CAMP-MEETING AT INDIANOLA, IOWA.
By George I. Butler
The place selected for this, the second of the season’s camp-meetings, is the county-seat of Warren Co., containing several thousand inhabitants, and located in the midst of the richest section of the State. This meeting was a very little larger than the one at Fairfield. Twenty-seven family tents were erected, and probably upwards of three hundred persons encamped on the ground. There was quite a good attendance from the Knoxville, Sandyville, Adel, Winterset, Afton, Osceola, and Woodburn churches. Several other churches should have been represented, which were not. Our efficient camp-meeting committee had things in a good state of readiness, though our brethren were slow in coming in. Meeting commenced Thursday afternoon. The weather was generally favorable. There was not that degree of freedom manifest at first that we desired to see. The preaching was close and practical, and as a result the condition of things began gradually to improve, and the social meetings became more spiritual. Sabbath afternoon a call was made for those to come forward who desired the prayers of God’s servants. From one-half to two-thirds of the congregation responded. Still there was not much feeling manifested, and we did not see as much accomplished as we had desired. We had good freedom on the subjects of health and temperance, and Sunday morning, before the regular service, we obtained two hundred and twelve signers to the teetotal pledge; the largest proportion, I think, that has been obtained at any meeting thus far that I have attended. We did not have a very large crowd on Sunday. Several hundred attentive listeners were present, however, from a good class of people. Our canvassers obtained on the ground ninety-one subscribers for our periodicals. We tried to impress upon the people the importance of the spirit of sacrifice, the necessity of sustaining the cause of God by our means, and the duty of giving a tithe of our income to God. Many pledged themselves to sacredly regard this important obligation. We endeavored to present before the people the importance of education, and spoke in behalf of our College and Sanitarium, correcting as far as possible erroneous impressions which have been circulated more or less concerning these important interests. We believe that those who may have opportunity of knowing more of these important institutions than our people generally know, should take occasion at our camp-meetings to disseminate all the information possible concerning them, so as to check wrong impressions which Satan is ever busy in creating to break down the faith of our people in those institutions which God has planted among us, and which are so necessary to the success of this cause. If he can accomplish this, he knows full well that it will contract the liberalities of our people, chill their zeal, create a spirit of murmuring, and hinder the cause more effectually than any other plan that could be devised. We were blessed in talking of these matters, and feel confident that as much good was accomplished through this effort as by any other made during the meeting. Monday forenoon we resumed our regular preaching service, and at the close of the discourse a special call was made for those who had never professed Christ, and those who were much backslidden, to come forward, to which many responded. A spirit of tenderness was graciously given, and we enjoyed a melting season that we shall never forget. I do not remember to have enjoyed a more precious one. Confessions were made which would seemingly move a heart of stone. The Spirit of God, like the noon-day sun, melted cold hearts, and brought in love and tenderness. It was good to be there. Some who had experienced trial of mind because of the closeness of the preaching concerning their bad habits, saw things in their true light. We had a glorious victory over Satan’s power. Twenty-six were baptized by Bro. Farnsworth, many of whom started for the first time.13After the baptism, Bro. L. T. Nicola, our earnest Sabbath-school secretary, made some excellent remarks concerning the Sabbath-school. I should have said before that we had a splendid model Sabbath-school, Sabbath forenoon, in which nearly all participated. We are all much pleased with the progress of the Sabbath-school interest in the State. Bro. Farnsworth also said many good things concerning this important interest. Then we considered the T. and M. work, and raised a subscription of upwards of $200 on the reserve fund, and over $100 on the tent and camp-meeting fund. Many of the brethren present had subscribed before. These subscriptions bring our reserve fund considerably above $2,000. Tuesday morning the meeting broke up with a good social meeting. Many spoke, expressing their gratitude to God for this excellent meeting, several being on their feet at a time, waiting for an opportunity to give their testimony. And so we separated. God has been very good to us. We must all go forth with new determinations to serve him. GEO. I. BUTLER. Dunlap, Iowa, June 26, 1879.