A Camp-Meeting Suggestion by M. E. Kern

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 20, 1907

A Camp-Meeting Suggestion

By M. E. Kern

M. E. KERN

PROBABLY all our conferences arrange for special young people's services at the camp-meetings, and this is right. Many boys and girls have accepted their Saviour, and then received an inspiration to work for him in connection with these meetings especially planned for the young. But it is generally expected that the young people will attend all the other meetings as well as their own, and not doing what is expected of them, they are often made to feel out of harmony with the camp-meeting plans. Would it not be well for conference officers to show by their arrangements that they appreciate the nature of children and youth?

The message of Elijah is to turn “the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.” Note the order. Is it not as important that parents’ meetings be held at camp-meeting as that special meetings be held for the young? How fitting that an hour should be set aside each day when special meetings should be held for parents, for youth, and for children. There may be many things of importance pressing for a hearing, but there is nothing more important to God-fearing parents than the training of their children. Our people may learn much about the special truths of the message, about religious legislation and foreign missions, but unless they go home from camp-meeting with a better practical knowledge of how to train their precious boys and girls for God and this message, the meeting has been largely a failure for them. It has occurred to me that frequently at camp-meeting, like Martha, we busy ourselves about “many things,” but leave undone the “one thing needful.” May the time come when our people assembled together will be seen earnestly studying and praying for wisdom to train their children for God and the third angel's message. Some day the question will be asked, “Where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?”