afternoon. It rained some, which thinned the numbers considerably; yet many remained. Then we went to a beautiful place on the river and baptized six believers. There were two hundred present, and all were as quiet and orderly as at a funeral.

After this we attended to the various duties of the Conference, organized a T. & M. Society, etc. Instead of holding a public meeting Sunday evening, I spoke to our people upon S. B. This was very much needed. Unfortunately for the people and cause here, and for his own efficiency, Bro. Osborn, like some others of our preachers, has been too tender and backward in teaching the brethren their duty to the cause financially. This is a great mistake. It cripples his labors and leaves his people weak from lack of real labor and sacrifice in the work. He sees this now, and so do the brethren and sisters.

After plainly stating the facts, they unanimously voted to fully adopt the plan of S. B. as set forth in the Bible and held by our people. They asked to commence there to reform; so those present made their pledges, amounting to $307 per year. The entire pledge of both States before was only $140. We hope that those not at the Conference will now come up to their duty in the same manner; that is, give to the Lord one-tenth of what they make or raise. The cause in this Conference is young and weak. If it is to go forward and prosper, every friend of the truth must make sacrifices to aid it now. Help is probably needed now more than it will be at any time in the future. Let the scattered ones send in their pledges and their means to the State treasurer, David Barr, Elizabethtown, Ky.

There are several intelligent, zealous, and earnest workers here who will stand by Bro. Osborn in the work. He now goes out with the new tent. Bro. R. G. Garrett, a Baptist minister, has heartily embraced the message. We hope he will soon be able to go out and teach it to others. The Conference gave him a license.

A tent can be run here nearly a month earlier than in Michigan. I see no reason why the people will not receive the truth in these States as readily as in the North. Bro. Osborn has sacrificed much and labored hard to accomplish what has been done. He is a faithful man, and should have the full confidence and support of the brethren and sisters.

D. M. Canright.

Mammoth Cave, Ky., May 25.

P. S. Friends will please write me at Battle Creek, and their letters will be forwarded. D. M. C.