THE IOWA CAMP-MEETING

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 22, 1876

THE IOWA CAMP-MEETING.

Sabbath, June 10, was a memorable day on the camp-ground. The Lord, as he has often done before on this day, and on such occasions as this, drew near to the congregation of his people. But on this occasion he seemed to come a little nearer than ever before. Special services were held. At 9 A. M., Bro. White was led out in very stirring and encouraging remarks to the people. The key-note of his exhortation was that we are already far advanced—far advanced—in the work of the third angel's message, the last work to be done for the world, to ripen the harvest of the earth for the sickle of the great Reaper.

At 10:30 sister White spoke for 30 minutes on the subject of the new birth, showing the necessity of entire conversion to God, in order to be saved. Sinners and backsliders to the number of about one hundred pressed forward for prayers. The time until noon was occupied in this manner. More than one hundred bore their testimony.

At 1:30 P. M., special meetings were held in the several tents for the benefit of inquirers and others, which were seasons of much feeling and encouragement.

At 8 A. M. and 4 P. M., each day, Elds. Matteson and Hanson held services in the Danish tongue, for the benefit of that people. Of the sentiments expressed in these meetings, of course we cannot say much, but the earnest attention of the people indicated their interest in the subjects brought before them.

A good social meeting followed at 6 P. M. A heavy rain storm prevented speaking in the evening.

Sunday, at 9 A. M., seventy-five spoke in the social meeting. Bro. Geo. I. Butler followed in a strong discourse on the Sabbath as a sign between God and his people, and the memorials of the Bible in general.

In the afternoon the ground was thronged with people, over three thousand being present. Two discourses were crowded into this part of the day. Bro. White spoke at 2 P. M., and sister White at 3:30, the two discourses taking up the time, with but a few moments' intermission, till 5 P. M.

Of the discourses we need not speak particularly. To the readers of the Review, we only need to say that both the speakers had great clearness and strength of voice, and unbounded freedom. There was a remarkable absence of strolling about and conversation for so large a company. The congregation were held in quiet and strict attention, during the almost three hours' continuance of the services.

On Monday forenoon, appeal was again made to the unconverted. The seats were soon again filled with anxious seekers of the Lord. We never witnessed a scene of deeper feeling. One hundred and fifty spoke. It was remarked by some that they did not see how the meeting could possibly be better. A call was made for candidates for baptism, when forty-seven presented themselves, and in the afternoon were examined and baptized in the Iowa River near by. Elds. Butler and Kilgore performed the ceremony. The crowd of people lining the high bank, the calm and deliberate performance of the sacred rite, rapid but not hurried, was a most pleasant and impressive scene.

The remainder of the day was devoted to business matters, the particulars of which will appear in the regularly reported business proceedings.

We hasten to take the reader to the unparalleled parting scene of Tuesday morning. Bro. M. Wing and E. W. Farnsworth were set apart to the work of the ministry. Bro. White dwelt upon the coming reward of the faithful ministers who shall shine as the stars forever and ever, in a manner to capture and enrapture every heart. A solemn and touching prayer was offered by Bro. Butler, and Bro. White, in giving the right hand of fellowship and the charge, took up the line of thought he had dwelt upon before. And as these brethren were casting themselves upon the Lord, in brokenness and contrition of spirit, and the ministers of the Conference generally, as by a simultaneous impulse, came forward to greet them, and to greet each other, and to clasp each other's necks in tears of hope and joy, it required but a little effort of the imagination to go forward to that scene when faithful laborers in the harvest field shall greet each other in the kingdom of God, the toil of these earthly scenes all over, and the sheaves safely gathered into the heavenly garner. It would not have been difficult to sing the familiar hymn,

“My happy soul would stay, In such a frame as this, Till called to rise and soar away To everlasting bliss.”

Sister White followed with remarks as perfectly adapted to the people and the occasion, seemingly, as it was possible for human thought and language to produce.

Thus closed the Iowa Camp-meeting for 1884. It was the opinion of the brethren that it was the best camp-meeting ever held in this State. It had progressed and closed in a manner to leave an influence and impression for the brethren to take to their several homes.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who hath not forgotten to be gracious to his people. In view of the parting scene, we could truly adopt the language of the poet,

“For Thou within no walls confined, Dost dwell with those of humble mind, Such ever bring thee where they come, And, going, take thee to their home.”