CAMP MEETING | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 18, 1868

CAMP MEETING.

THERE will be a General Camp Meeting in the town of Wright, County of Ottawa, Michigan, Sept. 1—7. Wright is on the Detroit and Milwaukee R. R., twenty miles east of Grand Haven. Those coming from the West will find evening boats at Chicago and Milwaukee to connect with the cars at Grand Haven for the place of meeting. Those coming from the East will take the Detroit and Milwaukee R. R. at Detroit.

Wright may not be as central and easy of access for the brethren in the states of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, as the vicinity of Battle Creek; but for our brethren out of these states, east and west, it is a good point. It has the advantages over Battle Creek of being in the midst of a large church who are farmers, who can provide for such a meeting at farmer's prices, and is in a comparatively new field.

The nearest station west of the camp ground is Cooperville. The nearest station east of the ground is Berlin. But there will doubtless be a temporary station during the meeting one mile south of the ground. The friends and their baggage will be taken from and to the station for a reasonable sum.

A beautiful grove will be prepared with seats for 3,000 persons. We design to have two 60 feet circular tents on the ground, in which to hold meetings should the weather be damp, and in which to lodge strangers who cannot furnish tents. We hope to see many smaller tents from Michigan, and from other states, east, and west.

We propose that those who get up tents, make them of good factory cloth, such as would afterward be useful for domestic purposes, and that the cloth be cut in strips just twelve yards long. This length will make a tent eighteen feet wide, with five feet posts, and a square pitched roof. Tents 28 by 36 will be a good size. This will take four pieces of sheeting, and leave something for the ends.

The reason why we suggest strips twelve feet long, is that scattered brethren can bring together parts of tents, and the sisters can put them together while brethren are putting up frames. Each person should furnish as much as twelve yards of cloth. Churches and families should furnish tents to use year after year; but if any wish to use cloth, it will be worth as much to them after the meeting as before. It will be best for all to bring their tents ready made, but cloth will be furnished on the ground at cost, to those who cannot do better. It will be necessary to hem a rope into each edge of the cloth, to fasten it to the ground by means of stakes with hooks.

Hay and grain will be furnished by the hundred weight and bushel at reasonable prices. Beyond this, each must care for his own team. The houses of the brethren will be filled with personal friends, and their stables with their horses; so let none come expecting entertainment at the hands of the Wright church.

Bring your tents, straw-ticks and bedding. Bring quilts or colored blankets to make a curtain through the center of the tent lengthwise to divide it into sleeping apartments. Bring cooked provisions as far as practicable. There will be for sale on the ground, bread, crackers, and various kinds of puddings. Also, apples, peaches, dates, prunes, figs, and other fruits as far as practicable. Each tent's company should bring a kettle, pail, &c.

But bring no children to tent on the ground, too young or too unruly to be benefited by the meeting. Those living near can take their children upon the ground if they will keep them by their side, and retire with them from the ground should they make disturbance. Those who can endure camp life are invited to come. Plenty of good straw will be furnished free, to make tents and beds as comfortable as possible; but this meeting will be no place for invalids.

Come up to this feast, brethren, and bring your unconverted and backslidden children and neighbors who have some interest in the present truth. Come prepared to get good and do good. The firm, active friends of the cause should attend this meeting. But those who are partially backslidden, and worldly minded, have a double need of the benefits of the meeting. And, in fact, the meeting is appointed for the benefit of those who have so much interest in the things of this world, and so little interest in the cause, that they think they cannot spend time to attend the meeting. Such should be urged to the meeting. This will be the only meeting of the kind in the State this season.

GEN. CONF. COM.