Minnesota Mission Trip and Meetings at High Forest by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 4, 1872

Minnesota Mission Trip and Meetings at High Forest

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Minnesota.

MAY 8, I left home for Minnesota. Arrived at Rochester, Friday. Bro. Gibson took Bro. Grant, another brother, and myself, seven miles to his home. It continued to rain Sabbath and Sunday, yet there were about forty believers who came together, and we held meetings in the daytime of both days. Most of them seemed to be alive to the cause and to have a mind to work. A few were discouraged. We tried to help these, and most of them tried to help themselves. Was much disappointed to find that neither Bro. Ingraham nor Bro. Pierce were able to help any in the labor in the State. After consultation, it was thought best for the present for Bro. Grant to visit and help the churches what he could, while I went into new fields to raise up friends to the cause.

Came to High Forest, Olmstead Co., fifteen miles south of Rochester, and near the Pleasant Grove church. This is a very small village, only two miles square, and numbering 249 inhabitants; but it seemed desirable to raise up a church here, and the way opened well, and so I decided to try it. The Baptist house being unoccupied, we were invited to lecture in it; so we gave out our appointments for Thursday night. Still it kept raining harder every day, and the roads were becoming very bad. But Thursday afternoon it cleared up, and has rained but little since, though looking like it most of the time. The first evening, eighty-five were present, the second, one hundred twenty-five, the third, one hundred forty five, and last night the house was packed full with people, probably two hundred. Our tent is here, and we shall pitch it and hold meetings in it when it is warm enough. All classes and sects are turning out to hear, and a very intelligent class they appear to be.

The old Bibles are being taken down and the dust wiped off, and everywhere, in the stores, shops, and streets, men are discussing these new things. This is what we like to see. The shepherd tries to keep his flock away; but they don't mind well. Indeed, thus far, everything is very encouraging; but how it will come out is my earnest solicitude. I hope God has a people here.

Dear brethren and sisters in the State, let us have a full turnout to our camp-meeting, as I see no other chance for you to have any preaching for a year to come. I cannot take the time to visit you in the different churches, but must give my time to new fields if you will support us in doing it, and we are confident that you will. Pray for us. D. M. CANRIGHT.