PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW YORK by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 26, 1877

PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW YORK.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

MONDAY, April 9, Bro. Reynolds and myself came to Port Allegheny, in the edge of Pennsylvania. This is a very mountainous region. The truth was preached here many years ago, and a good little church once organized.

At this place was the scene of Eld. Fuller's corrupt career. The exposure that followed, involving others in his ruin, discouraged and scattered this church. Strange to say, they were never visited by our people afterward, but left to go all to pieces. They soon gave up their meetings; some apostatized, some moved to other parts. Several years afterwards, the Seventh-day Baptists came in, and undertook to help them. As they had no prospect of any other help, they were persuaded to form themselves into a Seventh-day Baptist church, although every one of them was as thoroughly Adventist as ever before. But for the last year or two they were again left by them, and everything was in a very discouraging condition.

This winter one of our brethren, J. G. Saunders, by earnest solicitation, went there and held a series of meetings. The old friends of the cause were revived, backsliders were reclaimed, and a good number of new ones embraced the Sabbath, and were converted to God. Bro. Saunders requested me to come, and help him. Tuesday night we found their large school-house crowded full. I spoke on the messages. Wednesday, the house was full all day, and also in the evening, and I spoke three times. We rehearsed the history of the cause in New York, and in that section, stated what we were doing now and our hopes for the future. I then called upon all present who were Seventh-day Adventists to rise. Except one, all who observed the seventh day promptly arose to their feet. They said that they had always been Seventh-day Adventists, were still, and always should be.

Two-thirds of those present either belonged to no church or to some of our own churches in other localities; hence we thought best to organize the church there. Thirteen united. Others will unite soon. A very few who had united with the S. D. Baptists did not unite with us as yet, though there is no reason why they should not, as they are as thoroughly Adventists as any of the rest. However, all will meet together the same as before.

After speaking a short time on s. b., they promptly pledged $75.00 per year. Bro. Saunders was elected and ordained elder of the church. One was baptized. Thus this church is now in working order again. There are between thirty and forty S. D. Adventists within a dozen miles of this place. Bro. Reynolds remains here a couple of weeks to look up these scattered brethren, and to assist further in getting things in order. If proper labor is bestowed in this section, I believe that we may see our cause strong here once more.

Friday evening, Apr. 13, I began meetings at Portville, in Cattaraugus Co. They were held in a fine, large school-house, which was well filled at every meeting. There appeared to be a real, deep interest. I spoke six times, besides holding business meetings. A small church had been organized here, composed of those who had moved from other places. Others have moved in lately. The blasting influence of Eld. Fuller's life had blighted and nearly destroyed the cause in this neighborhood. But still most had been faithful to the truth, though their numbers were small. Some had moved away, some had backslidden, and some had joined the S. D. Baptists, as they have a large church near here.

Our meeting was an excellent one. The brethren and sisters all took new courage. Four were baptized, and united with the church, and three others came from the S. D. Baptists, two of whom had formerly belonged to us. They found that they could not feel at home among those who were not Adventists, and this was very sensible. Quite a number more will unite here by letter, as soon as they can get them from their churches where they belong. There is now a company of twenty-five or thirty Sabbath-keepers here, enough for interesting meetings and a strong church. To the shame of our ministers who have visited this church time after time, we found that there was no record of the church. We gathered up the facts as best we could, elected a clerk, and now hope to have things in order. Bro. Welch was elected and ordained elder of the church.

The brethren pledged liberally on their s. b. according to their means, as most of them are poor. Their pledge is $118.00 per year, besides the one-third for T. and M. Bro. Hall stays here a week to complete the work. There are now three fully organized churches in Cattaraugus county numbering in all about seventy-five members. There are quite a number more who have not yet united. The s. b. pledge for the three churches is $500.00, besides the one-third. I regard this as a rich field of labor, indeed, as good as I know of in the State. With very few exceptions the brethren are intelligent, respectable and an honor to the cause. There are no church trials to divide the brethren, and all are anxious to see something done. And something must be done for the cause in that section. Two tents ought to run in this part of the field this summer. Bro. George Ballou and D. B. Welch are now giving a course of lectures in this county. Bro. Reynolds will commence lectures immediately. We hope to see a general turnout to our camp-meeting.

We request the presence of every member of the Allegheny church at our meetings at Niles Hill. All who want letters to join elsewhere must be at that meeting.

D. M. CANRIGHT.