p. 205 | The Cause in Minnesota by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 10, 1872

The Cause in Minnesota.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS: The Conference Committee in its appeal has set before you many important facts concerning the cause and its wants, in this State, upon which we hope you have acted before this. I want to state a few things further. Six months ago, I came to Minnesota. Knowing how little had been done here for several years in the past, and that things were in rather a loose and discouraged state, I determined to do my utmost to help you and get things in a better condition. I thought that the best way to get up courage and life among the churches was to go out into new fields and raise up some new churches first, so that the brethren could see that something was being done, and that their means were not expended in vain. The Lord is witness that I have labored as hard during the last six months to accomplish something as I ever did in my life; hence it was that I felt so bad on the start to see our efforts a failure; but this is past, and God has graciously granted abundant fruit and great victories within the last few weeks.

I have now seen over one hundred souls embrace the truth in this State under my labors, and about seventy, under the labors of others. Eight new churches have been raised up, and quite large additions made to two others. This, I think, is nearly half as many Sabbath-keepers as there were in the State six months ago. This is more than we had any reason to hope for. This certainly calls for deep gratitude to God from every lover of the truth all over the State. It would be my choice, by far, to go right on laboring in new places, with the field open before me as it is now. I see no reason why a fair little church cannot be raised up every month.

But I think I shall have to change my labors somewhat for a short time. These churches must now be organized, Systematic Benevolence arranged, tract societies put in operation, and all the elements in the State brought into harmonious working order. This will be no pleasant nor easy task. If there was any one that could do this, and leave me to open up new fields, it would be a great advantage to the cause. But I do not see that this can be done. How much time must be spent in this work will depend largely, and almost wholly, upon the disposition you have to take hold and help in it. It can be done in a very short time, and with but little labor, if you will only readily co-operate with us; and why should you not? Must we come among you and spend long days and weeks in hard labor in preaching, praying, exhorting, arguing, coaxing and urging you to do your duty? How many souls could be brought into the truth by the same amount of labor bestowed in new fields, you can judge from the result of the labor among you this season. To those who really love this cause and believe that this is God’s message, and who are willing to labor and sacrifice for it, I will briefly suggest what you can do in order to help me and others who are laboring in this State.

Things that need to be done immediately are, 1. Get your own hearts all warmed up with this truth, and your minds full of it. Do you really believe it? Is the Judgment now in session? Is this the last generation? Is the Lord coming soon? Is this a fable? or is it true? Are you dreaming about it? or do you believe it? Does it move you to earnestness, zeal, and tender affection? If not, you have reason to be alarmed. If you feel that you are lacking in these points, make a special effort in seeking God by secret prayer, meditation, reading the Bible, the testimonies, and our publications. You can accomplish this for yourselves without the minister spending long days of toil among you to accomplish this object. Do it now; begin to-day; resolve while you read this paper that you will do it.

2. Look back and see if you have been, and are, as prompt as you should be in attending Sabbath meetings, and prayer-meetings, and other meetings of the church. Are you slack in this particular? Does a little cold, and a little rain, or the least difficulty, deter you from the meetings? Do you leave the burden of these meetings to come on a few faithful souls? If so, you are certainly doing wrong. This is the first point we should have to labor on if we should come among you. Now you know your duty. Will you see to this matter? Will you do it? See Heb. 10:25; Mal. 3:16; Luke 4:16.

3. Are there any church trials among you? If so, see James’ reason of it. Chap. 4:1. If there is anything that works on the minister and discourages him, it is to visit a church and find it all divided, and the members at war among themselves. Generally, after about a week’s pulling and talking, praying, and reproving the brethren and sisters, they come where they see themselves, confess their wrongs, and things are made right. Then you think you are doing a very acceptable thing in giving of your means to sustain the minister in his labors. But it is frequently the case that some one family will require more labor to get them started than all that they give in years would be worth. Now do this work yourself. Let us use your means in converting souls to God. Will you do it?

4. Have you heeded the appeal of your committee for means to sustain the cause in the State? Have you paid up your s. B., which you solemnly promised to God and his people? How can you expect to please God if you have not? See Mal. 3:8–12. Have you pledged your s. B. for the coming year as you should have done? and have you willed to deal liberally with the Lord? or have you been stingy in the matter? See 2 Cor. 8:1–14; 9:1–11. And especially do we appeal to the scattered ones that they do their duty in this respect. Suppose you do not regularly meet with any church, or even belong to any church, or suppose you live entirely alone, miles from everybody, is not your duty just as sacred to help this cause as though you lived in the most flourishing church? Send in your means and pledges to H. F. Phelps, Pine Island, Minn. Do it now, do not delay. The means are needed immediately.

5. In one month from now your papers will be stopped if they are not paid up, unless you report your inability to pay. Nothing has pleased me more than to see this system adopted. I believe it is right. If men prosper in any business they must be prompt. This rule is worth just as much to God’s cause as any other cause. Now don’t act like children about this matter and get put out, and angry, and say foolish things because the brethren require you to do this; but act like a man among men, and a brother among brethren. Is not this your cause as much as ours? The brethren are simply adopting the best plan they can devise to carry on successfully the cause which you profess to love as well as they. Now come up promptly and help them do it.

6. Send out the REVIEW. When I saw the president offer to send the REVIEW for six months, on trial, for seventy-five cents to those who subscribe for themselves, or fifty cents when sent to friends, I said, Good! This is just what is needed, and I will do my best to make this a success. Now brethren and sisters in Minnesota, let us take hold of this opportunity. Minnesota ought to send five hundred new subscribers within the next six months. We can do it, and shall we not do it? Don’t wait for your brother or sister, or some wealthy man to do it, but take hold immediately. Who cannot raise fifty cents to send one copy of this valuable paper to some loved friend for half a year? It may convert a whole family. Almost every week I come across some who, by reading our paper a few months, have become so favorable that they come out readily on the truth as soon as they hear it. It often opens the way for us to lecture. Will you help us to prepare these for the rich harvest? Do it now; don’t wait. Sit down, take your pencil, think over your friends and relatives or neighbors, and send a list of names with the money and let it be at work. If there was ever a time when a little means would go a great ways it is now. Friends are coming in. God is raising up brethren; and if you do not come to the work you will lose your crown, and they will take your place. Means are needed now as they will not be in a year or two to come.

7. Tract Societies. Remember that we are entirely behind in this matter. Scarcely anything has been done in this State. We think the time has come when we must take hold of it. If we cannot do much we will do a little. We want you to get ready for it. Get these other matters out of the way first, and when we come round to visit you, then you can all take hold of this unitedly. But if you are behind on everything it will be a very discouraging affair. Let us not wait to do everything at once, when the minister comes.

Finally, we would not have you get the impression that we think the friends in Minnesota are less liberal with their means according to their ability, or less willing to work, than those in other States. This is not the case. This is a new State in every respect, particularly in the cause of present truth new and weak here. The friends have been few, and most of these have been in moderate or poor circumstances, financially. They have struggled under many discouragements and difficulties. But we believe that better days are coming, and if we can only now come up together, unitedly, each one doing all he can consistently, it will give an impetus and strength to the cause that will last, for time to come. I hope and believe that God is raising up a few men here, who, with a little more experience, will be able not only to keep things in good order in the State, but add continually to the strength of the cause by converts in new fields. D. M. CANRIGHT. Hutchinson; Minn.