The Michigan Camp-Meeting.
By Uriah Smith
Commencing on the evening of Sept. 13, this meeting was held to the 19th, according to appointment. Fifty-seven tents, including the two large tents, arranged in one grand circle about thirty rods in diameter, furnished temporary homes for nearly eight hundred Sabbath-keepers. The meeting was more numerously attended than the camp-meeting of last year. In this the brethren manifested a commendable zeal. Michigan has been favored with but little ministerial labor, so far in this Conference year, yet there has evidently been a growth of the cause in this State. The large circle of tents, the busy tent companies, the union that prevailed, the cheerful countenances, the cordial greetings, and the interest manifested in the prosperity of the cause, conveyed a very decided impression that the truth was still flourishing in many hearts. In this is seen the power of the truth. What other system, under such circumstances, would have thus held the people? Thank God for a vital truth adapted to the wants of men at this time. Bro. and sister White, and Bro. Andrews, Waggoner, Littlejohn, Bates, Byington, Van Horn and Lawrence, were among the speakers present. Bro. White spoke five times, sister White three times, and Bro. Littlejohn four times. The preaching was with great freedom and power. This was the case with all the speakers. Bro. White dwelt with much freedom on the subject of the second advent, and the work of reform in its bearing upon the preparation we are to make for that event, and our being overcomers at last. Bro. Littlejohn, Sunday forenoon threw around the Sabbath an impregnable fortification of facts and arguments. Sister White called the attention of the people to the higher objects of life, endeavoring to lead their minds from the low, the vain, the frivolous, to things of eternal interest. The contemplation of the glories of nature as connected with the Sabbath, and the connection between the law and the gospel, the Father and the Son, were beautifully presented. Bro. Andrews spoke with his usual power on the grand conclusion to which all things tend, the Judgment and the eternal issues of the great day. The social meetings were spirited and free. It was difficult to bring some of them to a conclusion. In the social meeting Sabbath morning at 9 A. M., a call was made for sinners and back-sliders. The Spirit of God moved powerfully upon the people. They pressed forward to the number of about two hundred, many of them starting for the first time. It was found impossible to close the meeting at the hour for preaching, and so it was continued till noon. It was good to be there. This scene was repeated Monday forenoon. On Sunday there was probably the largest company of people assembled that was ever gathered under the proclamation of the third message. Such assemblages are apt to be overestimated, but the lowest figure put upon this congregation, by any one, was four thousand. We believe it was never before seen on this wise in the history of Seventh-day Adventism. The people listened with good attention; and when the proposition was made at the close of the afternoon service to distribute some half a thousand or more of tracts gratuitously, to those who wished candidly to read upon these subjects, the rush that was made to the stand, and the forest of hands that went up eagerly for the little silent preachers, was a most gratifying sight to those whose chief desire is to see a knowledge of the truth spread among the people. When the hour arrived for the special meeting of the Publishing Association, which was called for the 18th inst., at 8 A. M., after some discussion it was decided that the purpose for which the meeting was called could not be legitimately carried out except at the regular annual session. The call was therefore withdrawn and no session held. The matter which it was designed to bring before that meeting was referred to a committee composed of all the tent-masters. Their action will be seen in a series of resolutions published in another column. On Monday, candidates were examined for baptism. Twenty-two presented themselves. Some of these being such as have frequent opportunities to receive this ordinance in the places where they reside, it was thought best that they should attend to this matter with their respective churches. Nineteen were baptized in the afternoon by Bro. Lawrence, who seems well qualified, from experience and otherwise, for the administration of this ordinance. The candidates, some of whom were quite young, followed their Lord in this sacred rite, with the utmost calmness and composure. It was a scene to be enjoyed, not only by the happy participants, but by the numerous throng of believers who lined the banks of the Battle Creek as witnesses. In the evening, Bro. D. H. Lamson, of Olivet, Mich., was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry. Two thousand and eighty-two dollars were subscribed by those on the ground for shares in the Publishing Association and Health Institute. In all the proposed movements for the further advancement of the cause, there was, though emanating from many heads, only one mind. The cause in Michigan is not torn by schism nor jarred by contention. This State is a most promising field for labor; and while it generously sends a large proportion of its few ministers to other States, it nevertheless pleads mutely through its whitening harvest-fields for earnest workers to enter in with the gospel sickle, and save the golden grain that is ready to perish. The sixty feet tent purchased by Bro. White last spring for the Missouri Conference, having come back upon his hands, as the brethren there concluded that a smaller and cheaper one would answer their purpose when they should become able to purchase, he pitched it on the Charlotte Camp-ground, as one of the two Michigan tents could not well be spared from Indiana, where the Brn. Lane have been efficiently laboring with it the past season. This furnished two large tents for this meeting, neither of which could have well been spared. The camp-meeting and State committees thought best to purchase this tent of Bro. White for use in Michigan. This gives the Michigan and Indiana Conference three large tents, one of which is designed to run in Indiana, and two in Michigan, another year. The President of the Agricultural Society offered the use of the Fair Ground at Charlotte, free of expense, for our camp-meeting next year. A vote of thanks was tendered him for his liberal offer, and the matter was left with the camp-meeting committee for the coming year, composed of the following brethren: Charles Russell, E. W. Whitney, Gardner K. Owen. We consider this one of the best meetings of this kind that have been held in this State. If we correctly judge, the memory and influence of its pleasant scenes will not soon be effaced from the minds of those who were there. We see not how it can result otherwise than in great good to the cause in this State; while it is easy to imagine that all have arisen from this feast refreshed, and returned to their homes mentally exclaiming, Ho! for another year's labor in the cause of truth, and for a grander rally, if time continue, and God permit, in 1872. U. S.