Jay, Michigan by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 9, 1875

Jay, Michigan.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

In company with Bro. Fisher, we came to this place, Friday, Nov. 19. We designed to remain only till Monday morning, but I soon saw that circumstances demanded a longer stay, so I took up my appointment at Edenville and staid here two Sabbaths.

A large church was raised up here some seven or eight years ago, and a large meeting-house was built. Things went well for a short time; but in consequence of the injudicious labor of certain brethren, they soon got into trial, and became greatly divided. A large number, more than half, withdrew from the church, quite a number gave up the Sabbath entirely, others backslid, but held on to the Sabbath. Nearly all the young people, who might have been saved to the cause, grew up irreligious.

They have had more or less labor here from time to time, so that they have maintained an existence as a church, and have kept up Sabbath meetings, though they were frequently thinly attended. In all, I found some seventy-five Sabbath-keepers here. Some idea of their backslidden condition may be formed from the fact that out of this large number only six took the REVIEW, but a few copies of the Instructor were taken, and not one copy of the Reformer. Their S. B. had run down to less than one hundred dollars per year.

We had a good turnout at our first meeting, Friday evening. Sabbath morning their large house was well filled. Brethren were present from St. Charles, Saginaw, Williamstown, &c. All the old friends of the cause in this section turned out en masse, children and all. I reviewed, in a few of my first discourses, the evidences of our faith, the prophecies, the messages, the Sabbath, the nature of man, &c. The brethren said that this sounded like old times, and revived memories of their first love for the truth. I gave them the history of the progress and present condition of the cause. This seemed to stir them a great deal. At the close of our two days' meeting, they were just where there was some hope of doing something for them. All voted to continue the meetings another week.

During the daytime, Bro. Fisher and myself visited from house to house, calling on nearly every family. We commenced our meetings each evening at six o’clock, with prayer and social meeting till seven, then preaching till eight. At eight I dismissed the formal meeting, and we spent three-quarters of an hour in a visiting meeting. We found this latter meeting the best of all. We advised the brethren to go to each other, renew their acquaintance, and make confession of their wrongs, their coldness, and their backsliding, and to invite their old friends back, and talk with the unconverted and the unbeliever. This broke down the coldness which had existed among many. Some said that this was as good as when they first embraced the truth; others said they thought it was better. We had some excellent social meetings. Nearly every time, several new ones would take part in them. Hearty confessions were made, wet down with tears. A general feeling prevailed, and was expressed, that better times were now come for this people, that old difficulties would be laid aside, and that they could now be stronger than ever before.

The evening before our last Sabbath meeting, I made an appeal to the unconverted and the backslider to come forward. Twelve intelligent young men and women came forward and made a start for the first time, and besides these several who had been on the background now expressed their desire to take hold anew. Sabbath morning we had one of the best social meetings I have enjoyed for a long time. A large number took part with the deepest feeling. Most of those who started the evening before spoke in this meeting. I then made a call for all who wished to start anew, those who had been entirely backslidden, those who had never made a profession, and those who now wished to commence the observance of the Sabbath, to come forward. A general movement was made and some eighty persons thus took their stand. This was a sight that encouraged us exceedingly. After this quite a number more spoke. Then we had a pleasant time in celebrating the ordinances. Five joined the church.

On Sunday morning we had a good turnout. Bro. James Munger was ordained elder, and Bro. Jeremiah Munger was elected and ordained deacon. Systematic Benevolence was re-organized, amounting to $280. I obtained twelve subscribers for the REVIEW, seven for the Reformer, and three for the Instructor. Several more promised to subscribe for the REVIEW in a few days. We obtained $28.00 for the Kansas and Missouri brethren, and $11.50 on the Pacific press, besides, several shares were pledged. Four who had given up the Sabbath came back and commenced its observance again. Six who had never kept it before now took their stand with us.

I feel very loth to leave this place now. A good revival spirit is among the people. Could this effort now be followed up for a few weeks, I feel confident that there might be a church here of one hundred good members. I hardly know what to do about it. I feel strongly tempted to come back in a few weeks and carry on the work. At present, Bro. Fisher and Stoddard, both preachers, will remain and hold prayer meetings in the different neighborhoods each evening, and a general meeting once a week, and also upon the Sabbath, for two weeks. We hope that they will do much good, and that others who are feeling deeply, but are now halting, will take up the cross. We shall be disappointed if they do not.

I feel greatly encouraged to see even so much accomplished, though it is but a small part of what I know ought to be done. The great difficulty which I find in these meetings is this: The brethren and sisters take so little interest in the meetings on the start that many of the very ones we wish to reach do not come out at all till we have been at work two or three days. The elders and leading brethren in the church make but a faint effort to get people out to meeting or to bring their children. They do not seem to expect that much is going to be done, and when we tell them what has been done in other churches, they do not seem to dream that it can be done in their place or families. About the time our meetings close they begin to wake up. Then they regret that they did not make greater efforts to get their friends out to meeting. This has been so in every place thus far. What course to take to stir our friends to start in right I do not know, but I shall try something.

I have never seen so much interest manifested to hear the truth at any time or anywhere as during my meetings thus far in Michigan. At almost every place I go, our houses are crowded night after night; and this in our old churches where they have had lecture upon lecture, and where the truth has been but poorly represented. The Lord is evidently giving us the ears of the people.

I feel very thankful to God for strength to labor as continuously and hard as I do. I have not become hoarse at all thus far, nor very tired.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Jay, Mich., Nov. 30, 1875.