The Nebraska Camp Meeting by Anna Peterson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Sep 14, 1916

The Nebraska Camp Meeting

By Anna Peterson

The Nebraska camp meeting, held at Hastings, August 17–27, opened with a good attendance. The Sabbath school record showed 481 in attendance the first Sabbath, and about 650 the second Sabbath. The outside attendance increased the number present at the evening meetings to about 1,000, the full seating capacity of the large pavilion.

Brethren F. W. Paap, C. L. Benson, and D. W. Reavis were with us during this assembly. They brought us timely instruction bearing upon the respective departments represented by them,—the Home Missionary, the Missionary Volunteer, and the Publishing.

Elder J. T. Boettcher, president of the Russian Union, gave encouraging reports of the work in that vast field, showing that the “Bear,” which has been hibernating so long in the sense of being indifferent to the “better things,” is now awakening and beginning to give evidence of hungering for the true gospel message. In spite of conditions hampering the preaching of the third angel’s message, success has attended the work; and many have been turned from papal darkness to the marvelous light of Christ.

Elder J. P. Anderson, who has labored in China for the past ten years, had many interesting experiences to relate in connection with his work for the people of that heathen land. The Chinese are a people whom the missionary learns to love and for whom he enjoys laboring, when he sees that God’s converting power can do in transforming them into the image of Christ.

S. N. Curtiss, manager of the Kansas City Branch of the Pacific Press, was with us in behalf of the book work. Elder G. F. Haffner assisted in the German meetings, and Elders G. E. Nord and H. R. Johnson met with the Scandinavians. The Central Union officers, all of whom were present, lent their help to the work of the conference session as well as to the departmental work.

A good spirit prevailed throughout the camp, inviting God’s presence with us. The last Sabbath proved a real spiritual feast to all present. Its services began with a workers’ meeting at seven o’clock in the morning, in which each one pledged himself to fast and pray for a marked evidence of God’s Spirit to be later in the services that day. At the close of the Sabbath school, Elder Paap presented the needs of the foreign mission fields, showing what the efforts of our people had accomplished in the past. He cited the case of the building and manning of the “Pitcairn.” If the boat had not borne the message to Australia, he might not have stood before us as a Seventh-day Adventist.

One thousand dollars, which had been set as a goal for the Sabbath school donations for the day, was thought rather high, but the offerings kept flowing in until the amount reached $1,382.51. Combining this with that of the former Sabbath, $266.87, we found the total Sabbath school donations to be $1,649.38. The offering for missions taken up Tuesday amounted to $4,487.90 in cash and pledges. The whole amount given for foreign missions aggregated $6,137.28.

Following the Sabbath school hour, the whole camp experienced a service in which God’s Spirit was felt to a remarkable extent. The quiet solemnity of the meeting, which caused a large number to come forward and covenant with the Lord, marked the deep moving of God’s Spirit upon hearts.

A touching ordination service took place in the afternoon, when James D. Johnson was ordained to the sacred office of the ministry. The baptismal service which followed this meeting presented an impressive scene to the large number along the water’s edge of the lake in which the rite was administered. Melodious song between the burials in the watery grave, expressed the joy of those who saw the twenty-eight follow their Lord in baptism.

The camp meeting closed Sunday evening with a sermon from Elder D. U. Hale, the retiring president. Monday morning found the camp breaking up. This season of rich blessings seemed all too short to us who had been partakers of this spiritual feast.

ANNA PETERSON.