Minnesota Church Visits and Meetings, Dec. 1-24 by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 14, 1873

Minnesota Church Visits and Meetings, Dec. 1-24

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Minnesota.

Dec. 1-6, I was at Glencoe, at the good, quiet home of Bro. Armstrong. Held meetings each evening with the few friends there. All are holding on and growing strong in the truth. Others are still interested, for whom we hope. Called on our old friends, sold some books, obtained five subscribers for the REVIEW, and two for the Instructor, and organized S. B. to the amount of $28.60.

Dec. 8-24, at Hutchinson and East Hutchinson. Though the weather was terribly cold, we held several meetings at East Hutchinson, most of which were well attended. This is becoming a large and interesting church. About a dozen came forward for prayers, and made a good start for the kingdom. Sold some books, obtained twelve subscribers for the REVIEW, organized S. B. to the amount of $170, and raised a subscription and began operations for a meeting-house.

At Hutchinson, our meetings were closed on account of the extreme cold, and from fear of the small-pox. Obtained five subscribers for the REVIEW, one for the Instructor, and organized S. B. to the amount of $130, which will be raised to at least $150 by those who could not attend at that time. This church is united, alive, and zealous in the truth. We love them very much. Bro. Grant stays in the county to visit the other churches while I am in Iowa.

Dec. 24, the cold was 42° below zero. Wells twenty-two feet deep froze so that water could not be drawn from them. Men froze their fingers, toes, faces, &c., while feeding their cattle. That evening, after six o'clock, I had to go sixteen miles across the open prairie, facing the wind, in an open sleigh, to reach the cars, or fail to meet my Sabbath appointment. Friends said it was neither safe nor reasonable; but, after covering up so as to be as warm as possible, we went through in a little over three hours, without injury, though I would not risk it again.

Dec. 28, came to Lake Crystal, where Bro. Russell and Dimmick lectured. Bro. D. was gone, no one knew of my coming, and no meetings were given out. This, with the cold, made it very discouraging. However, we began meetings Friday evening, with about a dozen out. The weather turned warmer, and the congregation increased till Sunday night, when the house was well filled. I think the result was good. One took a decided stand on the Sabbath, three came forward for prayers, and the others were aroused to take a more active part in speaking, praying, &c. Sold quite a lot of books, obtained four subscribers for the REVIEW, two for the Reformer, two for the Instructor, and one for the Advent Tidende, and organized S. B. to the amount of $109.20, which was liberal for that small number. Indeed, all the new friends to the cause in the State, though mostly in moderate circumstances, have pledged liberally, having raised the S. B. about $550 already, though many are not yet organized. Altogether, they will add between $700 and $800, which we hope will help us out of our present embarrassment.

What is best of all, these friends receive the whole truth with great thankfulness to God. I do not know of a fault-finder among them all. Hope we never may.

Thus ends, with the last day of another year, my stay of about seven months in Minnesota. God has been better to us than all our fears. I am resolved not to be so cast down again under any circumstances. God knows what is best, and will bless in his own good time.

This evening, the last of another year, as I find myself alone in a great city, far from all friends or home, it seems a fitting time for reflection. Nine years, I have been laboring in this cause. As I go back through the different States, counties, and towns, where I have labored, and call to mind the many dear associations and tender ties formed there, think of the old familiar places, the never-to-be-forgotten friends, the hopes, the fears, the victories and the failures, of those years now forever gone, the tears will come, and a solemn sadness fills my heart. All along have been, here and there, bright spots and seasons of joy, yet thickly interspersed with mistakes and tears and vanished hopes. I am tired of the conflict, and sigh for the end. Looking ahead, I see only wearisome toil and wearing anxiety. I see no place for rest. Home I scarcely see once a year. As soon as friends are raised up, I must leave them to again go among strangers in new places, and with the hardest fare. But the harvest will come by-and-by, by-and-by. Oh! that the Master would come! But in the strength of God, though tired and worn, I will gird on the armor for another year's battle.

D. M. Canright. Dec. 31, 1872.