Kansas Camp-Meeting

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 7, 1877

Kansas Camp-Meeting.

WHILE enjoying a visit at my brother’s in Canton, Mo., I received a card from Bro. White requesting me to attend the Kansas Camp-meeting. I arrived at Ottawa the 23d. The meeting is now past, and we are able to report a good degree of progress.

The meeting was not nearly so largely attended as was expected, owing to the recent heavy rains, by which the streams were raised so high it was impossible to travel with teams in some parts of the State. The railroad bridge, as well as the wagon bridge, was taken away at Lawrence. There were about 250 Sabbath-keepers tented on the ground.

As the meeting fairly opened it became evident that a spirit of depression was resting on the minds of most of those present, with some amounting to discouragement. The attendance being small, the disappointment of many that Bro. and Sister White did not come, only one speaker being present from abroad, and the finances of the conference being deficient, all conspired to make the outlook gloomy.

Bro. Ayers, the President, came with a full determination to refuse to bear the responsibility of office during the next year. Of course some were discouraged for personal reasons, being backslidden. But the clouds early began to break away and the light increased unto the close. Burdened souls were set free; several made their first start in the cause; 14 were baptized.

At the conference of last year $200 were drawn in advance on the pledges, of the then coming year. This year there was a deficiency of $376, on the pay of the ministers; a new tent 50x70, had been purchased, but was unpaid for, and some small sums were due on camp expenses. But this deficiency was all made up at this meeting, mostly by donations of ready money, with some pledges on short time, so the conference commences another year with all debts paid and a good prospect for the future.

This money was raised with very little urging and nothing that could really be called begging. With eight new churches received into the conference, and five unorganized companies taken under its care, the brethren and sisters felt that the labor performed was worthy of the hire allowed to it, and every dollar was given with a cheerful good will. The new tent is needed. The president was re-elected and all the ministers start out with new strength and courage. The proportion of new faces seen at the meetings was unusually large. Bro. Stover informed me that there are about sixty new converts in his section. The weather was excellent, though the nights were rather cool as a season of heavy rains was just past.

The “First-day Adventists” once held a tent-meeting here, and preached “definite time” for the Lord’s coming. I was told by the editor of the paper in Ottawa, that prejudice existed here because of the general belief that we set the time for the advent. This we had to wear away, and we are now informed that the attendance would have been much larger if the meeting had continued longer. This leaves a good prospect for a tent-meeting here at some future day. But our congregations were good in the main. Sunday morning it was evident that the church members mostly attended at their own churches, but in the afternoon and evening the attendance was large. Better order I never saw at any out door meeting. When the congregations were largest, there was no noise nor confusion about the camp. Without any guard, nothing was disturbed day nor night.

I think the prospect before this young and growing conference is decidedly encouraging. Five ordained ministers, and four licentiates, all in the prime of life, youthful, vigorous and energetic, and others beginning to feel the burden of the work. The utmost harmony prevailed in all their councils. Openings before them are abundant, calls for labor coming from every direction.

Ottawa, Kan., May 30, 1877.