p. 17 | The Minnesota Camp-Meeting by K. C. Russell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 28, 1906

The Minnesota Camp-Meeting

By K. C. Russell

The camp was located between the cities of St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids, in a most delightful grove. The camp was accessible to both of these thriving little towns, and everything seemed to conspire to make it a most desirable place for a camp-meeting.

It was feared that, the meeting being located so far north in the State, there would be but a small attendance of our people, but to the surprise and satisfaction of those in charge, it was the best attended by our people and those not of our faith of any meeting that has been held in this conference for years. Several severe wind- and rain-storms broke over the camp during the session, but this did not prevent the people from attending in large numbers. The soil being sandy, the water occasioned by several rain-storms soaked quickly away.

Besides the local laborers in the conference, there were a number of visiting brethren, among whom were Elders A. G. Daniells and R. A. Underwood, Brethren J. S. James, S. M. Mortenson, L. H. Christian, T. Valentiner, Valentine Leer, and C. J. Kunkel, and Profs. C. C. Lewis, P. T. Magan, and Otto Graf. This large corps of general laborers were able to render valuable assistance to the brethren of many nationalities gathered at this meeting. Elder Daniells's visit, although short, was very much appreciated. Elder Underwood, president of the Northern Union Conference, left for the South Dakota meeting after the first half. Regular meetings were held in the German and Scandinavian languages.

The meetings were very spiritual from the first. On the first Sabbath a large number responded to a call to consecrate themselves to God, and the revival which began then continued with increasing strength until the close of the meeting. The last Sabbath of the meeting was one long to be remembered by those in attendance. It was gratifying to see such a goodly number of young people giving their hearts to God for the first time, and to note that the Spirit of the Lord was revealing to many their sins, and leading them to a full surrender of themselves to his service. In the closing hours of the Sabbath the entire camp went to the beautiful waters of the Mississippi River, where twenty-nine precious souls followed their Lord in baptism. Five others afterward went forward in this ordinance.

The various departments of the work were taken up and considered. The educational work received a large share of the attention of the conference, and was placed upon a firm basis by electing a conference educational secretary who would be permitted to devote his entire time to the development of this important branch of the work. Brother W. W. Ruble was unanimously chosen to fill this responsible position. The Religious Liberty Department was also given its share of attention. One feature of special interest in connection with this phase of the work was a program that was rendered one evening by the students of the Maplewood Academy. The exercises were most impressive, and we believe enlightened the large audience which filled the pavilion to its utmost capacity that evening. We expect that this department of the work will be attended with even greater success in the future in this conference than it has in the past.

An encouraging report was rendered by the president of the conference concerning the work of the past year, showing an increase in tithe of one thousand dollars, and an increase in membership of one hundred Sabbath-keepers. It was voted by the conference to give five hundred dollars to the support of foreign missions. Elder H. S. Shaw was again unanimously elected as president of the conference for the coming year. Brother C. M. Babcock was ordained to the gospel ministry, and other young men were encouraged to enter the work.

We were much gratified to learn that a number who had been attending the meetings from the cities had decided to take their stand to keep the Sabbath as a result of the truth presented. We believe that the coming year will be one of greater success for the cause of present truth in this State than it has ever experienced. Expressions of loyalty to the spirit of prophecy and the message were given by all. Our prayer is that the Lord may greatly bless the people of this conference in maintaining the principles of this message until the “well done” shall be said to each.

K. C. RUSSELL.