Saginaw, Mich by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 2, 1875

Saginaw, Mich.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 17, we came to Saginaw, where we spent two days. I found a larger company than I expected. There are fourteen Seventh-day Adventists and three Seventh-day Baptists here. Three intelligent sisters have lately embraced the truth in this place simply by reading. The first sermon they ever heard on present truth was at this meeting.

With a few hours’ notice of preaching, our brethren gathered together some thirty or forty in a private room. These persons listened with the very deepest attention to a sermon on the Sabbath. I had excellent freedom in preaching, and felt that the word took effect. It seems to me that a little labor in this place would be quite certain to bring out several.

A church was organized two years ago, composed of members who had moved here from other churches. From the very beginning, they had difficulty and trial among themselves, which for a time entirely broke up their meetings. Their S. B. was wholly given up, so they have made no pledge for a year or two. Quite a number of them had even ceased to take the REVIEW. But of late their circumstances have somewhat changed. They have commenced their Sabbath meetings again, and things look more favorable. They appear to have a better understanding than formerly. I see no reason why they cannot take hold together and have good meetings. As usual, a few gossiping tale-bearers, who are more anxious to correct others’ faults than their own, were at the bottom of all their difficulties. We hope that they have made up their minds to attend to their own affairs, and let other peoples’ alone.

We organized S. B. for 1876 to the amount of $31. This is not nearly what it ought to be. I expect to visit them two or three times in the course of a few weeks, as we shall have occasion to pass through this place. When they get fully into the light, and the spirit of the work, we expect they will at least double their pledges, subscribe for all our periodicals, and take hold of the tract work in earnest. If they will do this, a good work will probably soon be done in that city.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Jay, Mich., Nov. 21, 1875.