The Ohio Camp-Meeting by R. A. Underwood

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Aug 27, 1903

The Ohio Camp-Meeting

By R. A. Underwood

ELDER A. G. DANIELLS, Brother H. E. Rogers and the writer reached the Ohio meeting the evening of August 6. The camp of one hundred and six family tents, with several large tents, was already in a good state of preparation for the meeting. It was nicely located in the beautiful grove and campus of the Mt. Vernon Academy grounds. A good attendance of our people was already present. This number increased during the meeting to about eight hundred in all.

The conference committee had arranged for a “Pioneer’s day” on August 12, expecting a large number of the pioneers of the cause in Ohio to be present. Their expectations were fully realized in seeing the aged pioneers come in to engage once more in an annual conference and camp-meeting. The academy buildings were opened especially for the accommodation of the pioneers, which made camp life enjoyable to the most feeble, among whom were quite a number past eighty years of age.

From the first, the meetings were characterized with a spirit of unity and love indicative of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Elder Daniells could remain only over the first Sabbath of the meeting, but his labors were much appreciated by all, and regret was felt that he could not remain through the entire meeting. Soon after Elder Daniells left, the corps of laborers in the meeting was added to by the presence of Elders I. D. Van Horn, H. W. Cottrell and A. G. Haughey.

Wednesday had been set apart to consider the rise of this cause from the pioneers’ standpoint. Elder I. D. Van Horn spoke at 10 A. M., from Heb. 10:32-39. His discourse was full of interesting experiences of former days among the pioneers of this cause, showing the manner in which the third angel’s message began its work, and its destined triumph in power and glory in the present generation. In the afternoon the meeting was made an experience meeting for the dear aged pioneers that were present. Many cheering and comforting things were said by those who were among the first to espouse the cause of present truth in Ohio. All were much cheered and edified to hear some of those who saw the stars fall, as well as those who had an experience in the advent message of 1843-44, relate their experiences in this message in its early days. The experience of those passing through the first angel’s message, and the manner in which God led his people into the Sabbath truth under the second and third angels’ messages are not “cunningly devised fables” to those who were led into great light and truth.

The Ohio Conference was organized at Wakeman, Ohio, June 31, 1863. The following persons have acted as presidents during the forty years of its existence: O. Mears, five years; J. H. Waggoner, one year; J. N. Andrews, one year; I. N. Van Gorden, one year; James White, one year; O. F. Guilford, one year; Wm. Chinnock, five years; H. A. St. John, four years; D. M. Canright, two years; R. A. Underwood, seven years; G. A. Irwin, five years; I. D. Van Horn, three years; R. C. Porter, served a few months; R. R. Kennedy, two years; A. G. Haughey, two years; and H. H. Burkholder is now elected to his second term. The State Tract Society was organized at Clyde, Ohio, in March, 1872. Mrs. John Clark, Mrs. R. A. Underwood, Mrs. E. H. Gates, J. B. Gregory, L. T. Dysert, E. A. Merriam, and N. S. Miller have served as secretaries of this important branch of the conference.

It is now fourteen years since I left the conference for other fields. But few of the old laborers are left in the State. At present the outlook is encouraging for aggressive work. During the past year the increase of tithes over the previous year was $1,889.65. The debt on the academy had been lessened $4,300. This was received on the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons.” The academy at Academia has had the best school year of its existence during the past year. It had one hundred and sixty-three students, representing sixteen different States. It made an actual gain of seven hundred and eleven dollars. At this camp-meeting five thousand five hundred dollars was donated in cash and pledges, on the debt of the academy. The school enters upon the present year with the expectation that by means of the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” and by donations, the remaining six thousand dollars will be paid before another year. The school will probably be crowded to its utmost capacity. All present were greatly inspired by many testimonies from students, showing what God had wrought through the school for them.

The conference voted to send Dr. H. W. Miller and his wife to China, and support them for one year. They will soon join Dr. A. C. Selmon and his wife, to enter Central China to carry the third angel’s message in that dark and long-neglected field. The conference will send one or more of its ordained ministers into the South, and support them there for a year. About four hundred dollars was donated toward starting the work in Washington, D. C.

The last Sabbath on the Ohio camp-ground was a day long to be remembered. In the morning service the Lord was present

in mighty power to heal the body as well as the soul. After a season of prayer at the close of the morning discourse, our dear Elder, E. J. Van Horn, was healed of his infirmities that have kept him from active labor in the ministry for many months. Following this, there came two or three hundred dear souls to the altar. God had visited his people, and souls were mightily stirred. A goodly number took their stand for the truth for the first time. At 3 P. M. another precious season was enjoyed, at which time Dr. H. W. Miller and Brother W. W. Miller were set apart to the sacred ministry by ordination. Sunday morning the entire camp assembled at the side of a little lake a few rods from the camp, where thirty-four dear souls were baptized.

With about forty laborers in the conference and an excellent school to train many more, the Ohio Conference can move forward with rapid pace to give this message to the world in this generation. Personally, it was a great pleasure to meet many of the believers in Ohio after many years of absence. May we all prove faithful to our trust, and our meeting will soon be in the kingdom.

R. A. UNDERWOOD.