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Missouri Camp-Meeting

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Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Nov 1, 1883

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 9, No. 41.

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Missouri Camp-Meeting.

By Isaac D. Van Horn

THIS meeting was held as appointed, at Higginsville, Oct. 10-16. The fair-ground in the immediate vicinity of the town was used for the meeting, and the citizens of the place came forward and paid the sum charged for its use. There were no shade-trees on the ground, and we did not need any, for the weather from Tuesday night till Sunday morning was cold, cloudy, and rainy. But Sunday morning the clouds passed away and the welcome sunshine brought good cheer into the camp.
About two hundred of our people were camped on the ground, some of whom came long distances through the storm and mud, and showed commendable zeal at least in coming to the meeting. This spirit pervaded the whole camp, for there was good freedom in all the services, and there was unmistakable evidence of the presence of the Spirit of God moving on the hearts of the people.
The outside attendance was very small, occasioned in some degree, no doubt, by the inclemency of the weather. Higginsville is a town of about one thousand inhabitants, and yet not over seventy-five or one hundred were out at any one time. A tent-meeting had been held here previous to the camp-meeting, during which a few embraced the truth.
The efforts put forth to reclaim backsliders and turn sinners to the Lord were crowned with some success. The Spirit of the Lord gave witness to some, which showed they were making genuine work. On Monday nineteen candidates were baptized by Eld. Farnsworth. It was a quiet, solemn, and impressive scene.
The preaching was done by Elders Butler, Farnsworth, and myself; and such subjects were chosen as would give a broader view of the work, and the purity and devotion required to meet our soon-coming Lord.
This Conference is evidently improving in many particulars, under the supervision of its young President, Elder D. T. Jones. The tithes paid in the past year were sufficient to adjust all claims.
Bro. Butler presented the wants of the cause in the foreign missions and the International Tract and Missionary Society, and in a few minutes pledges were taken to the amount of nearly $1,000.
On Monday evening two licentiates, brethren Watt and D. T. Jones, were set apart by ordination to the Christian ministry. The Lord came very near and approved of this step.
At the close of this meeting I returned home, having attended fifteen camp-meetings during the season. I can report a deeper experience in the things of God, a more extended view of our great work of warning the world, and realize in a greater degree, how pure and holy in heart we must be in order to hear the "Well done."
I. D. VAN HORN. Charlotte, Mich., Oct. 18, 1883.