Massachusetts and Western New York Camp Meetings by Stephen N. Haskell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 30, 1914

Massachusetts and Western New York Camp Meetings

By Stephen N. Haskell

It was my privilege to attend both these camp meetings. The Spirit of the Lord was present in a marked manner at each meeting. The early morning hour was devoted to Bible study, which gave a spiritual mold to the day, and time was spent in especially seeking the Lord.

At the Massachusetts camp meeting one entire day in the middle of the week was devoted to seeking the Lord; all ordinary business was set aside for the more important business of clearing the King’s highway. Sins were confessed and put away, and all felt that it was one of the best days of the meeting.

The camp was pitched in one of the suburbs of Boston, in reach of the thousands of the crowded city. The camp at Western New York was in the edge of Salamanca, at the foot of hills, mostly covered with forests, which afforded an ideal place for private prayer.

I have seldom attended a meeting where all the campers seemed to be present at every service as at the Salamanca meeting. The early six o’clock hour was devoted to Bible study, and at eight o’clock all assembled in the large tent for devotional service. This hour was spent throughout the meeting in drawing near to the Lord, confessing sins, and praying for one another. These two deeply spiritual services at the beginning of every day gave an uplifting spirit throughout the entire meeting. The interest in the Bible study and devotional services increased as the meeting advanced.

The Western New York Conference was held during the camp meeting. While sufficient time was taken to conduct all necessary business, more time was spent in encouraging the lay members to arise and do the work of the Lord than in discussing long resolutions about what ought to be done.

The missionary work was made prominent at both these camp meetings. “The ministers presented clearly the perils of the times in which we live, and the importance of making haste in the circulation of our literature. In response to these appeals, the brethren and sisters came forward and purchased many books. Some took a few, and some purchased large quantities. Most of the purchasers paid for the books they took. A few arranged to pay afterward. Because books were being sold at low prices, some being especially reduced for the occasion, many were purchased.”—Testimonies for the Church, Vol. IX, pages 71, 72.

As the brethren and sisters drew near to Christ, confessed their sins and opened their hearts to him, he entered in, and the first love was revived. The Christ life in humanity today will do the same work as it did when Jesus walked in human flesh and prayed for the sinners and lifted up the fallen. A person may have a wonderful experience in God and feel very happy, but unless he does the Christ work, his experience will soon be like that of the man the Saviour describes in Matt. 12: 43-45.

“Properly conducted, the camp meeting is a school where pastors, elders, and deacons can learn to do more perfect work for the Master. It should be a school where the members of the church, old and young, are given opportunity to learn the way of the Lord more perfectly, a place where believers can receive an education that will help them to help others. . . .

“The best help that ministers can give the members of our churches is not sermonizing, but planning work for them. Give each one something to do for others. Help all to see that as receivers of the grace of Christ they are under obligation to work for him. And let all be taught how to work. Especially should those who are newly come to the faith be educated to become laborers together with God. If set to work, the despondent will soon forget their despondency; the weak will become strong, the ignorant intelligent, and all will be prepared to present the truth as it is in Jesus. They will find an unfailing helper in him who has promised to save all that come unto him.”—Id., page 82.

Elder H. W. Carr, president of the Western New York Conference, and his coworkers realized the importance of following the instruction given, and of encouraging the lay members to work for souls.

“Heavenly angels have long been waiting for human agents—the members of the church—to cooperate with them in the great work to be done. They are waiting for you. So vast is the field, so comprehensive the design, that every sanctified heart will be pressed into service as an instrument of divine power.”—Id., pages 46, 47.

If in all our conferences the lay members were encouraged to work and distribute literature, more would be accomplished through their efforts than by two thirds of the tent companies operating in the field, and thus the work would be finished more rapidly.

The time has come for the work to be carried forward in the East with power. God will work anywhere and everywhere when the instruction he has given is carried out. We as a people have not followed cunningly devised fables, for the Lord is in the third angel’s message. The time has come for him to do great things for his people. And if we expect great things at his hand, he will not disappoint us.

The labors of our General Conference brethren from Washington, and also of those from the Atlantic Union Conference, were greatly appreciated at both these meetings. So many camp meetings were being held that some of them overlapped others, and the stay of some of the brethren was necessarily brief. It was my privilege, however, to remain through a large share of the Massachusetts meeting, and all of the New York meeting. This I enjoyed very much, as it had been quite a number of years since I had visited my friends in the State of New York. It revived old acquaintances and associations, and we certainly had a taste of Prov. 27: 17.

S. N. HASKELL.