Tent-Meeting in Vermont by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 16, 1875

Tent-Meeting in Vermont.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

The outside interest was such at the close of the Vermont Camp-meeting that it was thought best for me to remain and follow it up. So we pitched the old tent in the village of Essex Junction, about half a mile from the camp-ground. It is a new railroad town of about six hundred inhabitants. Bro. Hutchins and Whitford remained to help me.

We found the people very friendly. They took us to their homes, and brought into the tent an abundance of food, so that our expenses were very light. We met no opposition; but the people turned out well and gave good attention. I have not seen so good an interest this summer. It remained good to the end. The last day we had more out than any time before.

I remained just two weeks, and was then compelled to leave to reach the Kansas Camp-meeting. We sold over ten dollars’ worth of books, obtained four paying subscribers for the REVIEW, and a dozen took a decided stand on the truth. These, too, are good, reliable persons. Many more confessed the truth, and seemed almost persuaded to obey it. Bro. Hutchins remains to carry on the work. He will hold meetings in the Union House.

The last Sabbath we had a good meeting. About thirty brethren and sisters came in from the adjoining towns and took part in our meeting. Several of those who had just received the truth spoke with deep feeling and tears. This did us good. We expect now to see a good church here.

But the old tent is used up, or, rather, rotted out. It is some twelve or fifteen years old, and is about as strong as so much paper. One evening, just as we began meeting, there came a little gust of wind with a heavy shower. The ropes broke and let the tent down upon us. No one was hurt, but all were thoroughly wet, and our meeting was broken up. I now expect to return to Vermont in a few weeks and labor there a year or so. If so, we must have a new tent. I see no reason why new churches cannot be raised up in Vermont as well as elsewhere. At any rate, our short effort this time has encouraged us much to hope so.

D. M. CANRIGHT.