The Iowa Camp-Meeting by C. W. Stone

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 22, 1882

The Iowa Camp-Meeting.

By C. W. Stone

THIS meeting was held at Des Moines, Iowa, June 1 to 6, on the State Fair-grounds. The grounds are well watered and nicely fitted up with numerous large buildings, which were used instead of tents by a large number of our brethren.

The attendance was about 500, and one good feature of it was that a good number were on hand at the commencement of the meeting. Probably more would have attended, were it not that owing to the very late season, many have not yet planted their corn. It has rained a great deal for several weeks, and the ground is full of water. The first four days of the meeting the weather was cold, and it rained about half the time. Overcoats were indispensable. However, the people were of good cheer, and the interest of the meeting did not seem to suffer from the state of the weather.

Nearly one hundred of our Scandinavian brethren and sisters were present, which was three or four times as many as have generally attended. They were much encouraged and benefited by the meeting, having the privilege of hearing in their own tongue from Eld. O. A. Olsen. The growth of the cause among the Scandinavians in this Conference during the year, is a matter of great encouragement.

The preaching at this meeting was of a practical nature, designed to arouse the people to a sense of their true condition, and the dangers which surround the people of God in these last days. They were pointed to the Testimonies as a source of instruction, and urged to see the necessity of a close walk with God, a separation from the world, and a whole-hearted engagedness in the service of God.

Though it seemed at first that the work was not going deep enough, yet on Sabbath afternoon over sixty came forward to seek the Lord. Most of these were children and young people. Monday forenoon Eld. Butler preached a very earnest sermon. The Lord helped him to speak very plainly and with much feeling. Hearts were melted. Opportunity was given, and without urging, about one hundred and fifty came forward to seek the Lord. In the afternoon sixty-one persons were baptized by Elders Butler and Olsen.

Tuesday morning Brn. A. G. Daniells, J. S. Hart, A. W. H. Millard, and J. D. Pegg, were ordained to the work of the ministry.

On closing, the general feeling and expression was that this had been a good meeting, while some said it was the best they ever attended. C. W. STONE.