Camp-Meeting at Lee’s Summit, Mo.
By George Ide Butler
This meeting has just closed, and we call it a success. It was by far the largest meeting ever held by S. D. Adventists in the Missouri and Kansas Conference. The large preaching tent was erected, and another large tent some forty feet by eighteen, in which many were accommodated, and twelve other family and church tents, and many covered wagons in which families lived. There were upwards of two hundred Sabbath-keepers, I should judge, in constant attendance. They were nearly all on the ground Thursday morning and continued till the close. Our grove was a pretty one, and the weather most delightful. We had but one little shower and that disturbed no meeting. We were much pleased to see many new faces among those in attendance who have come into the truth the past year. There is no Conference in the whole field where the people take so much trouble to get out to meetings as they have in Missouri and Kansas. Many of them came from one hundred to three hundred miles. From Elk Falls, Kansas, four wagon loads came over two hundred miles. The trip will take them about three weeks. Some may think this a terrible waste of effort. We will show them results before we get through this report directly traceable to just such sacrifices as these. They made them last year. The fruits are beginning to be seen this year. We may depend upon it when people get earnest enough in the cause of God to make such efforts, that earnestness will produce results. People can travel, for pleasure or business, much further, and no one thinks there is anything wrong about it. But let it be done for our sacred religion and it looks to many as though it was thrown away. So we show where our hearts are placed. Our attendance from the outside world was not large. It is reported that a very bitter spirit has prevailed against the present truth in this community in the past. Still there were no manifestations of it during the meeting, and all things passed off pleasantly. The editor of the local paper gave us a very friendly notice in his paper. He thought our zeal very commendable. The business meetings of the Conference were most encouraging. Last year many were very much depressed to think the General Conference did not send them any laborers from other States. But the young, inexperienced licentiates took hold with those who had preached before, and labored earnestly. God has blessed these efforts abundantly; and as a result, twelve new churches, organized and partially organized, were presented and admitted to the Conference. There were only ten belonging to it before. These new churches increased the membership 148, and the S. B. $663.49, making a total membership of 343, and S. B. $1540.17. This result is truly wonderful; and though there will doubtless be some discount to be made on these results, as usual, yet I think there are many valuable additions among these to the strength of the cause there. There are many openings for labor in all directions and a real spirit of labor exists among the people. In the Conference sessions there was some anxiety manifested to buy a new forty-foot tent, and a wish expressed that they might have two. These would cost nearly $500. A subscription was started, and when the pledges were counted up, they were found to amount to upwards of $800. The additional $300 were voted to the new paper in California, the Oregon, Swedish, and Danish Missions. So there will be four tents running the present season in the Missouri and Kansas Conference. Tract and Missionary Societies were organized for the first time in this Conference. The people entered into this work with real interest. About $500 were subscribed to start this enterprise properly. There is a very marked contrast in the state of things from what there was two years ago or more. It seemed to be one of the hardest fields then anywhere in the United States. It seemed as if little could be accomplished there. But good angels have been stirring the hearts of the people, and we have no doubt it was because the people last year possessed a genuine spirit of sacrifice. The people have been taking hold of the whole truth, at least, it has been preached more fully than in some cases in the past. There is much to be done to help those who have embraced the truth to stand complete in all its parts. But we are encouraged to think the importance of this is realized as never before. Our religious meetings were good and solemn, and the spirit of true religion seems to have a deep hold of many hearts. Bro. J. H. Rogers was ordained to the ministry. Eighteen went forward in the ordinance of baptism. The people seemed to go home with a new sense of the importance of the work of God, and a new determination to be earnest in their efforts to bring the truth before the people. There are some young men growing into the work as laborers who give promise of future usefulness. We can but hope for good results the coming season. This meeting has encouraged those who bestowed most of the labor during its progress. For myself, I never commenced a series of meetings feeling weaker in body or mind than at the commencement of this. The burden of the camp-meetings in the absence of Bro. and sister White seemed very great. It is no small thing to have those who take such great pains to come such long distances to the meeting go home increased in courage and hope and have the work move right forward. The burden has seemed to me exceeding great for the season before us, and I have felt to say, Who is sufficient for these things? This meeting has left me feeling more than one hundred per cent better in health and courage. Brethren and sisters, God lives, and is ready to bless and help us if we enter into his work with true courage and hope and sacrifice. When sacrifices cease, the cause languishes. When our people are contented to sink down into a do-nothing state, the Lord leaves them to languish. Activity, earnestness, sacrifice, and strong efforts in spite of discouragements or difficulties, are the things we must have if this be God’s work. Brethren, let us arouse and do our duty. GEO. I. BUTLER. Newton, Iowa, June 4, 1874.