p. 537 | Vermont Camp-meeting by Uriah Smith

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 2, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 34.

Vermont Camp-meeting.

By Uriah Smith

The work of Seventh-day Adventists has been quite successful in Vermont the past year. Nearly one hundred persons have been converted, and have made a public profession of the faith. This, considering the few workers in the field, and the difficulty of moving people in the older and more conservative States, is a good testimony to the power of truth, and the earnestness and devotion of those who have been engaged in the work.

The annual camp-meeting was held this year in Vergennes, on a spot cleared in the corner of one of the many pleasant groves of Vermont. The Central Vermont Railway ran directly by the ground, which made it convenient of access. The village of Vergennes was about three-fourths of a mile distant, and quite a number of other villages lay around in the immediate vicinity. These all contributed to the congregations from day to day, so that a most excellent hearing from those without was secured through the week and on Sunday. The audiences were of the most thoughtful, intelligent and attentive kind.

There were about fifty tents upon the ground, and some two hundred and fifty brethren and sisters present. A rather novel feature was that some not of our faith, encamped upon the ground, listened attentively through the meeting, and went away expressing themselves as thoroughly convinced of the correctness of our positions so far as they had heard them set forth.

About fifty came forward for prayers on the Sabbath. Eight were baptized. The various interests of the Conference, Tract and Missionary work, Sabbath-school and Health and Temperance organizations, received due attention, a good degree of interest, and unanimity of feeling, being manifested in them all. No changes were made in the officers for the year to come.

The brethren were pleased to meet Elder Haskell again and hear from his lips concerning the good work of the Lord in other and foreign fields. His words of courage and faith greatly cheered and strengthened those who were present. Elder E. W. Farnsworth was also present from Massachusetts, and enjoyed much freedom in presenting the truth to the people. The social meetings were free and interesting. Many expressed themselves that they had received a special blessing at the meeting, and that it was the best meeting they had ever attended.

But what perhaps shows as much as any other act the interest of the brethren in Vermont in the cause, was the willingness with which they took hold to aid the work financially. Though not strong in numbers or in wealth, they cheerfully pledged three thousand dollars toward the one-hundred-thousand-dollar fund, and raised nearly five hundred dollars to meet camp-meeting expenses and other outlays in their own Conference the past season. Would brethren everywhere do as well in proportion to their ability, the needed amount would soon be raised.

The early closing meeting, Tuesday morning, was the best of the feast. One hundred and twenty-seven spoke in less than an hour, and Brother T. H. Purdon was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry.

Thus closed in the old Green Mountain State, another meeting of believers, who are of good courage to still press on in the work. U. S.