Camp-Meeting at Dayton, Nevada by John Norton Loughborough

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 30, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 38.

Camp-Meeting at Dayton, Nevada.

By John Norton Loughborough

This meeting was held according to appointment, from September 15 to 22, at Dayton, the county seat of Lyon County, Nevada, and was an occasion of freedom for the Lord's people, from its beginning to its close. Though not a large camp it was a powerful and profitable meeting.

The services were conducted by Elder G. W. Colcord and the writer. There were in all, thirty-five meetings, beside a Sabbath-school and the family worship in tents. These meetings were as follows: fifteen discourses, four Bible-readings, six meetings for youth and children, seven early morning meetings, two meetings of instruction concerning the early days of this cause and our institutions, etc. Of the discourses seven were given by Elder Colcord and eight by the writer.

The discourses were almost wholly of a practical character, calculated to lead to self-examination, a greater consecration to God, and a welcoming into the heart of the kind, and tender, and compassionate Spirit of the Saviour, so that in our lives, more and more of the spirit of brotherly kindness may be manifested. The Lord greatly blessed the preaching of the word; especially was this the case on Sabbath afternoon , when a call was made for those who wanted to get nearer to the Lord, or start in his service, to move forward. Every man, woman, and child in the tent responded to the call. Hearty confessions were made, and earnest testimonies borne, accompanied by freely flowing tears.

The Sabbath-school on Sabbath morning consisted of nine classes, and fifty-two members. The contributions were $10.30. The lessons were especially appropriate to a new field, or rather to those of Dayton who were just investigating the truth, that of the Senior Division being on the Sabbath question, and the Primary and Intermediate Divisions being upon the visit of the angel's to the shepherds, and of the wise men to the Saviour. The review, which was conducted in two parts, gave an excellent opportunity for combining the two great principles of Present Truth, the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Dayton was chosen as the site for our camp-meeting, because it was central, and not because we had considered it with special reference to any great outside interest. Things so shaped in the State that the tent could be pitched at the camp for about three weeks before the camp-meeting; so even while the camp was being fitted up discourses were given in the tent each evening. Seventeen persons had signed the covenant before the camp-meeting proper opened, and others took their stand during the meeting.

By earnest request of the citizens of Dayton the tent remains up so that meetings can be continued over two more Sabbaths. Brother and Sister Colcord remained to follow up the work, and our people, with happy hearts, returned to their homes to strive more earnestly for the Lord and the right. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.