CLOSING REPORT FROM NEW ENGLAND by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 6, 1878

CLOSING REPORT FROM NEW ENGLAND.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

About the middle of June, 1877, myself and family went to New England to labor. In a few days we were joined by Bro. Stone, from Michigan, and Sr. Lamson, with her little daughter Mary, from New York. We began our labors at Newburyport. We had also the assistance of other brethren of the New England Conference. At Newburyport we remained but a short time, as the interest was small. At Danvers, having a much better interest on the start, we staid a much longer time. Sr. Lamson remained with us only four months.

Besides the above places, I labored some at Seabrook and Kensington, N. H., where several embraced the truth. Bro. Stone, in connection with Bro. Robinson, labored at West Newbury, and with Bro. Haines at East Salisbury and Ipswich. At these places some good souls have come into the truth. In all, I myself have labored in New England eight months; Bro. Stone, some longer. It is due to our brethren of that Conference to say that from first to last they gave us their fullest sympathy and co-operation. Everything that they could do reasonably was done to assist us; nor did I hear any fault-finding from any one. Bro. Haskell, particularly, has stood by and helped us most faithfully. We parted with all with the most tender feelings of sympathy and Christian love. We feel that in answer to their prayers and constant sacrifices the Lord was pleased to bless our labors. Not far from two hundred souls have embraced the truth in that Conference during that period. Quite a number of these were brought into the truth by the labors of Bro. Robinson and others.

Two good meeting-houses have been built. The brethren at South Lancaster have taken extra pains in erecting a good house. It has cost them about $3000. Probably it is the best finished and most tasty house erected by our people this side of California. We spent two weeks there at the dedication. There is some outside interest. I think that a thorough course of lectures there some time in the future will result in the addition of quite a number. Our house at Danvers is plainer, costing only $2000, but all like it very much. We leave a good working church at Danvers, with a large outside interest.

At Newburyport, contrary to our expectations, the cause has grown steadily up from the first. The brethren there began meetings with about a dozen, in a private room. Then they hired a very small hall. In a few months this hall would not hold them. They have now a very neat, pleasant, larger hall, which is also becoming crowded. When I was there two weeks ago at my last meeting, I found forty-five keeping the Sabbath. Others are constantly coming in. We organized a church of twenty members. I baptized eleven. Some were not ready to be baptized, and others wished to wait a little while before they joined. These will unite in due time. They have a good Sabbath-school thoroughly organized, also a tract society. Their S. B. pledge is $200 a year. At Danvers it is $500; so these two new churches have added $700 to the S. B. of the Conference.

We leave five brethren now preaching in that Conference. It is expected that two tents will be run this summer. The brethren report encouraging openings and calls for labor in a great many places. If it should be the will of God, I hope to spend a few weeks in Danvers and Newburyport next winter.

Last week myself and family came to Battle Creek. Mrs. Canright is now at the Sanitarium. She is comfortable, but quite feeble. She would be very glad to receive letters from any of the brethren and sisters, but she is not able to answer any.

D. M. CANRIGHT.