San Jose, California by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 18, 1874

San Jose, California.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

MONDAY, Aug. 3, we took down our tent after a stay here of five weeks, during which time we held meetings continually, with the exception of one night. The interest was not large at any time. Two hundred and fifty, and three hundred, were the largest congregations we had. We had about one hundred quite regular hearers, and seldom less than sixty.

We have had two Sabbath meetings—very good ones. Several took a part, expressing themselves as very thankful for the truth. Twenty-three have embraced the Sabbath. We sold $20 worth of books, and obtained fifteen names for the Signs. We have hired a hall, and raised sufficient means to pay for it. We shall have regular meetings on the Sabbath, and prayer-meetings Tuesday nights. I shall spend much of my time here for a week or two yet, endeavoring to get them in as good condition as possible before we leave this section of the country.

Eld. Miles Grant had lectured here at several different times previous to our coming. At first he had quite a hearing, but the people soon lost interest in him, so that when he was here the last time this spring he quit for lack of an audience. Indeed, his efforts here were an entire failure. Yet, laboring under many disadvantages which he did not have, a small church has now been raised up here, by the blessing of the Lord and the power of his truth. Those who have come out say that they never saw such harmony in the Bible, such clearness of the truth, and such power in the simple word of the Lord, as they now see.

For instance, those who had for scores of years strongly opposed immersion, and have been thoroughly settled in the doctrine of sprinkling for baptism, say that they thought they never could be changed. But now, after hearing only one sermon upon that subject, they immediately give up their error and readily adopt the truth. And so on other points.

We have pitched our tent at Santa Clara, a city of three thousand inhabitants, only three miles from San Jose. We do not design to stay there over two weeks, not expecting much interest. We did it in order to complete the work here and present the Sabbath truth there.

The more I have a chance to become acquainted with the first-day Adventists, and the utter confusion, division, and wrangling there is among them, the more I am impressed with the fact that we do not appreciate the unity and harmony which characterize our own work. Their divisions and the unsettled positions upon which they are constantly changing, show that they are off from the track of truth somewhere. We think we know just where it is and just what they need, namely, the third angel's message, with the commandments of God and the spirit of prophecy.

Brethren, the Lord is giving us the field, and giving glorious victories to his truth. We propose to buckle on the armor and press home the battle. Pray for us.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

San Jose, Aug. 4.