DANVERS, MASS by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 31, 1878

DANVERS, MASS.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Our State quarterly meeting has just closed. It was an excellent meeting in every respect. The weather was fine as summer, and a good delegation of brethren and sisters came from all parts of the Conference. Most of our brethren and sisters from the new company at Newburyport were present and enjoyed the meeting greatly. Among them was a groceryman who has just embraced the Sabbath. The outside interest and attendance was large. Indeed, it was apparently larger than at any previous time. Our house was packed full. We had an excellent Sabbath-school exercise for the benefit of our friends from abroad. There were about one hundred and fifteen in the school that day. This is the largest Sabbath-school any of our friends in these parts have ever seen. It is working finely, with a steady increase of numbers.

Sabbath afternoon Eld. Haines preached a short sermon, after which we had a most melting social meeting. Scores of touching testimonies were borne. No time was lost. It did our hearts good to hear the new friends of the truth speak. Many had kept the Sabbath only a little while; others, three Sabbaths, two Sabbaths, and with quite a number, this was the first. A touching appeal was made for all to arise who would obey the truth. The Spirit of God seemed to help mightily. Most in the house were in tears. Nearly all arose, among whom were several cases of great interest to us. Good letters were then read from sister Lamson and Mrs. Canright, which touched the hearts of all present.

Sunday was a good day for us. The truth took a mighty hold. I sold seven copies of the “History of the Sabbath,” besides many other books. Every day I obtain some subscribers for our periodicals. Sunday morning nearly all the brethren were out, and we took up the T. and M. work, and proposed to organize here. Forty-six names were immediately handed in. Probably many more will join soon.

Since we have begun meetings in our new house, twenty-five adult persons, all, except one, heads of families, mostly men, have embraced the Sabbath. These would form a good church of themselves; and still they come. In fact, I do not know how the interest could be better. It is said we have the largest congregations of any church in the place. Our ordinary Sabbath meetings are larger than those of most of the churches on Sunday.

Among those who have embraced the Sabbath are a merchant, a groceryman, a shoe manufacturer, a butcher, a barber, two painters, a man who runs a grist-mill and a saw-mill, and a number of shoe-makers. The interest is now so extensive, spreading for miles around, and there is so much to be done among the brethren themselves, that I see no prospect of getting away from here for a long time. We begin to fear that our meeting-house (32x52) will really be too small. Truly this is the Lord’s work and it is marvelous in our eyes. Our enemies do not know what to say any more. Backsliders, sinners, and profane, wicked men, and many of them too, are now seeking God with tears, having erected the family altar, and are becoming devoted men. These are hard arguments to get over. We thank God, and take courage.

Since we had a season of prayer for Mrs. Canright, she has steadily improved, till now she is quite comfortable, and able to walk about again, though far from being well or out of danger.

D. M. Canright.