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Camp-Meeting Hints

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 9, 1910

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 87, No. 23.

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Camp-Meeting Hints

By Francis McLellan Wilcox

ANOTHER camp-meeting season is opening before us. In various places throughout the world, plans and preparations are going forward for these annual spiritual feasts. It is desirable that each one who attends these meetings should receive that help which God is anxious to bestow. A few suggestions may be helpful to some of our readers in the realization of these blessings:—
1. Make early temporal preparation. Prepare to be at the first meeting and to remain until the close of the gathering. Arrange matters at home so that the mind may be at rest, and all the energies given to the development and realization of the desired blessing.
2. Make spiritual preparation. You are going to the encampment to unite with your brethren in communion with God. Prepare your heart for the reception of his Spirit. Confess to him every wrong in your life. If differences have entered into your family relationship or into the church of God, remove these stones of stumbling. These differences may prevent you from receiving the desired blessings; they may stand as obstacles in the way of others.
3. Arrange if possible to take your entire family. Let parents and children, a united band, go up to meet with God and seek his special help.
4. Induce your friends and neighbors to accompany you to the meeting. This will add zest to your attendance. In sharing with others your privileges and opportunities, your own soul will be doubly refreshed and strengthened.
5. Reach the camp the day before the opening meeting, in order that you may have your tent pitched, may become rested from your journey, and be in readiness to partake of the beginning of the feast.
6. As far as possible be in regular attendance at all general services. Do not absent yourself from the business meetings. Acquaint yourself with the working of the various departments of the cause, so that you may be intelligent as to what this movement is doing in the world, and the means and methods by which it is seeking to accomplish its purpose. Make note of all plans for the prosecution of the work, in order that you may co-operate intelligently in the future.
7. Take time for personal devotion. Remember that if you do not reach out personally after God, you may backslide even at a religious meeting. Take time every day for the study of the Word, time for private devotions and for family prayer.
8. Be a missionary worker. Judiciously and wisely labor for the members of your own family. See that each one has a living experience in the things of God. Labor for your brethren and sisters. You will find many poor, discouraged souls on the camp-ground who need a kindly word of encouragement, a smile of cheer. Be sociable. Labor also for your friends and neighbors; watch your opportunities to show courtesy and kindness to strangers who may attend the meeting.
9. Co-operate with the spirit of the meeting and with the regulations of the grounds. Remember that while you have rights, others have rights as well; therefore do not disturb the quietness of the sleeping hour. Observe faithfully the regulations of the camp with respect to the daily program, sanitation, order, etc.
10. If you have children, be exceedingly watchful for their interests. These younger members of the flock sometimes go away from the camp-ground in a much worse condition than before the meeting. Do not allow them to drift, to come and go at will, but enter into their confidence and companionship. Remember that although they are at a religious meeting, they are not sedate old people; and they should be afforded proper exercise. A brisk walk once or twice a day, or other suitable physical exercise, will do much in affording relief to their pent-up spirits, and better enable them rightly to relate themselves to the religious services.
11. Keep sweet, and do not grumble or complain. Sometimes there are unpleasant things in camp life. The wind may blow, the rain may come down in torrents, and everything may not be to your liking. Consider these things as opportunities for the exercise of Christian grace. Refuse to express a word of complaint or criticism.
12. Avoid the spirit of pleasure-seeking. Many temptations will assail those gathered at our camp-meetings. Satan will devise ways and means to divert many from their purpose of seeking God. The spirit of sightseeing often robs many of the very meeting where they would receive the most help. Particularly should the young be guarded in these matters, and wise counsel and right direction should be afforded them in times of need.
13. Take care of the physical health. In the changed conditions of living, proper attention must be given this matter. Take with you suitable clothing for rainy weather or cold nights. Plain, healthful food should be served. Avoid cold lunches and highly seasoned food. In this period of physical inactivity many become sick through improper eating or overeating; and even if sickness does not result, the sensibilities are benumbed, and the mind is clouded to that which God desires them to obtain.
14. If possible, appear before God with an offering for his work. Many needy enterprises, representing both local and general interests, will be presented. Respond to these calls, not alone to meet their requirements, but as an expression of love and gratitude for the mercies and benefits you have received. Give a helping hand to any necessary work on the grounds, and, if needed, assist in clearing the encampment at the close of the meeting. Returning home, carry with you the fire and enthusiasm of the occasion to bless and gladden the lives of those who could not attend.
These suggestions are by no means exhaustive, but the observance of even these will do much in making our camp-meetings during the coming summer rich spiritual feasts to those who attend them. Let us co-operate with God and heavenly agencies in seeking to obtain that which he has in store for us. He is waiting to be gracious; let us open our hearts to receive the proffered blessing.
F. M. W.