Camp-Meetings in Iowa by M. N. Campbell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 10, 1910

Camp-Meetings in Iowa

By M. N. Campbell

INSTEAD of one general camp-meeting this year, the Iowa Conference arranged to hold four small meetings, one in each of its four districts. The first of these was held early in June, at Sigourney, in southeastern Iowa. This meeting was well supplied with outside help, Elders K. C. Russell, P. T. Magan, Clarence Santee, R. A. Owen, and R. A. Underwood being among those who contributed to its success. No conference business was transacted, so the time was wholly devoted to the spiritual interests of the people. The brethren felt that this was a vast improvement over the old plan, under which so large a part of the camp-meeting was devoted to business.

The second meeting was held August 15-21 at Calmar, in the northeastern part of the State, and was well attended by our people. Elder E. W. Farnsworth was with us at this meeting, and his vigorous presentation of the truth was greatly appreciated. The attendance from the town was exceptionally large, and the interest increased to the last. A tent company was left at Calmar to follow up this interest; and up to the present, eleven have accepted the truth. There was but one sister living there at the time of the camp-meeting. Her exemplary life during the preceding years had given the people of the town a very favorable impression of the message, and was, we believe, an important factor in the success which attended the work of the tent-meeting.

The third of the series of camp-meetings was held on the Chautauqua grounds of Storm Lake, September 5-11. The preaching was done almost entirely by the local conference laborers. This meeting was characterized by the presence of the Holy Spirit to a marked degree, and on the closing Sabbath every unconverted person except one, on the grounds, came forward for prayers. The response to the $300,000 Fund and the “Ministry of Healing” campaign was encouraging, and all felt that the Storm Lake meeting would give a decided impetus to the cause in northwestern Iowa.

The last of these gatherings was held at Council Bluffs, September 26 to October 2. On account of the lateness of the date, it was felt to be unsafe to depend on tents for this meeting, so the Congregational church was rented for the English meeting, and the Seventh-day Adventist church was used by the Scandinavian brethren. The people were cared for in furnished rooms near the places of meeting. This was the largest of the four meetings, and in some respects the best. The Scandinavian brethren were favored with the presence of Elders O. A. Olsen and L. H. Christian. The local conference laborers ministered to the spiritual needs of the English-speaking brethren. We were pleased to have with us on the closing Sabbath Prof. F. Griggs, of Union College. The Lord drew very near in blessing to his people at this gathering. At the Sabbath revival service over fifty came forward for special help, quite a number for the first time. Eleven were baptized. The gifts to the $300,000 Fund were very liberal, and a splendid spirit was shown by the people toward the various enterprises that have been launched for the furtherance of the third angel’s message.

The attendance at the four meetings ranged between six and seven hundred. The pledges to the $300,000 Fund amounted to over seven thousand dollars, and fifteen hundred copies of “Ministry of Healing” were subscribed for. Twenty-seven persons were baptized. Waves of influence were set in motion in the various places where the meetings were held that have already resulted in a goodly number accepting the truth. M. N. CAMPBELL.