Progress of the Cause by GEO. L. BUTLER

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 16, 1872

Progress of the Cause.

By GEO. L. BUTLER

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again, with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

The Wisconsin Camp-Meeting.

Our excellent meeting at Lodi, Wis., has just closed, this being the last one of the Western Camp-meetings for this season. We reached the ground Thursday noon, from Minnesota, and found the meeting in progress, and Bro. Matteson preaching. The brethren had selected rather a pleasant place for it, some eighty rods from the village of Lodi, a small stream some distance in front of it and a pond of water behind it, with a sufficient grove around it for devotional purposes. It was not so large a meeting as I had expected, by considerable, there being only thirteen tents up, besides the large sixty-foot tent. Probably there were not far from three hundred brethren in attendance. There were hardly as many present as at Minnesota, though the Conference is much larger. I was rather surprised at this.

There was a great disappointment that Bro. and sister White were not present, which threatened, at first, to interfere with the good of the meeting.

The preaching was solemn and searching in its nature, and designed to set before the mind the character of the time in which we are living and the kind of people we must be to stand in the Judgment. At first, there seemed to be a disposition on the part of some to make the occasion a pleasant one, merely, a season of present enjoyment, to have a good opportunity to sing, and visit, and pass away the time, with no real searching of heart. But as the meeting progressed there was a great improvement, and this spirit gave place to a serious spirit of inquiry with nearly all, as to their real condition before God. Confessions were made, and brokenness of heart manifested. The preaching evidently affected hearts deeply.

Sabbath afternoon, the usual opportunity was given for individuals to manifest a desire for a deeper work of grace in the heart, and for conversion, by coming forward for prayers. There must have been upwards of two hundred, who immediately availed themselves of this opportunity. It was a very solemn time, and God's blessing seemed to come down greatly upon his servants and people as prayer was offered up. The people then repaired to their tents to carry the work further, and although the work was measurably interfered with by a furious storm of wind and rain, lasting a short time, yet these meetings continued till near the close of the Sabbath, and were characterized by confessions to one another, which did much to heal differences which had long existed in some churches and among some individuals.

On Sunday, there were from one thousand to twelve hundred persons present, who were orderly and gave good attention. Bro. Littlejohn spoke in the forenoon on the Sabbath question, and the people listened with interest. Some confessed the truth and said they should keep the Sabbath. In the afternoon, the rain nearly broke up the meeting.

On Monday morning, a Tract and Missionary Society was organized for the State, and seven were baptized. Then the meeting broke up.

The sessions of the Conference, held from time to time, were harmonious, and the financial standing of the Conference is good. $300.00 were voted to the General Conference Fund, and more still was left to carry on tent operations the coming season, after paying up all dues standing against the Conference. All seemed much encouraged, and leading brethren expressed themselves strongly that it was the best camp-meeting ever held in Wisconsin. In many places where trials have existed in the past they are growing out of them, and courage is taking the place of despondency. Truly, God is good to his people. The work is onward. We trust the right spirit will pervade the people, and the work move forward gloriously. To the Lord be all the praise.

GEO. L. BUTLER.

Chicago, Ill., July 3, 1872.