NILES HILL, NEW YORK by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 31, 1877

NILES HILL, NEW YORK.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Bro. Hall and I came to Niles Hill to hold a two days’ meeting; but the interest was such that we stayed two Sabbaths. Years ago this was a large and prosperous church. But the terrible course of one Fuller came near utterly destroying the church. So for some eight years they have been in discouragement and, as a natural result, in many trials. But for some time past much interest has been manifested among the people here. Eld. Haskell aroused a great interest more than a year ago, but his stay was too short to secure much fruit. Brethren had foolishly allowed petty trials to divide them. Many had given up entirely. Their meetings were attended by only a half dozen or so. The ordinances had not been celebrated for eight years. Some even talked of disbanding.

From our first meeting, their house of worship was crowded. Sabbath day so many of the neighbors came that all could not get in. Though everybody is hurried just now, yet every meeting was largely attended. Soon the church began to wake up, trials were looked up and settled. Wednesday at a meeting of the church, good confessions were made, and we had a melting, weeping time. Two or three old backsliders, but good men, took their stand with the church again. All rejoiced. Then four young ladies made a start.

At evening had a meeting of the youth. Twenty were present, and eighteen took a part, most of them for the first time. At the close of the service they went to each other weeping and encouraging each other. It was a blessed season. From that time the clouds began to clear up. Every day one to half a dozen made a start. Each new one immediately began to look up others and plead with them. This always does more than preaching. Few can withstand it.

The next Sabbath was a rejoicing season. About twenty united with the church, most of them to be baptized. At evening a half dozen more decided to go with us—the ones for whom we had felt the most anxious. Sunday morning a lot more came in weeping, and took their place with us. In all thirty-six united with the church, and twenty-three were baptized. This alone would make a large church. The baptism was one of the most beautiful scenes I ever witnessed. The day was lovely, the place was fine, everybody was as sober as at a funeral. Though a large number were present, no one made any lightness. Most of those baptized were young people from thirty years old down to twelve—largely about eighteen to twenty-five. How good and lovely it seems to see husband and wife, brothers and sisters all going together in the service of God! Eight or ten embraced the Sabbath. The last meeting several came and said they should now obey it. Indeed, the whole community is stirred as never before. I think I never saw anything quite equal to it. Brethren say they can hardly believe what their eyes have seen. Systematic benevolence was reorganized, and raised from $130 to $345, and $160 were raised to paint and repair the house, which will be done immediately. John Lindsay was chosen elder, Wm. Bellamy and Daniel Oviat deacons.

The attendance at their Sabbath meetings will now number about seventy-five. By a rising vote they solemnly vowed to God and each other to drop all the past and make this a new departure. Bro. Hall remains with them to follow up the work till camp-meeting. Nearly all will attend that. Some fifteen tents are ordered from this section.

Our people have the confidence of the community. There is an urgent call for meetings in Wellsville. I believe that to-day it is as good a field as there is in the State. We leave this church in harmony, and all rejoicing. And I feel very happy in God. Though I have labored excessively this winter both in preaching, writing, and studying, yet I hardly feel tired, and I never felt stronger physically. I have some doubt about hard work’s hurting young men so very much. I hope to meet a large turnout of our people at the Aurora camp-meeting, June 7-12.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Battle Creek, May 25.