Tent Meetings by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 8, 1869

Tent Meetings.

By James White

I HAVE ordered a new sixty-feet tent from Chicago, and decide to first pitch it near Bro. Howe's, in Orange, Ionia Co., Thursday, June 17.

We design to hold two or three days' meetings each week in different parts of the State of Michigan. Our object is to call the crowd of those who have ears to hear from far and near. We hope to call together our scattered friends, and arouse our people to the duties and dangers of this time.

Come, brethren, from far and near. But remember the church at Orange is not large and wealthy. Come prepared to care for yourselves as far as is possible. Come with your small tents. The cloth should be the firmest, cut into strips twelve yards in length. These strips sewed together will make both the roof and the walls, making the tent of sufficient width and hight for convenience and comfort. Your tents will be just what you will want at the general Camp-meeting. Do not depart from the dimensions given, that there may be uniformity in all our tents. Small tent companies can have their tents short, or two can join together upon the ground. But let them all be of the same hight and width.

The meeting will be about eight miles from the railroad station at Ionia, and the same from Muir station. Those coming from the east will find a farm-wagon at Muir, Friday, to take them to the ground. Those coming from the west will find the same at Ionia. This meeting will be a poor place for invalids and small children. We hope to see a crowd of those who can endure the hardships of the war, and very plain preaching.

It is now expected that Bro. Smith and Littlejohn will join us in the labors of this meeting. The Michigan Conference Committee are requested to be present. Those in other parts of the State who want similar meetings, should make their wishes known.

The tent on the ground will cost me about $550.00. I pay for and manage this tent. Those who wish it pitched in their locality must do all the work of moving it, pitching it, seating the grounds, and in fact, meet all tent expenses. We will speak to the people. Those who wish to help me in this enterprise may send their donations to the Review Office, or to me at Greenville, Montcalm Co., Mich., or hand them to me at the several meetings we may hold.

We hope to be able to supply all with Hymn Books, and other publications, at these meetings.

JAMES WHITE.