THE TENNESSEE MEETING by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 23, 1879

THE TENNESSEE MEETING.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

This meeting was held Oct. 10-14, near Nashville, Tenn. There were about fifty Sabbath-keepers present; this was a large gathering for Tennessee. There are five small churches in the State, and about seventy-five Sabbath-keepers in all, but they are scattered far and wide. Nearly all are poor people, and hence the cause is still weak. At first the friends were quite backward. On Monday, however, we had an excellent meeting. Two were received into the church, after which we had a communion service, followed by a good social meeting.

It was thought best to separate Tennessee from the Kentucky Conference; hence a Conference was organized here, also a State T. and M. society, a Sabbath-school association, and a temperance society. The Sabbath-keepers have been very backward in financial matters, not doing nearly what they should though they are poor. We spoke upon the subject, after which $170.00 was pledged on the T. and M. work. Eld. Owen will personally request every one in the State to make pledges to this fund. We wish that all may assist in this.

Bro. G. K. Owen and wife have had the oversight of the work in the State the past year, and will have still. They have labored faithfully and well, with little remuneration. This should be remembered when the Conference is stronger. Four others were licensed at this meeting. We hope they will do something. There are many harder fields than Tennessee. Experienced, persevering labor will certainly build up a good work here.

Eight or ten young persons from Kentucky and Tennessee now start to attend our College. Three of them came with me. This is as it should be, and this step gives us hope for the cause here in the future. I now remain at Battle Creek a short time. D. M. Canright.