Osceola to Winterset, Iowa by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 9, 1872

Osceola to Winterset, Iowa.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

I REMAINED at Osceola till Dec. 20 to set things in order, settle up bills, &c. All turned out well and took right hold of the work. Several additional persons have lately come out on the Sabbath, and still others are almost persuaded. The outside attendance was good. I baptized seven on Sunday.

After this I came to Peru and labored two weeks. The weather was very bad and the roads worse; hence we could not get up that interest we otherwise would have had. The last two evenings our house was crowded. We settled some little bills still back on the house repairing, raised $17 for a Sabbath-school library, organized a parish to hold the church property, organized a church of seventeen members, appointed an elder, &c.

Here again we have been obliged to leave a church too long in its infancy without help, and it has suffered in consequence. Some have given up entirely, though not many. Some had lost their interest, and ceased to work. A couple of very bad cases of family difficulty had occurred, which hurt the cause and discouraged many. Yet the majority were working away with commendable patience and courage. We spent most of our time trying to set things in a right light and on a proper basis.

On the whole, we feel some encouraged about them. They must have their time of trial as well as others. All must be proved and tried. Trials show who have the true material in them. I was glad to see a considerable advance in the health reform.

Sunday, Dec. 31, I came to Winterset and enjoyed a free good visit and meeting with the church here. I was rejoiced to see them all so firm in the truth, and growing stronger and loving the whole truth. Several who drew off have come back, and, really, I have more hopes for the cause here now than at any time for a year past. So the Lord gives us some unexpected encouragement here and there along to keep us from fainting. Jan. 1 I returned home, after an absence of eight weeks.

Again I resolve to strive harder than ever to love and obey God this year. Looking over the last year, shame, sorrow, and regret fill my heart that I did not stand the test better. Thank God, probation still continues. My health is good and courage strong. D. M. CANRIGHT.