CAMP-MEETING IN THE STATE OF N. Y.
By John Nevins Andrews
AFTER much prayerful consideration of the subject, it seems evident that our camp-meeting should be held at Kirkville. Providential reasons seem to decide this question so that we cannot longer hesitate. And now as this important meeting stands but a few days before us, it is time for us to act with promptness in preparing for it. The wants of the cause in our Conference are very urgent. Much of the labor in the State, for some time past, has not been wisely directed, nor very productive of good to the people of God. And at the present time, a wound and a stain have been brought upon the cause of God by the wickedness of one from whom we expected better things. But the word of God is just as worthy of our confidence; the Spirit of God is just as holy; and the cause of God is just as worthy of our confidence; and it is still of infinite consequence to us each to have a vital connection with it. It is now time for us to seek God. Let us make this camp-meeting the occasion of doing it. It is time for us to be in earnest, and to seek God with confession, and prayer, and fasting. We hope to have the labors of Bro. and Sr. White at this meeting. Yet they are much worn, especially Sr. White, and may, from exhaustion, be unable to labor much at our meeting. It is possible, though we hope not, that they may think duty calls them elsewhere. Probably they will be with us. But whether they are present or not, we are to consider that the Lord will meet with us if we do truly seek him. We need their testimony very much; perhaps never so much as now. Unless others have a stronger claim for help, we trust that they will spend the week of our camp-meeting with us. But even though they come to us in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ, we ourselves shall be unbenefited if we do not truly and heartily seek God. Now is the time to attend to this work. And, dear brethren and sisters, we ask for a general attendance. Let us come together, and spend the week in seeking God. Come from St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, and from Northern New York generally. Come from Saratoga County. Come from Allegany County. Come from Western New York. Come from Pennsylvania. Come from all the intermediate regions. We want to see you. You need the meeting. Come, all that fear God. Let us make this meeting a general rally, and let us seek God with deep humiliation, and with earnest prayer. Of course, those too feeble to bear the fatigue of the journey, and the exposure of the meeting, should not come. Also, let us remember that it is a poor place for children too young to be benefited by the meeting, unless they can be taken care of so perfectly that they shall not disturb the meeting. Provisions can be procured on the ground at a reasonable price. There will be not only bread and crackers, but also vegetables and fruit. There will be straw for beds. We shall have one new sixty-feet tent pitched near the ground for use should we have rain. It will also be serviceable as a place for lodging for such as have no tents because they come from locations where there are no churches. But let all observe what was said in a recent REVIEW relative to hiring tents in Rochester. At a small expense you can procure a suitable shelter for whatever number you may have. Or, you can, if you prefer, purchase cloth and take it to the ground, and erect tents for yourselves. Will the sisters please read again what was said in the last REVIEW on the subject of food for these meetings, and the suggestions relative to dress? Will all who contemplate attending the meeting, begin now to seek God? Remember, it is no time for idle conversation, for foolish talking and jesting. We want none of this. Those who dare to commit these sins better begin to-day to repent. At all events, do not bring any of this evil thing to the place where the people of God assemble to seek him. We have only a few at Kirkville to do the work of fitting up the ground. To be sure we have a committee of capable brethren for this camp-meeting; but they are widely scattered. Our brethren who live within a day's drive of Kirkville, must help do this work. Certainly there is a chance here for our friends to show their interest in the cause of God. The camp-meeting at Kirkville will be holden the week after the New England meeting. It will begin Wednesday evening, September 15, and hold over the Sabbath and first-day. Our friends should come prepared to stop a day or two longer if the interest demands it. Kirkville is situated on the N. Y. Central R. R., about thirteen miles east of Syracuse. Only a few of the trains stop at this station. Bro. Kinne will make a definite statement respecting the trains which stop at K., and also how to reach the ground. Come, brethren, to the meeting. In behalf of the committee, J. N. ANDREWS.