Camp-Meeting in Missouri by H. C. Blanchard; L. D. Santee

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 3, 1871

Camp-Meeting in Missouri.

By H. C. Blanchard; L. D. Santee

PURSUANT to appointment, we commenced a camp-meeting near Diamond Grove, Newton Co., Mo., Thursday, Aug. 24. There was a good attendance of the brethren and sisters from the surrounding country. The church at Avilla was largely represented. Quite a number came from Nashville. Several from Seneca, and some from Kansas, testified by a journey of seventy miles their eager desire to hear the word of the Lord. Services were appointed as follows: Prayer in the tents at 6 A. M.; prayer-meeting at 9; preaching at 10½; social meeting at 3 P. M., and preaching at 7½ in the evening. Such were the appointments for the day, though they were sometimes varied by hindering causes.

We preached twenty-three discourses, and although there was much opposition, we enjoyed good liberty. Toward the close of our meeting, the only argument used by some Disciple ministers, who are ever learning, &c., was to advise their people to stay away. The attendance was small, as there were two protracted meetings in progress within two or three miles of us, and some of the brethren were compelled by sickness to return home before the conclusion of our meeting. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the interest steadily increased to the close. Ten more embraced the truth, and resolved to be obedient. Among them is one that was an elder in the Disciple church, and one who had been a Methodist minister. A church of twenty-five members has been partially organized, and meetings and Bible-class appointed for the Sabbath. We trust that the scattered brethren who attended these meetings, are strengthened and encouraged, and better prepared to stand against the wily foe.

Next Wednesday evening, the Lord willing, we shall commence meetings at Avilla, to continue over Sabbath and first-day, at which time will be the meeting of the Avilla church. We would say to the scattered and lonely ones, Dear brethren, be faithful. We shall meet with you when we can, and we pray and trust that God in his providence will raise up more laborers for this great western field. H. C. BLANCHARD. L. D. SANTEE.