p. 148 | Colorado by James White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 16, 1878

Colorado.

By James White

SOME weeks since we suggested through the SIGNS that a mission to the new State of Colorado be immediately opened. We suggested Elder Canright as the leading laborer, and urged that it was highly proper for him to take his feeble wife to that more healthful climate. Our suggestions have called out from Brother Canright the following statement:—

DEAR BROTHER WHITE: The Signs with your proposition about Colorado is just at hand. I had made all my arrangements for the summer. I was to attend the Minnesota and Wisconsin camp-meetings, and then strike for a big effort at Detroit. I never saw a better prospect for an opening in my life, than in Detroit. We secured the most beautiful place you can imagine, right in the heart of the city. If the whole thing had been laid out on purpose for us, it could not have been better.

But on coming home I found that my wife is in a very bad condition. The fact is, she is going right down with consumption; and unless something is done pretty quick, she never will get well. She is beginning to get anxious about it herself for the first time. She proposed that we go to Minnesota, Colorado, or somewhere, and spend the summer, and see if she could not get better. I was very strongly inclined to throw up all my summer's meetings, and go with her. She is just able to be around. I don't know how she would stand the journey, nor how it will effect her when she gets there; but I think we had better try it. I was much pleased to see your proposition. I hope it is in the order of the Lord. I don't know just what to do, to bring everything around in order, but—

1. We must have a tent. It must be shipped by freight, which will take a good while; hence it should be shipped immediately. But where shall we get this tent? How shall it be paid for? How large shall it be? Shall it be larger than 60-feet?

2. I can have the books shipped there by freight in time.

3. I am glad you and Sister White are going to Colorado. I think it will be a good thing for you. And then you can be there to counsel us, and perhaps help us some. I shall be very glad of anything you can do.

4. I shall want Brother Stone to go with me. He can help in almost any way. It is a great help to our meetings to have first class music with a good organ. Brother Stone is a good musician, and then he can preach whenever it is necessary, pray, or write, or visit. Hence, I shall want him to go, unless you raise some objection to it. Mrs. Canright must have somebody to go with her, and take care of her. Of course I can't do it, and run a tent-meeting. Sister Stone is a good hand to do this. Brother Stone thinks that his wife would be willing to go. Now this is the way the thing is in my mind. You are so far away that we shall not have much time to advise about things before we start. D. M. CANRIGHT.

We briefly notice the several points in their order.

1. A 60-foot tent would probably be large enough for that field. As we first stated the General Conference will pay for the tent, and the publishing association is able to give all the books that could be judiciously used the first year. Elders White, Canright and Haskell are the General Conference Committee. As early as it is decided to open that mission the tent should be ordered from Chicago and immediately shipped. As this campaign depends wholly on the course Brother Canright shall take, he can order the tent as soon as he pleases and Elders White and Haskell will sustain him.

2. Elder Canright can order the books so that they can be shipped with the tent as common freight.

3. Mrs. White has been able to perform a great amount of labor since she came to California, and is not as well as usual at the present time. Then she has her fourth Volume to write, but should the mission be open and we conclude to spend the warmer months in Colorado, we hope that both of us would be able to give some assistance.

4. We fully agree with Elder Canright that Brother and Sister Stone should accompany him to Colorado. J. W.