Comments on the Four Western Camp-Meetings
By George Ide Butler
At the earnest request of the General Conference Committee, holding its meeting in connection with the Review and Herald election of officers at Battle Creek, Mich., in the early part of April, the writer attended with Elder Haskell the four camp-meetings of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The occasion was one of interest, inasmuch as he had been absent from the work in this great Northern field for nearly fifteen years. Previously to that, or for about the same length of time, he had attended, year after year, the annual meetings of these conferences then organized, and had a very large acquaintance all over the whole American field. Hence the occasion was especially interesting, because of meeting with hosts of friends and renewing many acquaintances. Great changes had of course occurred during this long absence. Little children had become active laborers in the work. Those who were in middle age are now adorned with gray hairs, many had grown old, and others had passed away. Our meeting in Iowa was very small, in consequence of the fearful storms which prevailed at that time. Enormous floods, partially submerged cities, railroads disabled for days, a vast amount of property destroyed, and many lives lost were the order of the day. It was reported that the streams were the highest ever known in the State. The spring was late, and the planting of much corn had been hindered. Large numbers of our people who were intending to be present found it impossible to reach the grounds, as the trains ceased to run. By a happy selection, the camp was placed on rolling ground, so the water readily ran off. The branch of the Skunk River, that ran by the camp, seemed to be a mile wide. Elder Haskell got within twelve miles of the camp, and was held there fifty-six hours. The brethren seemed very cheerful in spite of all the unpleasant surroundings, and I did not hear of any sickness or any casualties. As the two meetings of Minnesota and Iowa, adjoining States, were appointed for precisely the same time, it was impossible to attend both and remain in Iowa through the whole meeting. The personnel of the conference was greatly changed. Old men were few; young men were in nearly all the leading positions. Nearly half of the members of the conference were women, which was rather a rare feature in the conferences I had attended before. Elders Spicer and Warren were both present at the beginning of the meeting, Elder Spicer leaving at an early stage for the Minnesota meeting. It was my privilege once more to be united with Elder Haskell in labor, after many years of separation. We had in the past labored together in perhaps hundreds of camp-meetings. It was very gratifying to find him strong in the Lord, and in a fair degree of health for one of his age. Our association was very pleasant indeed through all these meetings. In regard to the raising of funds, Iowa was about to establish an intermediate school, and means were solicited for that purpose. The Southern work was presented at considerable length. The result was three hundred and forty-five dollars in pledges and cash. The writer thought this was something of a contrast to meetings held more than a score of years before, when from three to five thousand dollars was not an uncommon amount to be raised for important objects in the cause. Of course the reader should not forget that the meeting was very small at the time this amount was raised, probably not over three hundred being in attendance, because of the storm. Having received an urgent invitation from the president of the Minnesota Conference to be present at least a few days at their annual convocation, Elder Haskell, Sister Haskell, and the writer left the camp-ground Thursday afternoon preceding the close of the meeting, and thus had a little over two days in which to attend the Minnesota camp-meeting. The storms had not been nearly so bad as in Iowa, so there was a better attendance. While Iowa has a membership of about three thousand five hundred, and Minnesota at present claims about two thousand, there was a much larger attendance than at the Iowa meeting. Over a hundred tents were pitched, and perhaps seven hundred people were present. The camp was in a nice grove, in close proximity to the flourishing city of Stillwater, the meeting being, therefore, on the eastern edge of the State. We met with a very hearty and pleasant reception at the Minnesota Conference. Large numbers of our acquaintances were present, and we could not have been treated more royally. Special provision for the ministers on the ground was made, and everything was done for our comfort that could be desired. While our time was limited, we enjoyed the stay there very much. People seemed exceedingly glad to hear from the old pilgrims, who were indeed happy to meet with their old friends. The Spirit of the Lord deigned to come in, and his blessing was felt in many hearts. Special vows of consecration were made on the Sabbath, and tears of contrition flowed freely. Quite a large number were baptized. An encouraging response was made to the call for means for our Southern work. Seventeen hundred dollars in cash and pledges was raised, and quite a number of subscriptions taken for our Southern Watchman. Of the sum raised and pledged, one thousand dollars was given by one dear old brother whose heart the Lord had touched. The meeting closed with a large attendance from the city on Sunday night, the new pavilion being crowded, and many standing on the outside. Indeed, the people of Stillwater manifested a good interest,20and the meetings were to be continued after the camp-meeting broke up. Elder Haskell and I were indeed thankful for this pleasant meeting with the Minnesota Conference. Thence we passed rapidly to the South Dakota Conference, which was convened at Madison, a pleasant and prosperous little city in a rich agricultural country. The camp was held in a moderately sized grove, about three or four miles from the town, by the side of a nice little lake. It was really an ideal place for a camp-meeting, especially in an open country like the Dakotas. The grove was pleasant, and the camp was clean and neat, an excellent place for retirement and for seeking the Lord; and the weather, though tolerably cool, was quite pleasant, with only one moderate shower. There was an excellent attendance, considering the membership of the conference, which is about nine hundred, I understand. Fully as many tents were pitched as in Minnesota, and I think the attendance was about the same. There was a large attendance of our Scandinavian friends, and the meeting was in many respects a pleasant one. There was the best spiritual atmosphere the earlier part of the meeting that I have seen this season in any camp-meeting. A good spirit of unity and love prevailed. Fifty-three were baptized, nearly half of whom were children. Elder Warren was present, and was especially interested in the work among the youth and children. He spoke several times during the meeting. A little over one thousand dollars was raised for the Southern work. A call was made for two thousand dollars for their intermediate school work, which was responded to quite liberally. Elder Flaiz, the president of the Northern Union Conference, was present for a few days in the earlier part of the meeting, but was called away to College View to attend the institute there. The brethren and sisters left the camp-ground, feeling that they had been abundantly repaid for their efforts, and many of them were happy in the Lord. The writer labors under the impression, however, that had the meeting been conducted, in some respects, differently, it might have been far more profitable, but it was a good meeting. The last meeting in the series was held at Carrington, N. D., which is a neat little city, seemingly flourishing, out on the broad North Dakota prairies. The camp was pitched close to the town, in a compact body, there being upward of fifty tents. In some respects this was a peculiar meeting. There was a preponderance of brethren of foreign birth in attendance, which is quite uncommon in this country. The majority of those present were of German descent, earnest, devoted people. There was also a good attendance of Scandinavians. Elder F. H. Westphal, of the Union College faculty, took a leading part in the German work, and Elder Louis Johnson in the Scandinavian work. Owing to the fact that there was no pavilion large enough to accommodate all the people, smaller tents were pitched, and meetings in different languages were going on at the same time, the largest tent being used for the Germans, who were in the majority, the American meeting being held at the same time in another tent. Occasionally both met in the largest tent upon the ground, which made it necessary that quite a number should stand up outside. Our dear German brethren seemed glad to have Elder Haskell and the writer speak in their meetings quite often, Elder Westphal being an excellent interpreter. To most of our English-speaking people this would seem not to be the most pleasant way to listen to preaching, but the Germans seemed to enjoy it, their hearty amens from time to time giving good evidence of their appreciation of the words spoken. Elder Haskell and I had both practiced this method in Europe many times in years gone by, so it was not a new thing to us, sometimes speaking there to three different nationalities at once, the audience being divided according to their nationalities into comparatively small companies in different parts of the room, and an interpreter in each language rapidly translating. The meeting was an interesting one, continuing about five days. There being considerable business to be done, the pressure was quite heavy, but all passed off with pleasantness. Although many of different nationalities were present, there was the best of feeling, illustrating the apostle's statement that there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, etc., but all are one in Christ Jesus. How thankful we ought to be that we have a truth that can override national distinctions, caste, and former religions, and unite us in the Lord as one family. North Dakota is a young conference, organized only about one year ago, but it is a prosperous conference. It claims a membership of about seven hundred, and I think about seven thousand dollars' tithe. There has been quite a large immigration of Sabbath-keepers from other conferences, which has caused a rapid growth, but the ministry of the word is successful also, and new members have been added. There seems to be more spirituality in these two Dakota conferences than in some of our older States, and the cause seems more prosperous. Elders Flaiz and Spicer were in attendance, the former being president of the Northern Union Conference, and Brother Spicer the representative of the General Conference Committee. The brethren here were anxious to have an intermediate school organized at once. Brethren Flaiz and Spicer raised about three thousand dollars in cash and pledges, including horses, cattle, etc. The Southern work was presented about the close of the meeting, and seven hundred dollars was subscribed for that. On the whole, it was an interesting meeting, and profitable, I trust, to the friends of the cause present. The writer would dislike to present any unpleasant features or make unpleasant comparisons. Having been nearly fifteen years absent from the North, it would be natural indeed to suppose that he would see differences more quickly than would those who had been attending from year to year, as important differences are of gradual growth. There is one feature, as far as he has had acquaintance, becoming almost universally present, which, in his judgment, is not for the best. It seems to be understood by many that the local conference has full charge of the camp-meeting arrangements. The local committee, in consultation, of course, with its conference authorities, decides in regard to who shall preach and the general direction of the meetings, while those sent from the General Conference seem to be expected to fill in simply as they are called upon. This was not the original plan adopted after organization, by any means. From the first it has been desired that in all important State conference meetings General Conference delegates be present to represent that body. It is recognized that our people are one people, and the highest authorities have a responsibility in the management of the work, not merely the local conference. Where General Conference laborers of long experience are present, it would be reasonable to suppose that they have learned something which might be profitable in the management of any State conference. Men who have attended hundreds of camp-meetings, and had charge of the leading responsibilities in the work, ought to be able to understand how camp-meetings should be managed to accomplish the best results. Neither would it appear a consistent thing that some young president, who had had but little experience, should have the leading direction of matters that pertain to the general welfare of the work. In a long experience in the past, the writer has attended many camp-meetings, and it was then the plan that when delegates from the General Conference came upon the ground, there should be a mutual consultation from beginning to end in regard to what would be for the best interests of the meeting. Our camp-meetings are a most important feature in our work, really the only opportunity where the general officers of the cause can reach the people to impress upon them the most important principles and plans that need to be kept in mind. Experience is considered a very important matter among the wisest men in this world. It is thought, when the great steamships go out on the waters, that an experienced officer is a necessity. When great armies are sent into the field, an experienced general is supposed to be better qualified to lead than one of little experience. In every important vocation of life, experience counts, and it will be a sad day in this world when experience retires to the rear, and verdancy comes to the front. Another reflection which may be proper is in regard to the spiritual atmosphere prevailing among our people at this time, in contrast to what it was twenty or twenty-five years ago. From what the writer has been able to learn, the contrast is an unfavorable one. The spirituality of our camp-meetings seems to be on a far lower key than it used to be. In many who even call themselves ministers of Jesus Christ, there seems to be a lack of comprehension of what the depth of Christian experience means. Brethren and sisters, we have been gradually sliding away from that spirit of personal piety, earnestness, devotion, and sacrifice that has been seen in other days. We are living in a time of great financial prosperity. Our people have been making money. Yet years ago it was nothing strange to go into a conference much smaller than many of these, and raise from three to five thousand dollars for an important interest in the cause. The contrast is painful. As we look at it to-day, there needs to be a great revival in the work of God, if the writer has any knowledge in such matters. When are we going to see it? How shall it be brought about? These are questions that should occupy our minds more and more.