Camp-Meetings in the Northern Union Conference
By R. A. UNDERWOOD
THREE of these meetings are now in the past; the first was held in Minneapolis, Minn. This was a meeting of spiritual blessings, fifty-five persons being baptized. About four thousand dollars was given in cash and pledges to the General Conference to hasten its work in foreign fields. One thousand dollars was raised in cash and pledges for the home work. There was a good attendance from the city, and nearly one thousand persons camped on the grounds. It was a meeting of great encouragement to the brethren in Minnesota. The second meeting was held at Woonsocket, S. D. Something like seven hundred of our people camped on the grounds. The attendance was good from the town. About the same number were baptized as at the Minnesota meeting. A little less than five thousand dollars was donated at this meeting to help the General Conference in its work in the regions beyond. The most important action of the conference was one touching the removal of their academy from Elk Point to a more central location in the conference, which was adopted by a unanimous vote after considerable discussion. This means much for the educational work in that conference. A large committee was chosen by the conference to secure a site, and locate the school. The brethren all returned to their homes full of courage and hope for the success of the work, not only in their own conference, but in the wider fields beyond their borders. The third camp-meeting was at Velva, N. D., and was the most remarkable meeting of the three. Meetings were held daily in four different languages. About one hundred twenty-five Russians were present. Brother Adolph Boettcher labored for the Russian brethren. About seventy-five Scandinavians were present, and Elder S. Mortenson and August Anderson labored in that tongue, besides other local helpers. About one hundred fifty of the American brethren were present. Elder G. B. Thompson, the writer, and others labored in the English-speaking tent besides speaking occasionally to those of other tongues through an interpreter. Elders G. F. Haffner, C. J. Kunkel, and others labored especially for the Germans, who represented the larger part of the camp, over four hundred being present. Ninety-six persons requested baptism, some of whom desired to be baptized at their home churches. The Spirit of God wrought in the conversion of souls in a marvelous manner. The special revival move began in the young peoples' meeting on Friday. Sabbath evening, after the congregation had been dismissed in the German tent, a few earnest workers began to labor for the unconverted. In a short time a number joined the company of workers. Parents and others who had retired to their tents, arose and returned to the large pavilion to labor for the unconverted. The revival work went forward without excitement but with great power until three o'clock in the morning. Something like thirty or more found forgiveness of sin and acceptance with God before the meeting closed. Some of these had long resisted the Spirit of God, but now they surrendered. Sabbath morning the work continued in all the four congregations in great power. During the forenoon and afternoon one could see companies in various parts of the camp, and at times in the large pavilion, gathered together, with three or six or more, earnestly pleading for their unconverted friends, praying and weeping. A marked feature of the work was to see those who had been set free from sin earnestly labor for the unconverted. Wives were laboring for their unconverted husbands, husbands were laboring for their unconverted wives, stout hearts were moved by the Holy Ghost, captives were set free, while the light of joy rested upon many. No confusion nor excitement prevailed. The Lord with mighty power was in the camp. Songs of praise were mingled with tears of joy as captives were set free. It was the most remarkable manifestation of the Spirit of God I ever witnessed at any camp-meeting. Sunday forenoon was devoted to the consideration of the needs of the work in foreign lands. The same power and spirit which had been manifested so strikingly on the Sabbath were present to convict many of their duty to part with some of their earthly substance, and make sacrifices to God in sending the last message of mercy to the needy fields beyond our own borders. Men and women arose in the congregation with weeping, and gave of land and of money until twenty-five thousand dollars had been given to help the cause in foreign fields. A considerable portion of this was in land, which will have to be sold. The Spirit of God impressed nearly all present to give of their means. Surely we experienced showers of the latter rain. About one thousand dollars had been previously donated to help the work in the local conference. Sabbath morning in the various tents there was received $121.67 as the Sabbath-school donation. One of the evidences of the working of the Spirit of God upon hearts to give of their substance to the work in the foreign fields was especially noticed among the Russian brethren and sisters. They had assembled with the German brethren in their meeting. It was very difficult for any to translate from the German or from the English language into the Russian tongue, so the Russian brethren decided that they would go to the meeting and simply look on without knowing what the speaker said, it not being translated; hence all that these brethren could understand of what was being done was what the voice of the Spirit of God told them, and what they saw of individuals rising and weeping when they made their offerings. Many of these Russian brethren arose, and15with the hand beckoned to the one who was receiving the pledge or offering to come to them. Unable to speak in a language that could be understood by the one taking the pledges, they would simply write the amount they wished to give in figures. Hundreds of dollars were given by the Russian brethren in this manner. At 4 P. M. the congregation assembled on the bank of the Moose River, which runs beside the beautiful city park upon which the camp was located, to witness the burying of many precious souls in baptism. Among the laborers, aside from the local workers in the conference at the meeting, were Elders G. B. Thompson, G. F. Haffner, S. Mortenson, A. Boettcher, C. L. Benson, T. D. Gibson, and Dr. C. P. Farnsworth, and the writer. Dr. Farnsworth labored continually to help the physical conditions of the campers, and he also gave two or three talks in public. His labors were much appreciated. From the report given above it will be seen that about two hundred were converted during these three camp-meetings, and some thirty-four thousand dollars was raised in cash and pledges to send the gospel to the regions beyond. Our brethren have been greatly encouraged, and have gone from these meetings full of faith and with a purpose to do all they can to finish the gospel work in this generation. Personally I feel to praise God for the victories gained, and would give all the glory to God for the measure of success that has attended the efforts of his servants. R. A. UNDERWOOD.