Iowa Camp-Meeting by I. D. Van Horn

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 28, 1883

Iowa Camp-Meeting.

By I. D. Van Horn

THIS meeting was held in Des Moines, June 7–13. Cloudy and rainy weather hindered the progress of the meeting and the outside attendance, yet the number on the ground exceeded that of last year.

There was a marked promptness shown by nearly all in coming early to the meeting. The first meeting was held Tuesday evening, the 5th, more than twenty-four hours in advance of the appointment, with over one hundred present. When the appointed time came, a large majority of the brethren and sisters were on the ground and ready for meeting. Remaining to the close was equally as marked as was the beginning. This was as it should be, and our meeting was all the better for it. Bro. Butler arrived on the ground Friday morning, and his presence and influence gave new life and interest to the meeting. The business of the Conference and other branches of the cause was delayed some, but was done with the usual unity and good feeling.

The preaching was mostly practical, and forcible, and calculated to arouse our people to a sense of the shortness of time, the little moment, as it were, that is left us to get ready to meet our Lord in peace and joy, and the necessity of an entire consecration to God and his work. Special and earnest appeals were made for all our people to arise to duty and make efforts, through every branch and channel of the cause, to spread the light of truth everywhere. These appeals were responded to nobly by all our brethren and sisters as will be seen in the sequel to this report.

The devotional exercises both in the large pavilion, and in the several divisions of the camp, were marked with deep feeling and with many seeking the Lord. On Sabbath afternoon, after a stirring discourse by Bro. Butler, a call was made for those far away from God, both backsliders and sinners, who wanted to seek the Lord, to come forward. About one hundred responded. It was a solemn and impressive scene. It melted the hearts of both ministers and people. The Spirit of the Lord was present in rich measure at our season of prayer, after which all repaired to their several divisions and the work was carried on there. Many were made to rejoice in a Saviour's love. On Sunday morning and Monday this work was continued, and in the afternoon of Monday, after a discourse on Baptism, fifty-seven came forward to obey the claims of the gospel in this ordinance. The season at the water was solemn and impressive.

The Scandinavian portion of our camp-meeting held services by themselves every day which was marked with their usual devotion and earnestness. Several of those baptized were from this people.

The President of the General Conference set before our people the wants of the cause in its different branches,—more especially the need of means, to carry on the work in our foreign missions. The brethren and sisters became interested to that degree that in a very short time pledges were taken to the amount of nearly $4,000, which was about equally divided between the International Tract Society, the European Mission, the Danish Mission, and the English Mission. Beside this, about $200 was raised on the Tent and Camp-meeting fund. Iowa has done nobly in thus responding to these worthy objects. May she share largely in the rich blessing of God, and may many souls be made to rejoice in the kingdom, as the fruit of her benevolence.

The canvassing work was an interesting feature in our meeting. Bro. George King was present, and gave a report of the canvass for "Thoughts on Daniel and Revelation." The report was full of courage and hope. Bro. Cudney, President of the Nebraska Conference, was with us and gave us a very encouraging report of the SIGNS canvass in his Conference. He was full of zeal in this branch of the work, and Iowa caught some of his spirit, for steps were taken to push the same work in this State.

On the whole we had a good camp-meeting, and all went to their homes feeling that the cause demanded much of their time, talent, and means. All were strengthened in their souls to meet the conflict before us bravely and nobly. I. D. VAN HORN. Portage, Wis., June 14.