MICHIGAN by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 16, 1876

MICHIGAN

By Dudley Marvin Canright

ROCHESTER.

Friday, Feb. 25, we came to Rochester. As our own house, unfortunately, is three miles out of town we held our meetings except on Sunday in the Universalist church. I have observed that it is a poor plan to build a meeting-house just outside the village. In a few years it is almost certain to be just where you do not want it, as the tendency is always toward the village. If a few brethren move away from a meeting-house a little ways out of the village, it thus becomes of no use; so they found it in this case, as in several others I know of. They propose to move their house immediately.

We had a good attendance from the outside, and all our people were out upon the Sabbath and Sunday. We found the church quite dull and cold. They seemed to have little idea of doing anything in the meetings themselves. Sabbath afternoon, after a good deal of hard work, about twenty came forward for prayers; but in many cases it was not with that earnest interest that we have seen in other places. Still, quite a number seemed to feel as they should. Several brethren who had been entirely backslidden here took their stand for the Lord again.

Sunday we held our meeting in our own house. I tried to set before the brethren their condition as I viewed it, and what their duty was. The Spirit of the Lord came into our meeting in a large degree, and we had a most excellent season. All but five or six voluntarily took part in the meeting. Hearty confessions were made, wet down with many tears. A good number of those who started the day before arose and spoke in this meeting. We all felt to thank God and take courage. It was voted to suspend all business, and devote a whole week to a special effort for the church in meetings here. After this we set before them the subject of S. B., in which all then heartily took part. This important branch of their duty has been greatly neglected here. Their entire pledge last year was only $125; now they have raised it to $428, and it is no higher than it ought to be.

Bro. Lamson joined me Monday, and we continued our meetings every day, and nearly every evening, till after the next Sabbath. We had special meetings for the young people. Some of these were very excellent, and a good start was made by several. Quite a number, however, held back entirely; but we felt that we had done our duty faithfully.

We had a business meeting in which we inquired into the cases of all the members of the church. Bro. Randall was elected and ordained elder, and one of Bro. Lawrence’s sons was elected deacon. On the Sabbath Bro. Lamson baptized five, and celebrated the ordinances. He says that it was an excellent meeting; and he left the brethren in good courage. There are no special trials in this church, and there are quite a number of good, strong brethren and sisters there. What they need is more zeal and devotion and earnestness in the work.

LAPEER.

Friday, March 3, I came to Lapeer. Had a good turnout the first evening. Sabbath quite a number came in from Flint, Tuscola Co., and from other churches. This church, as is well known, has been greatly afflicted with trials from its very beginning, from which it never has fully recovered, though probably it is the freest from them now that it ever has been. Still we find some petty trials to be looked after. We found them very dull and backward in social meetings. But toward the last they took hold better, and we had considerable freedom in our meetings. Sabbath afternoon sixteen came forward to seek the Lord. Most of these were young men and women.

Bro. Fisher was here, and Bro. Lamson came down evening after the Sabbath. He preached twice on Sunday, and I spoke on Systematic Benevolence, after which the brethren all promptly took part in it, raising their pledge from $241 to $460.

We held meetings all the afternoon Monday, in which many items of business were attended to. Bro. Wm. Potter was elected and ordained elder of the church, and Bro. A. Crownheart deacon. A treasurer and a clerk were also elected. Eight persons presented themselves for baptism, all of whom were received into the church and then baptized by Bro. Lamson at the close of the meeting. This was a very pleasant scene to us. They were all young people above eighteen years of age. We feel that these will add strength to the church. There are quite a number of others who should be baptized, and probably will be soon. Good resolutions were formed, and solemn promises were made by the church to take hold of the work more earnestly.

There are over sixty Sabbath-keepers here. If these were all zealous in the work, this would be a strong church. While there are some elements of weakness, there are many good, strong souls here. This church is able to do much in the cause financially, much more than it is doing. The missionary work has been allowed to run down to almost nothing here. If they are to have freedom and light this work must not be neglected. Bro. Fisher will remain a week to finish up the work.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Lapeer, Mich., March 8, 1876.