Camp-Meeting at Lodi, Wisconsin.
By George Ide Butler
This meeting has just closed, and it has been a great success. It is considered by the brethren and sisters the best meeting ever held in this State. About three hundred Sabbath-keepers were in constant attendance. The weather was pleasant—not a drop of rain from beginning to close. The weather some days was too warm for comfort. The grove was quite pleasant. Good water was accessible, and there was no murmuring that I heard of from the beginning to the close. There were from twelve to fifteen hundred in attendance Sunday who listened with close interest to sister White's discourse forenoon and evening. There had been considerable prejudice in this community before this, but this was much abated in consequence of her speaking. A gratifying increase has been seen in this Conference the past year. Eight new churches were received into it this session. God has been blessing the labors of several who have recently gone out to work in the Master's vineyard. We trust they will become useful men in this important work. About $2500 were pledged for the printing press on the Pacific Coast. Thirteen were baptized. Bro. Ole A. Oleson, of Fort Howard, Brown Co., Wis., was elected President of the Conference and Tract and Missionary Society. Being a Norwegian by birth, we hope his election will more closely unite our people with that nationality. There are eight churches of Norwegians and Danes in the Wisconsin Conference. The Conference took a good step by passing a resolution cordially inviting those of these nationalities to attend our camp-meetings, assuring them hereafter they shall have religious services in their own tongue during the meetings. We hope they will turn out largely hereafter and receive the great benefit the camp-meetings afford. We regard it as very important that there should be a close union of those of different tongues. And we earnestly desire that everything like a distant feeling shall be broken down. We rejoice that thus far a good degree of union has existed. We are glad there is power in the present truth to unite those of different national prejudices and feelings. This is not done so thoroughly in any other denomination. Our spiritual meetings have been deeply interesting. Sabbath morning, especially, we shall remember for a long time with great pleasure as an interesting season. I do not often witness a meeting which moves forward with such a marked interest. The testimonies were not lengthy and tiresome, but humble, intelligent, and earnest. The language of the heart was spoken, and met a response in other hearts. We found this camp-ground an easy place to preach. It seemed to be pervaded with a heavenly atmosphere. Holy angels were evidently near. The Lord has been at work in Wisconsin for the last few years. That bewilderment which has been upon the minds of the people for years seems to be moving away, and the true Spirit of God coming in. Young men of modesty and piety are being developed, and nearly all are looking for better days in this Conference. Our meetings were far more free than in Illinois, and it was much more easy to labor here. Sister White's presence upon the ground was a great blessing to the cause. Her discourses were received with gladness. Her coming East will evidently be a great blessing to the cause. The only regret is that Bro. White is detained by necessary duties in California so that he cannot be here also. But God will bless him where he is. In conclusion we again say, the Wisconsin camp-meeting has been a great success. Lodi, Wis., June 23, 1874.