Close of the Meetings at Winterset, Iowa by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 6, 1870

Close of the Meetings at Winterset, Iowa.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

SUNDAY, Aug. 28, we closed our meetings at Winterset. Have been there just six weeks, and preached about fifty sermons. Have sold about $90 worth of books. Have obtained thirty subscribers for the REVIEW; and fifty have embraced the truth, besides a very large number more who are warm friends to the truth, though they have not yet commenced to live it out. We have numerous friends scattered all over the country for miles in every direction.

We think a good work has been done here, and that the Lord has especially opened the way, and blessed us in our meetings. We intend to follow up the interest here as fast as possible this fall and winter.

As we were to leave with our tent, and had no place for our meeting, we made an effort to obtain the privilege of holding meetings in some one of the several churches in town, but utterly failed.

We tried to obtain the Christian church for just one Sabbath meeting till we could get a place; but we could not get it even for one day. So on Sunday, the last day of our meeting, we called a business meeting of our friends, to see what should be done. Though it was very rainy, yet we had a good congregation. A good hall could be had, all fitted up, for $75 for six months. We proposed that they raise that amount, and hire the hall. A subscription was started, and in less than fifteen minutes, we obtained $145—nearly double what we called for. This shows how our friends feel toward the truth in this place. Had we time to spend, we think we could readily build a house of worship this fall. But the hall will furnish them a good, sufficiently large and convenient place in which to meet.

We think the truth has brought out a good, substantial, reliable class of people in Winterset; and with the blessing of the Lord we hope to see an excellent church here. Numerous places are opened all around for meetings. We were much interested in the case of a man from Missouri. He came up to visit his brother, and attended our meetings the last two days. He improved all the time, both in hearing and asking questions. He subscribed for the paper, and bought some books, and seemed to receive the truth as a thirsty soul would cool water. He would hardly let us off without promising to go to his place to preach the truth.

It does us good to meet such souls who are anxious for the word of the Lord. Like thousands of others, he is thoroughly disgusted with the popular religion of the day. May the Lord bless him and his family, and open the way for him to hear and obey the word of the Lord.

We have this day moved to Des Moines, the capital of the State. It is a city of about 14,000, and probably is as proud and corrupt as other cities of its size. Several considerations induced us to make an effort here. We have but a short time of tent season left any way; and if we fail, we shall not lose much. If we raise an interest, we can carry it on in a hall when too cold for the tent. At any rate, we shall try in the name of the Lord, and hope for his blessing.

Brethren, pray for us. D. M. CANRIGHT.

Des Moines, Aug. 30, 1870.