Report of the Minnesota Camp-Meeting.
By George I. Butler
THIS meeting convened, according to appointment, Thursday morning, and was a large meeting. Forty-three tents, I think, were up, besides the large tent, and between four and five hundred on the ground in constant attendance. It was by far the largest meeting ever held in the State. The increase during the past year in the Conference has been truly gratifying. Twelve new churches were admitted, with an aggregate membership of about two hundred and twenty, and more than one thousand dollars in S. B. have been pledged. This is exclusive of the additions to the old churches, which in some instances were considerable. When the circumstances of the Conference are considered, this increase is nothing less than astonishing. There has been no experienced laborer in the State at all for the past year. A few licentiates have been doing what they could. The T. and M. Societies have been instrumental in much of this. And the whole thing plainly shows that God has been moving upon the hearts of the people by his Spirit. It seems like a spontaneous work almost. Many of these new members were at the camp-meeting, who had never before attended a Seventh-day Adventist meeting, and many of these put to shame the old members by their readiness to give of their means. Some of them put down their hundreds and fifties for this and that object, with the greatest apparent interest. Thus this strange work goes on. There must be a power in this truth when such results are seen. Five of these churches were Swedes, raised up by the labors of Bro. Chas. Lee. Our hearts became greatly attached to many of these. They were among the most liberal on the ground. Nineteen hundred dollars were pledged on the Pacific printing press, and one thousand pledged for a tent fund, and three new, forty-foot tents ordered. Bro. Lee was ordained to the ministry by the laying on of hands. The weather was exceedingly warm some of the time, but otherwise very pleasant. Bro. D. P. Curtis was with us again this year. As the readers of the REVIEW may remember, he has been a minister of the S. D. Baptists for many years. But for fifteen years, more or less, his mind has been exercised over those questions connected with the advent movement, and a growing conviction has been forcing itself upon his conscience that here was special truth for the last days. He sees the work moving on almost without laborers, and he freely expressed himself, that his mind was convinced that God is in this special movement. He has not thus far connected himself with us by uniting with our church. We have had no desire to urge him in this direction. But we understand him to say that he shall soon express himself clearly in the Recorder and REVIEW. In sentiment he is an Adventist. We hope that God will bless this dear brother and enlarge his field of usefulness. There was not all that freedom in our spiritual meetings at first that we desired to see. But toward the close things lightened up very much. Monday was a very profitable day. Heartfelt testimonies were given, and some started out for the first time to walk in obedience to the law of God. Eighteen were baptized. Altogether the meeting closed very encouragingly, and we call it a success. The testimony of sister White was very highly appreciated at this meeting, and much of the meeting's success is attributable to it. God is making her attendance at the camp-meetings this season a great blessing to his cause. The brethren and sisters went away to their homes much encouraged and strengthened, and more determined than ever to labor in the vineyard of the Lord. Thus ends the last of the five Western camp-meetings. They have been seasons of much wearing labor, but of special encouragement. There must be not far from one thousand new members added to the cause in these five Conferences alone during the past year, and but few old and experienced laborers in the whole five. The financial strength has increased to a corresponding extent. Is this not truly marvelous? And is not the Lord showing us by this his readiness to help? I cannot doubt this. This work moves forward as we should think God's cause would. I can but regard these five camp-meetings as the most encouraging, on the whole, which I ever attended. Thus the Lord makes up for the weakness of human efforts. Forty-four new churches received in five States, and ten new tents purchased and running the present season, while most of the old laborers are away in other fields! Truly God is moving upon the hearts of the people.
GEO. I. BUTLER.