The Illinois Camp-Meeting.
By Stephen N. Haskell
WE arrived at Clinton, Ill., Thursday, September 1. In a grove within the city limits we found a village of sixty-five tents, with its streets and avenues all converging toward one point, where was pitched the large preaching pavilion, 75x115 feet. Elder Canright had been on the ground for a week before the beginning of the camp-meeting, attending the workers' meeting. Elder Butler we left sick at Battle Creek, Michigan, and on this account he could not attend the meeting. This was a sad disappointment to the brethren, as there were many things of importance of which he had the burden, which came up and were to be considered at the meeting. There was here, as at a number of our other camp-meetings this season, a good outside interest. The people were friendly and a good impression seemed to be made upon the community. It was estimated that the congregation numbered over a thousand each night. The outside attendance was good every afternoon also. On Sabbath a call was made for those who felt that they had become separated from God by backsliding, or had never experienced his love in their hearts, who wished the prayers of God's people, to come forward. Over one hundred responded. The Spirit of God rested down upon the meeting to some extent. Some of those who had not before commenced to keep the Sabbath also came forward, stating that they had been backslidden from God and now wished to return to him and keep his commandments. Others who had lost their love for the present truth once more renewed their consecration, and again started in his service. There were some features of the meeting that were of special interest. The children's meetings were made quite interesting and instructive by illustrations. The children were taught to become missionaries, and to gather into their meeting other children that might come on the ground. They were also instructed to see that things that were scattered upon the grounds were picked up. The rank and file of our brethren in this State, so far as they were represented at the camp-meeting, seemed to be willing to take advanced steps, but the question seemed to be, How shall we go forward? God has certainly gone before his people in opening up city missions, and in raising an interest in almost every place to hear upon the subjects that pertain to the time in which we live, and there is a responsibility which rests upon the people of God such as never has been before since the days of the apostles. There did not seem to be so great a spiritual interest among our people in this Conference as in some others. It seemed evident that they had not been educated to take responsibilities and to move out in the work, and yet there was a willingness on the part of many to do so if they could only understand what steps to take. Some men of means seemed confused as to their duty. They felt a desire to see the cause move forward, but did not feel free to take the responsibility of reducing their large farms to carry it forward. Such men, if they would be faithful stewards, will have to work fast in disbursing their means so that souls may be saved in the kingdom of God. The claims of the cause were presented, and between four and five thousand dollars was pledged for the various enterprises. On the $100,000 fund, which embraces the interests of our missions throughout the world, $2,300 was pledged, and about the same amount for local interests. God has especially prospered the work in Chicago, since its establishment, but there should be in that city a place of worship where the public could be invited to attend. Not only should it be so in this city, but in many of our large cities in America where missions have been opened. This will require a large outlay of means, and there is plenty of it among those whom God has made the depositaries of his law; and could we, as a people, realize the importance of the times in which we live, there would be no lack of means to build our meeting-houses in the cities, or to carry forward the work in different parts of the world. God has gone before us. The silver and the gold are his. He has committed to his servants resources sufficient to accomplish his purposes on earth. A report of the Chicago mission was read, which contained many interesting items and subjects of thought. They have had, during the past year, an average of about twenty workers. The cost of the mission during that time has been $1,806.49, besides the payment of the workers. Of this sum, $600 was for rent. This is exclusive of provision and bedding sent to assist in the mission. The labor performed by those who were giving Bible-readings, in making visits, etc., was as follows: 2,000 Bible-readings were held, 4,706 visits made, of which 600 were to new families. There were 95,000 pages of publications sold, loaned, and given away,—the sales amounting to $229. The total number of workers who had come to this mission during the past two years to receive instruction, and who had not before labored in the cause, was 65. Most of these were young ladies; and 53 out of the 65 are actively engaged at the present time in the missionary work in different cities. Twenty-five more came as visitors desiring to learn what they could in connection with the mission. The workers who have gone from the mission and are at the present time laboring, are in 17 different States and Territories, besides two who are in foreign countries. Only 12 out of the entire number of 90 who have been at the mission are not working at present in the cause. The total number who have embraced the truth is 79. Sixteen of the 79 have apostatized, leaving 63 who are now holding fast. Others have embraced the truth, but are not counted in the above from the fact that601it is not known how they will stand. They have three regular Sabbath-schools in the city and one at Putnam, where there are thirteen more keeping the Sabbath as the result of the mission. The tithe paid by the Chicago mission, including the Scandinavians, for the past year, amounts to about $2,500. This is indeed an interesting summary. This is an educating mission, and from the number of laborers it sends forth and the converts made, it can be truly said to be a successful enterprise in connection with the cause of present truth. Every Conference in the country should have such missions. They should not be left to be sustained by funds drawn from the treasury, but those brethren and sisters living in the sections of country nearest the mission should feel it a privilege to send provision and donate such things as will sustain the mission. This will create a spirit of liberality on the part of the friends and give them some of the missionary spirit, then their prayers will ascend for the blessing of God to attend the work, and God will regard these prayers and give success to the mission. The Tract and Missionary Society was not in as flourishing a condition as the societies in some of our other Conferences; but steps were taken, and resolutions passed, which if carried out will make it a prosperous society. One resolution of importance, relating to devoting one day each week to prayer for the blessing of God to attend their missionary efforts, will mark a new era in their missionary work. Not that they should abstain from their labor on that day, but in their family prayers while engaged in worship they would remember their missions and plead with God to add his blessing, that souls might be saved. On Monday, about thirty were baptized. These were largely youth and children. The Spirit of God can evidently affect the hearts of those who have not heard and rejected the truth far quicker than it can those who have resisted its operations on their hearts. At the parting meeting Tuesday morning ninety-five testimonies were borne in forty-five minutes. At no time was there less than two, and sometimes four, on their feet at the same time, waiting for an opportunity to speak. Many expressed themselves as thinking it the best camp-meeting they ever attended.
S. N. H.