The Pennsylvania Camp-Meeting.
By John Orr Corliss
WE arrived at the place of meeting on Wednesday, May 30, and found a goodly number of our brethren already in camp. Although the weather was cold and disagreeably damp, all seemed cheerful, and determined to do all in their power to make the meeting successful. On account of some rain and wind, the services did not commence till Thursday morning. The weather was quite pleasant after Thursday till the close. It was estimated that about three hundred of our brethren were encamped on the ground. The circle of family tents numbered thirty-five. These with two forty-foot tents, the book tent and pavilion formed the entire encampment. The preaching was done by Elders Butler, Whitney (B. L.), Fero and the writer. On Sunday two discourses setting forth the fundamental principles of Seventh-day Adventists were delivered to fair congregations from the city (Olean) and surrounding country. With this exception the preaching was of a hortatory nature, designed to point out the dangers and duties of the present time, and to encourage all to active service in the cause of truth. Judging from what we heard and saw, the effort was not unsuccessful. Many wept over their past lukewarmness, and pledged themselves to greater diligence and faithfulness in the future. The Sabbath was an especially good day to all. An excellent Sabbath-school was held in the morning under the direction of Brother Oviatt. The lessons were well learned, and the cheerful promptness with which each one responded to his or her name at the time of general questions showed that the schools in the entire Conference had given much thought to the subject under consideration. In the afternoon nearly the entire camp sought the blessing of God, that each felt had been lost through lack of energy and devotion. Some who had wholly left the path of truth returned, and renewed their covenant with God, while some for the first time came seeking a preparation to stand in the day of the Lord. When the wants of various missions were set before the people a noble response was made, netting pledges to the amount of $1,800. This sum was nearly evenly divided among the European and English missions and the International Tract and Missionary Society. One good brother had just previously pledged $1,000 for the European mission, which, added to the above, aggregates $2,800. The farewell meeting Tuesday morning will not soon be forgotten by those present. One hundred testimonies were borne in quick succession, and nearly every one was with trembling voice and moistened eye. Near the close of the meeting Bro. Whitney spoke a few words of farewell admonition to those with and for whom he had labored so long, as it was the last meeting he would have with the brethren before departing for Europe. Some wept aloud at the thought of final separation, and many vows of consecration were made which we hope will be ever daily remembered and acted upon by those who made them. They will then be enabled to join in that final reunion of the saints from which there will be no painful separations. Clifton, Va. June 12, 1883,