MINNESOTA CAMP-MEETING.
By George I. Butler
THIS meeting was held about three miles from the city of Minneapolis, near Lake Calhoun, June 23-28. This is a beautiful miniature lake of clear water perhaps three miles across, ensconced among the low hills which are covered with trees, and quite a pleasure resort in the summer season. A little steamer takes occasional trips for the accommodation of those who resort thither. The grove where the camp-meeting was held is the same as that occupied for two years past. It is quite a fine one. The attendance this year was good. Between six hundred and seven hundred encamped upon the ground during most of the time. Minnesota now stands next to Michigan in the number of Seventh-day Adventists in attendance at the annual camp-meeting. Perhaps there is no Conference where the growth in membership for the last ten years has been so remarkable as in this State. Elder Haskell and myself reached the ground Wednesday, the 22d of June. A session of State Conference commenced that evening; the religious services the following morning. The preaching in English was mostly by us, as Eld. and Mrs. White did not attend this camp-meeting. This was quite a disappointment to many of our people. They were expected until Friday night. Eld. O. A. Olsen of the Wisconsin Conference reached the camp that day and with Eld. Johnson held services every day among the Scandinavians. As soon as the preaching in English closed, forenoon and afternoon, a discourse in that tongue was given. As many of that people could understand most of the sermons in English, and attended the preaching meetings, they had the benefit of five sermons a day. There is the happiest state of union and fellowship between the two nationalities. The preaching was plain and practical and seemed to take a deep hold upon the hearts of the people. Eld. Haskell gave a discourse Sabbath morning on the spirit of true sacrifice—not in reference to giving money so much as giving ourselves to God. It seemed to take a deep hold upon all present. Many wept freely, and the good Spirit came very near. It was a very powerful discourse, because the Spirit of God made it effective. In the afternoon after the discourse, the usual call for those who were determined to make a new and more complete consecration to God to manifest it by rising preliminary to calling them forward was made. From four hundred to five hundred arose, a large majority of the audience, so many that it seemed useless to undertake to call them forward to any particular seats. The large tent 60 by 100 was quite well filled. Ministers and people confessed their sins with tears. The President of the Conference stated he had never seen so deep feeling among the people at any camp-meeting there before. The whole day Sabbath was taken up in religious services. The people assembled in their tents which were designated for meetings with a person appointed to lead, and carried on the good work of seeking God. It was a time of great spiritual good. There was but a small attendance from the city on Sunday. The meetings in the afternoon and evening were much interfered with by rain, so no services were held at night. Indeed, it rained some about every day of the meeting, and the air was full of dampness most of the time. On Monday a special effort was made to carry the spiritual interests further. After the forenoon discourse a call was made for the unconverted and those greatly backslidden who felt their need of help, to come forward. About one hundred responded. Good testimonies were given. After a discourse on baptism, thirty-five were buried with their Lord in Lake Calhoun. After a good farewell meeting Tuesday morning, the camp broke up and we separated. Quite a number came to say farewell with eyes full of tears, feeling that God had greatly blessed them. Our business meetings passed off pleasantly. The tract and missionary work was in a more favorable condition than we expected. The ministers go out to labor with good hope and courage. Eld. Haskell returned East, while Eld. Olsen and myself started to attend the Dakota camp-meeting.