NEW YORK by Dudley Marvin Canright

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

NEW YORK.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Mannsville and West Monroe.

I went to Mannsville Wednesday, Feb. 21, expecting simply to hold a business meeting in the day time, thinking there would be but a few out; but I was agreeably surprised to find their meeting-house well filled by ten o’clock in the morning. Nearly every one of the Adams Center church, fourteen miles distant, was there, and all the Mannsville friends were out. I saw that they were hungry for preaching, and that it would be a great disappointment to have only a business meeting. So after stating the condition of the cause in New York, the brightening prospect now before us, I preached a sermon on the solemnity of death, eternity, and the Judgment. Then I made an appeal for backsliders and sinners to seek the Lord, and invited them forward. There was very deep feeling in the meeting, and a ready response to the invitation. Sixteen persons, mostly grown up people, several of whom were heads of families, came forward. Some of these were backsliders, but quite a number had never made a start before. All but one then arose, and bore a good testimony.

In the evening, our house was crowded, and I preached on the subject of conversion. Nearly all the friends from Adams Center remained over. We appointed a meeting the next day at ten o’clock, to carry on the well begun work. The Lord gave us freedom in preaching. The word took good effect. There was weeping all over the house. Again we invited them forward. Some were present who were not the day before, and made a start this time, so that about twenty-five in all made a start to serve God in this meeting. Then we had a most excellent social meeting. Hearty confessions were made, and stirring testimonies were borne. All felt revived. I have seldom enjoyed a meeting better than this.

This is an old church, and it has passed through many trials. There are quite a number of wealthy men, and talented men and women in this church; but their testimony has nearly died out. They have largely ceased to sacrifice for the cause; and pride and dress have come in among them, and the Spirit of God has evidently gone out. A general revival of the work of God is what is needed. Our periodicals are not taken among them as they should be. There is an interest outside to hear, and they need a two weeks’ meeting here. I believe that a great work could be done for this people. We shall endeavor to bring it about if possible. Bro. Hall remains with them one week, to make permanent the work begun.

We re-organized s. b. We did not have as much time for this as we should have had. The pledge of the entire church will be about $300. I did not ascertain what it was before. They voted to give one-third as much as the s. b. for the tract work. They also voted to adopt the system of regular quarterly meetings, the same as all the rest of the churches thus far have done. The more I think of this plan the better I like it.

Friday, Feb. 23, we began our meeting with the West Monroe church, in the Methodist meeting-house in Mallory. There was a general turnout of all the brethren from the county.

In this (Oswego) county is where the work first started. The first Conference, among Seventh-day Adventists was held in Bro. Arnold’s barn near here. Bro. Arnold was present, also Brn. G. W. Holt, Hiram Edson, F. Wheeler, and A. Ross, besides many other old hands in the cause. We had a large turnout from the outside. The house was filled every time, and the last time, crowded. I preached two sermons on the advent, and two on the Sabbath. It created a much deeper interest than we expected. It is said to-day that quite a number have almost or wholly decided to embrace the truth. I know that three have decided to keep the Sabbath. It is a shame to leave such an interest, but how to visit all our churches and still follow up these interests is more than I can see.

Bro. Bowe has a good building which he proposes to make over into a meeting-house. This is what ought to be done, and then it should be dedicated with a course of lectures.

After preaching Sabbath morning, some good and feeling confessions were made by the old hands in the cause. Worldliness, backsliding, and trials in the churches, have prostrated the cause in this county. Probably it has been the darkest place in the State for the last few years. Our former meeting at Roosevelt helped the cause there considerably, though there is much yet to be done. Most of that church were here, and bore good testimonies.

Sabbath afternoon, eight individuals came forward to seek God, some for the first time. Nearly all were grown persons. The West Monroe church has been terribly backslidden. They have dropped our periodicals, laid down family worship, in many cases, ceased to take part in meeting, gotten into trial, etc. We tried to help them as far as we could. Monday, after the others were gone, we spent all day with the church. It was a very encouraging and sweet meeting. All fully and solemnly committed themselves to return to God, take up all their duties, and renew their consecration. The tender Spirit of God was in the meeting, and tears flowed freely. One young man who came forward for prayers, now fully took his stand to keep the Sabbath and be a Christian. This rejoiced us much. Quite a number of business matters were attended to. All seemed greatly encouraged.

The Vermillion church had been divided and blasted by foolish trials; and as they were nearly all at this meeting, we spent the whole labor of Sunday (except just time to run hastily to the meeting-house to preach two sermons for outsiders), from five o’clock in the morning till late in the evening, investigating this trial. This is always a tedious affair. The committee readily agreed on the decision, which was promptly accepted by all the parties. Solemn promises were made that they would now live in harmony, and work together. We have strong hopes that they will. Then there will be some hopes of an increase in that church. All feel that a good deal has been accomplished for the cause in this county. If these things prove permanent, which we hope they will, the way is now open for a rise in the cause here, and for an increase in numbers. D. M. CANRIGHT.