p. 182 | Report from Bro. Canright by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 23, 1871

Report from Bro. Canright.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

AFTER finishing our meetings at State Center, Monday, April 24, Bro. Berry brought us home to Monroe, where we staid two days. Thursday I preached the funeral sermon of sister Romans, and the same day went to Winterset, and stopped at Bro. Koon’s. Friday, I went to Peru, and began meetings in the evening. All seems to be encouraging here. Their Sabbath-school and all their meetings, are well attended. Their house is now seated, so that we have a comfortable place of meeting. I preached on temperance and other practical subjects, so far as I had time. All seemed to receive these subjects well; and most of them have made a good beginning in the reforms. Tobacco is now laid aside by nearly all. Tea and coffee are largely abandoned, and some of them are taking good steps in the health reform. A number of them take the Reformer.

There is no opposition to any of the truth; but all seem to love it, and receive it heartily. This is very encouraging to us. I greatly desired to organize a church, and attend to other business matters, but was prevented by being compelled to hold an eight-days’ discussion with Eld. P. T. Russel, Disciple minister, from Des Moines.

From the first of our coming to Peru, the Christian church have been very hostile to us. They finally sent for Eld. Russel, who came in our absence, and lectured against us several days. He misrepresented us, boasted and bragged in a wonderful manner about what he had done, and could do; and he finally left a very defiant challenge for a debate. When I returned, they again brought him there, and renewed and pressed the challenge, daring me to accept it. Though in many ways they manifested the greatest unfairness, yet finally everything was arranged, and we had the debate lasting eight sessions. I affirmed the seventh-day Sabbath, and he the first-day Sabbath. The positions taken on each side are so familiar to our readers that I will not stop to give them. Eld. Russel claims to be a champion debater, having held thirty-four set debates, has written a large book against Adventism, has discussed with many of our ministers, &c. This, together with his great, swelling words, gave his friends the utmost confidence in him. They were sure of the victory and were very boastful.

We felt that our strength lay in the truth and the help of God. In his name we undertook its defense. I think I can say truthfully that I never engaged in a debate where my opponent so utterly and manifestly failed in every point. He seemed to be confused all the time. Very soon the sympathies of the mass of the people turned against him and remained so to the end. It gave our friends great confidence in the truth and boldness in the work of the Lord. The mouths of the opposition are completely stopped. To the Lord be all the praise.

Knowing that my appointments would not allow me to remain in Peru, or to return there for several months, if at all, Eld. Russel challenged me during the debate to discuss the destiny of the wicked with him. As it happened that day, I learned that our camp-meetings were put off one week, so I could stay a week longer; upon which I immediately accepted his challenge, much to his consternation. When the debate closed, I reminded him of his challenge, and that I had accepted it, and that I was now ready to go right on with the next question. This put him in a bad fix. Both he and the Christian church had got enough of the discussion, and this I knew very well. He only meant to bluff me off and get a chance to brag; therefore I urged the matter. When he saw that I meant work, he simply dropped it, and thus left the place with his challenge accepted. Thus ended the debate.

The last Sabbath that I was there was a beautiful day. Our little house looked clean and neat. Team after team drove up, nearly every one well loaded with whole families of Sabbath-keepers. When it was time to open Sabbath-school, there were one hundred and ten present, including children and young people. With the exception of perhaps half a dozen, all were Sabbath-keepers. When we went there last winter there was only one Sabbath-keeper in the place. It was a sight to do one’s soul good. All looked so tidy, so cheerful, so happy, that one could not but feel happy there. Bro. Larimer, our singing teacher, with the Sabbath-school, gave us some sweet music. Then I talked to them for over an hour. It was a touching and melting time. I could not refrain from weeping most of the time, nor was there scarcely one in the house whose eyes were dry. All these friends seemed as near and dear to me as my own children. I loved them as my own soul, and now we must part. There was no probability of our meeting for long months, if at all. What lies before this little company thus starting so prosperously? We are in the land of the enemy, trials must come, the flesh is weak—some will fall. My mind ran back through the seven years of my labors to the little companies which I have been compelled to leave in a similar manner. For a time it entirely overcame me; but by the help of the Lord we will labor on till the great meeting on Mount Zion. Then we hope to meet a goodly number of these precious souls.

In the afternoon we had an inquiry meeting. It was a precious season. Nearly all took a firm stand to devote their lives to God. Sunday, I preached with good freedom for the last time to a crowded house. At the close of the sermon a number of our firm friends who have not yet taken their stand with us, proposed to contribute something for our expenses; whereupon they raised $35. This we thought was very liberal, considering the circumstances. Then we went half a mile to the river and had a baptism. God added his blessing, and we all felt encouraged. Tuesday I returned home.

Never in my experience has a pure life, the peace of God in the soul, and a good hope of Heaven, looked so desirable and so precious to me as in the past few weeks. These are more precious than silver or gold, or all the joys the world can give. Never did sin appear so exceedingly sinful to me. It seems as though I had never known my own heart before. As God has helped me to see it and to realize how abominable sin is in his sight, my soul has been humbled into the very dust, and I have felt like crying, Unclean, unclean! God has said, “Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord.” Sin is a hateful thing in any one, but how much more so in a minister of our holy God! A deep sense of this filled my soul with fear and trembling. I marvel that God has ever allowed me to be connected with this most sacred work.

But I hope in God and in his infinite mercy. The blood of Jesus can cleanse from all sin. There is help in God for me, and I must have it. If I can be kept from sin and saved, only through sorrow, disappointment, and humiliation, may the Lord send them in mercy.

“Let cares like a wild deluge come, And storms of sorrow fall; May I but safely reach my home, My God, my Heaven, my all.”

I want to fall upon the Stone now and be broken, Matt. 21:44, rather than remain whole and then be ground to powder at the Judgment. I am fully determined never to rest till I know Jesus Christ and the power of his salvation. The highest ambition of my soul now is to be a faithful, devoted and tender-hearted minister of Christ.

“I’m a lonely trav’ler here, Weary, oppressed; But my journey’s end is near— Soon I shall rest. Worldly honors, hopes, and gain, All I resign; Welcome sorrow, grief, and pain, If Heaven be mine.”

God is good, and all that he does is right. While I humble myself before him, cast my cares upon him, and rely upon his promises, I have some peace and joy in my soul. Brethren, remember to pray for us. D. M. CANRIGHT.