KANSAS CAMP-MEETING by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 8, 1876

KANSAS CAMP-MEETING.

By James White

It should be borne in mind that but a few years since a feeble Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was organized, embracing the two States of Kansas and Missouri. At that time there were but four fully organized churches in the Conference. This Conference divided last year into two Conferences, one embracing the State of Kansas, the other, the State of Missouri. And when we state that our people are very much scattered in this great State, and that from many localities there are only a few representative persons at this meeting, the reader will at once conclude that the Kansas Camp-meeting must be a very small affair.

One day of the meeting had passed when we reached the Melvern, Kan., camp-ground, fifth-day evening. The congregation was listening to Bro. Lamont in the congregation tent, who was finishing his discourse of the evening. The tent was full of believers. By invitation of J. N. Ayers, President of the Conference, we made brief remarks. Here we were happy to meet Brn. Cook, Ayers, Lamont, Stevens, Sharp, and Kennedy, who have been laboring in word and doctrine. The comparatively large congregation of disciples were evidences of their success.

Sixth-day morning we felt refreshed by a good night's rest in Bro. Kallock's tent. The weather is fine, the grove pleasant. And besides the two large tents, one seated for the congregation, the other parted with cloth for families, there are on the ground seventeen family tents. There are also several covered wagons used for lodgings.

Sixth-day, we have spoken to the people twice, and Eld. J. H. Cook is speaking this evening. The people give close attention to the word. We are happily disappointed in this meeting, both in regard to numbers, and in the general good appearance of the entire encampment and people. When we consider the youth of the cause in this new State, and the poverty of the people on account of droughts and the grasshopper scourge, the Kansas Camp-meeting for 1876 seems a miracle.

By the assistance of many, with cheerful hearts and ready hands, our tent is pitched, a board floor is laid, and the tent is furnished with chairs, table, beds, bedding, etc., ready to receive Mrs. W. and her niece from California, and other expected friends. But the evening is passing and they do not arrive. At ten, certain brethren share our lodgings with us, whose congenial companionship tends to relieve our disappointment. But early in the morning Mrs. W. arrives.

Six days before she took the train at Oakland, Cal., and had been on the cars until near the close of the sixth-day. She rode twenty miles in a farm wagon, and was stopped at ten in the evening by bad roads, within two miles of the ground, where she rested until morning at the house of a friend. Weary, of course, short of sleep, and trembling with nervous headache, she takes the speaker's stand at half past ten, and is wonderfully sustained in her effort.

In the afternoon, we spoke on redemption, and at the close called thirty or more forward for prayers. Mrs. W. speaks in the evening. The congregation increases in numbers and interest to hear. It is our turn to speak first-day morning. The audience is large and attentive. Mrs. W. speaks in the afternoon and calls forty or more forward for prayers. This is an excellent move. We often lose ground on first-day, before the crowd, for want of moral courage to keep at our work for the advancement of the church and the conversion of sinners.

But at this meeting, decided advancement is made on first-day. Before the evening discourse, we held a meeting for the special benefit of those who are seeking the Lord. About fifty came forward. The interest of this social meeting increases until the last. Many speak for the first time. With strong effort, the good work to advance the church, and lead sinners and backsliders to Christ, makes greater progress on first-day than on any other.

In the morning of second day we give a discourse relative to the qualifications and duties of the Christian ministry, at the close of which, Brn. Charles F. Stevens, Smith Sharp, Joseph Lamont, and J. N. Ayers, are set apart to the work of the ministry by the laying on of hands and prayer. The season is solemn and impressive. In the afternoon, twenty-eight are immersed. In the evening Mrs. W. speaks with great power upon progressive sanctification as expressed by the apostle, on the plan of perpetual addition, until an abundant entrance is given into the immortal kingdom. 2 Pet. 1: 5-11. At the close of the evening meeting eight or ten rise up as candidates for baptism.

Third-day morning the camp has arisen at four, and we are enjoying a precious social, parting meeting. This moment Mrs. W. is making closing remarks, exhorting the brethren and sisters to watch, lest they lose Jesus by the way in returning home, as Joseph and Mary lost Christ in returning home from Jerusalem. They sought their son three days sorrowing. In one day's journey in the indulgence of light conversation one may lose Christ out of the heart, requiring three or more days to find him, sorrowing. This morning meeting is indeed a precious season. Old and young testify to the love and goodness of God in rapid succession. And many speak of the blessings they have received at this camp-meeting, and the good instructions they have heard and received.

The camp breakfast at six, and immediately after, ten more are examined and received for baptism; and, as we leave the ground for the depot to take the train for Baldwin City, to spend a few hours with Mrs. W.'s sister and nieces, the train of wagons is passing to the water, where ten more are buried with Christ in baptism, making thirty-eight in all baptized at the Kansas Camp-meeting.

This excellent meeting, with all its labor of preparation, anxiety, preaching, hearing, exhorting, confession of sins and want of Christ, its tears, deliverances, and joys, is now past. Those parents who brought their children to the meeting and saw them converted, and saw them take the baptismal vow, are now glad. Those who did not bring their children regretted their mistake. These annual feasts of tabernacles are gatherings of the greatest importance, and there should be a general turnout of all who may be benefited.

For one long year we shall look back to the last Kansas Camp-meeting with pleasure. Unity prevailed in the business sessions, and in all the religious services. In fact, we could not discern, during the four days we were on the ground, the least shade of that jealousy and fault-finding which sometimes pollutes the spirit of those who hold their hearts open to Satan's poisonous suggestions. Instead of anything of this kind, there was a cheerful promptness in all that was done, which greatly endears to us these Kansas brethren.

The State of Kansas is a very promising field of labor. And although there are five ordained ministers of promise in the State, besides three or four more who hold licenses, yet there is work in Labette County and elsewhere that demands more experienced labor. And we earnestly recommend Eld. Canright to spend a few weeks soon in Kansas and Missouri, if circumstances and a sense of duty on his part will permit. Address, Eld. J. N. Ayers, Farlinville, Linn Co., Kansas. If Eld. Canright could spend a few weeks in June and July in this part of the field, at the expense of the General Conference, his labors would give needed strength to these feeble Conferences at this, their time of financial weakness and need of help.

Mrs. W. and the writer are happy to report ourselves in health, and good courage in the Lord. J. W.