The Indiana Camp-Meeting.
By Stephen N. Haskell
We left the Ohio camp-ground in company with Eld. E. B. Lane and wife, and sister White, for Kokomo, Ind., Tuesday, Sept. 22. Circumstances were such that it seemed duty for Bro. White to leave the Ohio camp-ground Monday, so he was not with us in Indiana. This lack of course was seriously felt by those who had the responsibility of the meeting as well as by those for whom we tried to labor. We found the camp-ground much improved in comparison with what it was last year. The circle was much enlarged. Twenty-two good-sized tents were pitched upon the ground. Two hundred Sabbath-keepers were present, and quite a number of them were those who had embraced the Sabbath in the past year. Two churches were received under the watchcare of the Conference, numbering thirty-two members, and representing $200 of Systematic Benevolence. A number of companies besides were spoken of, but S. B. had not been arranged, nor leaders appointed, and their admission to the Conference was therefore deferred. This Conference is evidently coming up in numbers, spirituality, and interest in the general work of the third angel's message. This is as it should be. Our work is an aggressive one. Our ministers are missionaries. With their cotton churches, they enter, during the summer months, into villages and cities, and during the cold season, into school-houses and meeting-houses, to present the truths applicable to the present time, raise up companies of believers, organize them into churches, and then leave them to work for themselves and for others, and give of their means to carry the truth into “regions beyond.” The brethren in this Conference are beginning to feel the spirit of this. When the interests of the cause in California were presented, and the prospects of establishing a publishing house there were set forth, five men freely volunteered to be one-hundred-dollar men for that purpose. Then came the book funds. Over five hundred dollars were raised in a few moments for that enterprise. This Conference was able to pay their ministers liberally, and was anxious thus to do. The question of donating to the General Conference came up. They were anxious to give two hundred dollars. When this was objected to on the ground that there was not that amount in the treasury after paying other claims against the Conference, the reply was, “Then we will put our hands into our pockets and make it up.” Our religious meetings were also of deep interest. Sabbath was a day that will long be remembered by many who were on the Indiana camp-ground. At the close of sister White's discourse Sabbath afternoon, without any apparent excitement, at least one-half of the congregation feelingly came forward as an evidence of their desire to start anew in the service of God. Many of these had commenced to keep the Sabbath under the recent labors with the tent, but had been too well contented with the mere theory. Monday was a precious season. After listening to a discourse upon baptism, we repaired to Wild Cat Creek, where sixteen candidates cheerfully followed the example of their divine Lord, in baptism. The Spirit of God rested upon us. It was truly refreshing to witness the formality which is so common melt away under the influence of the love of God; and as these individuals came up out of the water, they would embrace their friends on the shore, and amid tears of joy express their determination to serve the Lord faithfully. Stout hearts melted. Many an eye of those who were witnessing the scene filled with tears. On Sunday, about fifteen hundred people were present, who paid the closest attention to the word spoken. Monday evening was our parting meeting. So far as we could judge, nearly every one that came forward for prayers on the Sabbath, spoke, while some spoke for the first time. Many who had been upon the background felt the necessity of doing more in the cause of God than ever before. Nearly all the brethren remained till the very last meeting, feeling much encouraged and strengthened to enter the service of God more devotedly than ever before. S. N. HASKELL.