p. 86 | New York Camp-Meeting by George I. Butler

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 27, 1872

New York Camp-Meeting.

By George I. Butler

This important meeting has closed, and we trust it has been one of profit to the cause. In company with Eld. Littlejohn we reached the ground Wednesday morning, and found quite a number of the brethren there, though most of the tents had not arrived. But they came in a short time, and soon there were thirty very nice looking tents up besides the large, sixty-foot tent. Yet the meeting was not as large as I expected. I should judge there were upwards of three hundred present. Bro. Haskell was with us, and assisted much in the tract-society and other business meetings, as well as in preaching.

The meetings were from the first interesting and solemn, and truly heart-searching times. Friday afternoon, Bro. Littlejohn called those forward who desired prayers, and almost all the congregation came to the front seats, and with weeping and brokenness of spirit many confessed their need of more of the blessing of God. Nearly all of these were persons who have made a profession and belonged to the church. We were sorry that the friends of the cause had not brought more of their unconverted friends with them. There are generally many persons in different parts of the field who are acquainted with our views more or less, who have not taken a stand with us entirely. They feel favorably disposed toward the truth as far as they know it. They need something to move them to take a full stand, and there cannot well be a more fitting place to accomplish these results than a camp-meeting, where our people are trying to draw near to God.

The spirit of the place is solemn, the preaching calculated to search the heart and bring it to a point of decision. People are far more likely to act sensibly at such a time, when sacred truth is made prominent, than when under the influence of the worldly spirit at home. We exercise an influence upon each other when we associate together, and we should avail ourselves of every legitimate means to overcome the worldly spirit so prevalent around us, and bring those to such meetings who need them. They should be searched out and persuaded to come, and be helped to see the truth in its fullness. We were sorry there were not more than ten or twelve such persons at our meeting. Several of our S. D. Baptist friends were with us, and took part in our social meetings, and to some of them we became much attached.

On Sunday, the outside attendance numbered some 1500. Seven were baptized Monday. The workings of the Tract and Missionary Society seemed to be beneficial to the cause, and a good degree of interest was manifested by its members. There was an increase of subscribers for the Reformer of over two hundred, and also of the Instructor, in its bounds, as well as some for the Review, and an improvement of some three hundred dollars in the arrearages on our periodicals since the establishment of the society, besides the scattering of many tracts and pamphlets. Surely, these things show some success, and give ground for encouragement.

Bro. Harmon Lindsay was designated by the Conference to represent New York, in company with Bro. Abbey now at Battle Creek, in assisting, as Providence should open the way, in helping forward the work. He expressed his design to act in accordance with this choice as soon as he could consistently do so. There seems to be a determination on the part of this Conference that the work shall go more in new fields, as will be seen by the resolutions passed in the Conference. We trust there will be encouragement in store for the friends in New York, and hope that God's blessing will rest upon them.

GEO. I. BUTLER.

Richmond, Va., Aug. 15, 1872.