p. 30 | ROOSEVELT, N. Y by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 25, 1877

ROOSEVELT, N. Y.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

We came to Oswego County intending to visit the five churches in the county within two weeks, but have been sadly disappointed. It has stormed fiercely the whole time, so that we have been blocked up, unable to do anything scarcely.

With the greatest effort, a few of the brethren nearest the church have been able to get out to meeting. Last Sabbath being the first good day for our meetings, we had a good turnout. Notwithstanding all this, we feel very well satisfied with our meeting, as considerable has been accomplished. Several who had been in the dark and under the power of the enemy came out good and free, and made hearty confession of their wrongs. This always brings light and courage to the church.

As is well known to all our brethren in the State, father Edson for eight or ten years has not seen his duty in the same

light that his brethren have, but has had a different burden from what they thought God designed him to bear. This has been a source of trial to the brethren. At this meeting he took a good stand in laying aside this burden and taking hold according to the advice of his brethren. This brought great relief to the church, and we believe will prove a great blessing to himself and to the cause.

We celebrated the ordinances for the first time in this church for eight years. It is too bad that this sacred memorial of our Lord’s death should thus be neglected in any church. I do not see how the blessing of God can rest upon any church that thus neglects, year after year, this sacred ordinance. Nothing can justify such a course. There is no excuse for it. Hereafter they are to have the ordinances on the first Sunday in every third month. They have it on Sunday because it is necessary to have a business meeting once a quarter, and this furnishes a good chance to attend to both.

Our meetings at Rome ought to have been reported before this. There, also, the terrible storms greatly hindered our work, yet we had a fair attendance most of the time notwithstanding. I think that the brethren were greatly benefited and strengthened in the truth. We had some excellent meetings. Several new ones took a stand for the truth.

I gave four lectures upon the subject of health reform, the last which I gave. The weather happening to be tolerably fair, we had a good turnout, the house well filled. The subject was well received by all, so far as I learned. Nearly every one has got rid of his tobacco, and in many families the work of reform has been begun in good earnest. I was very particular, while urging them to adopt the health reform, to caution them against being radical and going to extremes, particularly on the start. At the close of our meeting I baptized twelve good souls in the Mohawk river. Several others are now ready to be baptized at the first opportunity. We left them in good courage. I am fearful now that we shall have a bad winter to interfere with our labors, but we shall do the best we can and trust in the Lord.

Later. We have now been snow bound here for two weeks unable to get to any other church or hold but very few meetings here. We have found an excellent home with Bro. and sister Ross, and have improved the time thoroughly in writing.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Roosevelt, N. Y., Jan. 10, 1877.