Towner (N. D.) Camp-Meeting
By John G. Walker
The character of the Towner meeting was much the same as that held at Goodrich, only that the eagerness to hear the message was intensified by the attendance of many who have no church privileges, and who had not been to camp-meeting for years; in fact, some had never attended. One brother and sister came who had been keeping the Sabbath for seven years, though members of the Methodist Church. We had never heard of them. The young people's meetings were particularly interesting, and well attended. Fifteen were baptized, fourteen of whom were young people. The attendance at the camp-meeting was over one hundred. Two large tents were pitched, one for the English and the other for the Scandinavian meetings. We were pleased to have the labors of Elder M. Reppe, of Minnesota, and Brother J. W. Christian, of South Dakota. The Spirit of God was present in large measure throughout the entire camp-meeting, and when the parting hour came, some wept at the thought of leaving those whom the truth had bound to them with the tie of Christian love. “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love,” seemed to find expression in the parting scenes. The weather was good, with the exception of but one day, when we had a severe rain- and wind-storm. The Lord protected the camp, however, to the surprise of the people of the town, and only slight damage was done to one of the meeting tents. The camp was pitched on the open prairie and on the edge of the town. The people came to hear the message, and listened attentively. We were treated by the business men and townspeople in general with the utmost respect and courtesy, receiving cordial invitations to come again.