p. 149 | Ohio Camp-Meeting by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 24, 1871

Ohio Camp-Meeting.

By James White

This meeting, as that in Indiana, was commenced in cold, frosty nights. The first two days were very uncomfortable on the ground by reason of cold north winds. After this the weather moderated, and it became quite pleasant.

The meeting was held in a beautiful, large grove. The situation for a moderately-sized meeting could not be better; for a large meeting better conveniences for water would be desirable. The grounds were laid out in a neat and tasty manner, reflecting credit on the committee who managed it.

I had a very severe cold before going to Indiana, which caused great hoarseness and severe pain in my head during that meeting. Bro. Littlejohn took cold on the Indiana ground, which affected his voice also, so that we were both hoarse during the entire meeting in Ohio. Yet the Lord manifestly helped in the labors of these meetings, and the truth as presented in the several discourses was well received.

We have reason to believe that this was a good meeting for the cause in Ohio. The social and conference meetings were characterized throughout by solemnity, deep feeling, and a cheerful readiness to take hold in the work. The business meetings of the Conference were mostly short, business was despatched with becoming alacrity so as not greatly to interfere with the usual order of a camp-meeting, and the greatest harmony in feeling and action prevailed. For some time past they have lacked for labor in Ohio, but they seem mostly of good courage, and are minded to work. If they remain united, laboring together in a true missionary spirit we cannot doubt that God will regard their petitions and revive the work among them.

The outside attendance was unusually small. This is easily accounted for. There is no church of Seventh-day Adventists very near, and the people were ignorant of us and of our faith. What little they had heard was, as might be expected, calculated to excite prejudice rather than an interest. And the work of advertising was not sufficiently thorough. We tried to remedy this in part after we got on the ground, but there being no daily paper published there we failed. But we have great reason to be satisfied with the result, considering the weather and all circumstances. The neatness of the ground, the order maintained, and a calm, considerate appeal to their reason on Bible evidences, removed prejudice, and we heard of many expressions of a favorable disappointment.

On Monday afternoon ten were baptized. Fortunately water for this purpose was not far off. The distance we were compelled to go in Indiana, on account of the unusual drought, consumed so much of the day that we had no opportunity to address the churches on health reform, as we had designed on that day. This we deeply regretted, as a testimony on that subject was much needed in Indiana. Several subscriptions were taken for the Reformer, and we hope this subject may receive more attention in that State. The interest was revived in Ohio, and we trust the importance of this reform is better appreciated by all our people who attended the meeting.

Bro. Littlejohn left the ground Monday evening, taking the train for Fort Wayne, having company on the route to assist him in making the change at Fort Wayne. The meeting broke up Tuesday forenoon, on which day I left, arriving at the residence of Bro. Guilford in Erie Co., that evening. The remainder of the week I rested, arranged the business of the meetings for the Office, and wrote letters. Sabbath morning I held meeting in Clyde, and afternoon in Townsend. These were good, impressive meetings, and we were encouraged to believe that those who attended the camp-meeting had brought the spirit of the work to their homes to bear fruit hereafter. May God give results to his own glory. J. H. W.