p. 142 | Hutchinson, Minn by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 15, 1872

Hutchinson, Minn.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

We took down our tent two weeks ago. Had a good Sabbath meeting in the tent, where many warm testimonies were borne for the truth. Sunday afternoon, we spoke on the fall of Babylon to a full tent, after which we went a few rods to a beautiful place on the river and baptized six souls into Christ. Nearly the whole village was out to view the beautiful scene.

Our last sermon in the tent was on the use of tobacco, tea and coffee. This subject took well among the people, so that these idols are already mostly cleared out among us. I find it the best way to present this subject at least as early as this in the course of the lectures. The people generally receive it better than they do to wait until it is about time to organize the church. The use of tobacco we ought not to give any countenance to at all; and the sooner the people know this, the more readily they will give it up.

Sabbath and Sunday, Sept. 21 and 22, our tent was pitched twelve miles from here, at Silver Lake, for the accommodation of a quarterly meeting, held by our first-day Adventist brethren, as there are several churches of them in this section of country. The weather was fine, and we enjoyed a very pleasant interview with them. Eld. Miller, son of father Miller, was present, and spoke several times. I was glad to form his acquaintance, and hear him preach. He seems to be a candid, honest Christian, and loves the blessed hope. We hope to have farther acquaintance with him while in the State. The friends here are very anxious for me to stay and give them a course of lectures; but I could not see my way clear to do it.

We now have our meetings in the Methodist church. Last Sabbath we had a most precious season indeed. The Lord gave us freedom in speaking on the development and history of spiritual gifts among us. The friends receive it as a blessing from the Lord. We have a good Bible-class and Sabbath-school, in which all take part. Last evening we had a good prayer-meeting, in which many warm testimonies were given to the truth. Above forty are now keeping the Sabbath here, and others are coming in every week.

I have just commenced a course of lectures four miles from here, in the country, where there are several families deeply interested, and a number keeping the Sabbath. In several places near by they are urgently and impatiently calling for labor; and I think we have reason to hope for good success in these places this fall and winter. It seems now that we shall have work enough here for several weeks or months to come. Bro. Grant has been with me, and I find him a great help indeed, just the man that is needed to follow up after a course of lectures has been given. The Lord is manifestly blessing his labors in the cause.

We have now been in the State five months, although much of the time things have looked very dark, and the interest has been very small, yet on the whole, the Lord has given us as much fruit as we have generally had in other places in the same length of time. Sixty-five have embraced the truth, and are now keeping the Sabbath. Have sold $150 worth of books, have obtained 32 subscribers for the REVIEW, 35 for the Reformer, and several for the Instructor. We hope that our expenses will not be very heavy for the remainder of the year. As there are several laboring in the State it will be necessary for the friends of the cause to do all they can in raising means to support the work. We hope these friends who have lately embraced the truth will be able to help some also. We ask to be remembered in the prayers of the brethren.

D. M. CANRIGHT.