Ohio Camp-Meeting by George I. Butler

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 24, 1872

Ohio Camp-Meeting.

By George I. Butler

Another important meeting has just closed with good results to the cause of present truth.

When we reached the ground, some three miles from the station, we found the brethren hard at work preparing it for the meeting. They had been disappointed in not getting the ground they occupied last year, and were therefore thrown behind a day or two, so that the meeting did not fairly commence till Thursday noon. We all made the best of the delay we could, some of us in rest and doing up some of our writing, and others in making preparation.

There was the largest attendance of Sabbath-keepers present that was ever assembled in the State; more, by considerable, than I expected to see. There were twenty tents well filled besides some who were obliged to stay elsewhere, and probably upwards of two hundred brethren and sisters. The weather was very favorable for our meeting though a little too cool. We had a pleasant grove away from all the noise and confusion of the town, and the opportunity was favorable for spiritual improvement.

The word preached seemed to profit those who heard, and there seemed to be a real disposition to work in the cause and reap the benefits to be gained on such an occasion. Sabbath day there was a general move to seek the Lord. When all who desired prayers were called forward, almost the whole congregation moved out. I think I never saw so large a proportion in any audience accept the invitation before. The brethren and sisters in Ohio seem heartily in union with the work in all parts of the field, and willing to do their part to help advance it; and this, in spite of the fact that they have had but little labor, having had no ordained minister belonging to the State for years in the past. This fact shows there is a vitality in this doctrine and work that does not exist generally in the religious world. Not many of the denominations of the present day could keep up an organization at all, did they not have a preacher stationed to keep watch over them all the time, while our people go for a year scarcely hearing a sermon, and then come fifty, one hundred, or even two hundred miles to our annual meetings ready to take hold in supporting the work. May God bless the dear struggling ones amidst the darkness around them.

The friends of the cause subscribed nearly three hundred dollars on the Hygienic Book fund. At the close of the meeting two were baptized. Bro. H. A. St. John was solemnly ordained to the work of the ministry by the laying on of hands. The Spirit of the Lord seemed to specially witness to the work as being according to the mind of the same.

In reference to men moving to Battle Creek, the Conference took emphatic action, and named Brn. Oliver Mears and Newell Grant as those whose duty it was to step forward to supply the need felt at that important post. We hope these brethren will feel that this action of their State Conference is of some importance, seeing it is the expressed judgment of those of experience in the cause. We hope they will not feel like taking the responsibility of refusing to come up to the help of the cause of God in a most trying hour, when great and important interests, such as our denominational school, and others, are hindered for the very reason of the lack existing at the heart of the work. They will be clear in heeding the voice of their brethren, we do not believe they will in neglecting it. We have delayed already too long as a people in supplying this great want. We are glad Ohio has set an example of sacrifice, by being willing to give men in whom she has confidence and whose loss will be felt, for the benefit of the whole cause. GEO. I. BUTLER.

Kokomo, Ind., Sept. 18, 1872.