NEW YORK AS A FIELD OF LABOR by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 8, 1877

NEW YORK AS A FIELD OF LABOR.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

So far as I have opportunity to observe, I believe that New York is one of the most promising fields of labor that we have; indeed, I do not know how it could be any better. We have offers to-day of more than a dozen meeting-houses in good locations, standing empty, where we are not only invited, but petition after petition is made for us to come and occupy them. School-houses are open to us almost anywhere, and the country is thickly settled so that we can get an audience in almost any place.

Many of our churches are so old that a new generation has come up since they were established. These persons have never heard our faith; they have little or no prejudice, and are perfectly willing, and many of them anxious, to hear. One brother has fitted up a house of worship himself in a new place, at his own expense, and is pleading earnestly for help. As to new places there are hundreds of them in almost any section where they know no more about our faith than do the people of Australia.

Our brethren in the western States, in looking up a field of labor all consider they have struck a good field when they find a neighborhood largely composed of people from New York. They always have the best success among these people. Now I cannot understand why these same people should not be a good class to labor among at home. I believe they are. Then compared to our western States, such as Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, &c., the people in New York know nothing about hard times and poor living. The poorest of our brethren here nearly all have comfortable homes, well furnished houses, and plenty to eat, while in the States mentioned, where I have been, such homes are an exception.

Neither is there any lack of means in this State to carry on the cause if the brethren will come up to the Bible plan of supporting the work of God. Indeed, there has been no lack in this respect even as it is. Why, then, should the cause languish in this State? Why should we not see from five to ten churches added to our Conference every year? There is no good reason why we should not.

We have had a good deal of encouragement the last season, and some this winter. Not only individuals here and there are embracing the truth from reading, but quite a number of companies have been raised up this year. We take this as an evidence that the cause is going to rise in this State. We hope we may not be disappointed.

But why are there not more ministers in this State, more young men offering themselves for the ministry? Our young people have the best of advantages for education in this State, and most of them are well educated too. We have scores of school-teachers, writing-masters, &c., and many of these are first-class. Why don't some of them give themselves to the cause of God? Why not? They say they have not ability. I don't believe a word of it.

In Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas, and other States, I know scores of young men who are making good, efficient laborers in the cause, who have not near the ability that some of these have. As to education, they are far behind them. Those young preachers have to go out with many disadvantages that these would not have. Brethren in New York, these things are not right. Perhaps there has not been sufficient encouragement held out to induce young men to step out. I am not certain but that this is the case. It does not do for us to be too nice and particular and over-cautious about the matter. We cannot always judge whom God can use. Michigan has turned out a greater proportion of successful ministers than any other State; and I believe that one reason is that young men have been encouraged there, who would not have been encouraged in any other States. In many cases licenses have been given to persons when their best acquaintances sneered at the idea of their accomplishing anything; but by the blessing of God they have done it, and now these friends are rejoicing in their success.

What should be the qualifications necessary to entitle a man to try to preach? If a man's reputation for honesty is not good, that ends the business with him. He has no business in the cause of God. If he is slack in his deal, shiftless at home, does not keep his word in his bargains, he should not be encouraged to preach. Let him learn to be straight in these things first. If there is anything against his moral character any way, of course that ends the thing with him. Again, some persons may be straight morally, but be so indiscreet, so void of judgment, as to do more hurt than good. They must be kept back. But simply supposed lack of ability should not hinder their trying. One of the most successful ministers the Lord ever had was utterly astonished at the mere proposal of becoming a mouth-piece for God. He pleaded that he was slow of speech, that he certainly had not the ability, but the Lord thought differently, and the event showed that the Lord was right. That man was Moses. How many there are among us to-day who have absolutely had to learn by the very hardest way how to talk, but they have gone at it with a will and a determination that they would succeed. A failure for once, or twice, or a half dozen times, has not discouraged them. They have tried and kept on trying, and sought God for help, and received correction from their brethren, until they have become efficient laborers in the cause.

I believe there is a large number of persons in this very State who ought to be engaged in the work of God. Brethren, what are we going to do about this? Shall we give up and settle down with the conviction that the cause in New York must languish and die? Shall we do this with hundreds of Macedonian cries in every direction; with empty meeting-houses, and open school-houses; with halls fitted up and waiting; with thousands of people anxious to hear, and begging us to come; with brethren willing to give of their means to help the cause? Somebody is asleep about this matter. It is time to awake. Let us not be more nice than wise, more particular than zealous, more anxious to find fault than to encourage. If any have anything encouraging, let us hear from them. Only think of it, some seven or eight hundred Sabbath-keepers in this State, and not more than a half dozen ministers actually doing anything! And quarter after quarter, if the question is asked, What is being done? we can answer only as they did when McClellan was before Richmond so long, “All quiet on the Potomac.”

Now, brethren, we have enjoyed this long enough. Let us make things start somewhere. Let us inform the people that we are here, and that we are alive, and that we have something to say. D. M. CANRIGHT.