The Michigan Camp-Meeting
The Michigan Camp-Meeting, and Assembly of the General Conference—At the State Capital—1700 Sabbath-keepers in Camp—A Congregation of 10,000 on Sunday.
Looking back over the Michigan Camp-meeting just closed, we can safely call it the grand triumph of the year. Held in the Banner State of the S. D. Adventists, at a great central point, calling together the delegates to the General Conference from all parts of the field, it appeared from the first an event of great importance. But the result has far exceeded the most sanguine expectations of all those interested. The location was two and one-half miles north-east of the city of Lansing, and one mile from North Lansing. The grove was every way suitable, but had to be newly cleared for the purpose. Preparations were going forward for several weeks prior to the camp-meeting, and much credit is due Eld. J. Fargo, J. F. Carman and Wm. Potter—the Camp-meeting Committee—for the enterprise and personal industry with which they dispatched the business of metamorphosing a wild patch of forest into a broad, clean camp-ground. One hundred and twenty tents were pitched in the form of two hollow squares, one within the other, with regular streets on all sides. The inner square had a row of tents down the middle, and the outer square an annex on the eastern side. All these streets and avenues were well-leveled and swept, and brilliantly lighted at night. The tents were all properly numbered, and marked with the names and residences of the proprietors. The Battle Creek quarter numbered over twenty tents, describing two sides of the inner square. But the grand, distinctive feature of the ground was the mammoth cotton tabernacle, occupying a central position in the wide space between the two eastern lines of the outer and inner squares. It was entirely new, having been made in Chicago expressly for this and similar purposes, and was manufactured from the best 10-oz. duck. It measured 120 by 80 feet, and could accommodate 5000 people, having comfortable seating capacity for between three and four thousand. Seats were extended outside the canvas, and, during service, the curtains were raised, turning the whole into one grand auditorium. The Reporters' quarters was a nicely fitted up octagonal tent, close by the tabernacle, and in full sight and hearing of all that transpired within its walls. Here sat the busy writers, and here came the newspaper men and the telegraphic reporters for their daily abstract of camp-meeting news. Seventeen hundred Sabbath-keepers were encamped upon the ground, being the largest body ever gathered upon this continent. The populous canvas city presented a beautiful appearance, partly due to the size and general uniformity of the tents, there being few small ones and an entire absence of the dilapidated wooden cottages so common on an old established camp-ground. The weather was perfect during the entire week. Never were fairer days or more luxuriant atmosphere. The meeting opened regularly at 2:30 P. M., Tuesday, Sept. 19, with a session of the General Conference, the President, Eld. James White, in the chair. Delegates reported from all parts of the great field, and the meeting was briefly addressed by Prof. C. W. Whitford, President of the Milton (Wis.) College, and delegate to the General Conference from the S. D. Baptist church. In the evening the grand tabernacle was formally dedicated to the cause. The opening prayer was made by Eld. U. Smith, after which Eld. White preached an appropriate sermon, in which were incorporated many church statistics, and interesting facts concerning the work at home and abroad, and its progress from a humble origin in old New England a quarter of a century ago, to a society numbering 25,000 souls in the United States, and whose publications were scattered over the civilized world. Suitable reference was made to the mammoth cotton church and the purpose it was to serve—a portable house of worship for these great gatherings. Eld. Canright offered the closing prayer, dedicating the canvas temple to the service of God. It was a singularly impressive service, with the lamp-light flooding the vast pavilion, and the bowed congregation in its midst; and when the preacher earnestly besought the Most High that angels of God might encamp about this tabernacle in the wilderness, it surely seemed that we had not passed the time when angels ministered to men, and the pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night led the way of the true Israel. On Friday, at 10:30 A. M., Prof. C. W. Whitford, of the Seventh-day Baptist College, preached upon the influence of Sabbath-keepers upon the religious life. Text, Prov. 22:28: “Remove not the ancient landmarks which thy fathers have set.” He spoke of the cause of the true Sabbath among the Seventh-day Baptists and Seventh-day Adventists in this country as marked by a peculiar and instructive origin. A sensitive and vigorous conscience had furnished the seminal principle from which it sprung, and by which it was sustained. The strict training of our New England ancestors under the Puritan doctrines and practices, made the acceptance of the Sabbath possible. This work appeals to the heroic elements in man. This Sabbath reform has cultivated a courage and manliness of soul that exalts the whole life. Obedience to the fourth commandment has produced great joy and satisfaction, and clearer discernment of other truths of the Bible has been given its observers. It is they who have made the staunchest protest against the traditions and power of the papal church. The preacher declared that the Sabbath-keepers of this country were not actuated by any cynical hatred of other men's opinions, nor by a desire for oddity and notoriety. They were solemnly obeying the Word of God, and the dictates of their own consciences. Very many interesting historical facts were related concerning early Sabbath-keepers in Europe and America, and the speaker traced back the origin of his own church 400 years. The sermon was instructive and deeply interesting, and indicative of the warm fraternal feeling of the two seventh-day churches. Was a day long to be remembered. It was estimated that 2500 Sabbath-keepers attended the services. In order to give opportunity for a greater number to bear testimony, the social meeting at 5:30 A. M. was divided into three companies inside the mammoth tent, and each one was separately conducted. It was a strange scene—three persons speaking or praying simultaneously. At intervals the whole congregation of 2,000 persons would burst into some inspiring hymn that rolled out in a wave of harmony upon the morning air. Three hundred and twelve testimonies were borne in three-quarters of an hour, and a deep religious fervor pervaded the whole meeting. At 9 A. M., an informal meeting of the General Conference was held. Many of the ministerial delegates reported concerning the spiritual condition of the districts where they had been laboring, and especially of the indications in new fields. Eld. Canright spoke of establishing a church in Maryland, whose members had never heard an S. D. Adventist sermon before he visited them, yet they were keeping the Sabbath, and had adopted the articles of the S. D. A. faith from reading their publications. Eld. Haskell related some interesting facts concerning the work in New England. He referred to the mammoth camp-meeting at Groveland, Mass., when Eld. and Mrs. White preached to 20,000 people on Sunday. He said the influence of that meeting had been felt far and near, prejudice was melting away, and people were becoming interested in the doctrines of the church. Individual cases were particularly mentioned. He gave prominence to the reports published in the leading Eastern journals, crediting them with doing much towards awakening an interest in the cause, and breaking down the wall of prejudice. Seventh-day Adventism was never brought before the people as now. The popular press from Maine to the Missouri River had been full of accounts of our camp-meetings for four months, one-third of a year, and the doctrines of truth, taking advantage of the influence of the secular press, were traveling into the homes of the people, into the cars, the steamers, the hotels, the stores; and being read everywhere, by those who would never take time to look at a tract or religious sheet. Such seed, sown broadcast over the land, must bring in a harvest. The remarks of Prof. Whitford were specially cheering. He spoke particularly of the Sabbath cause, and its progress in all quarters of the civilized world, and declared that he had never before seen so many Sabbath-keepers together. The report of Eld. E. B. Lane, from Virginia, was deeply interesting, showing the peculiarities of the class with whom he had been working, and the final success of his labors that crowned a gloomy beginning, clouded by contempt, persecution, and personal threats. The speakers for the regular services were Eld. White and wife, and Eld. Smith. At the close of Mrs. White's discourse in the afternoon, 350 persons came forward for prayers. Following this, social meetings were held in different tents till the time for evening service. The largest congregation during the day was estimated at 3,500. City and country turned out en masse. All the omnibus lines were busy during the day in transferring passengers to and from the grounds, and a perfect stream of carriages were upon the roads from 9 A. M. till 5 P. M. 1200 vehicles entered the gates, and at least 8000 people were on the ground in the afternoon. Many estimated the number at 10,000. A more orderly and respectful crowd could not be found on the continent. During the intermissions the streets and avenues of the canvas city swarmed with people making a survey of the camp. Much astonishment was expressed at the magnitude of the affair and the excellent management everywhere apparent. The speakers for the day were Eld. Canright, and Eld. and Mrs. White. In the evening Eld. Smith spoke upon the Two Covenants as related to the Sabbath. The sermon was a complete chain of argument establishing the validity of the fourth commandment. During the day the intervals between services were occupied by musical concerts conducted by Prof. C. W. Stone of Vermont. Many of those modern spiritual songs that stir the soul with the breath of Heaven, were rendered with the finest effect. In fact, the music, which at the beginning of the meeting lagged a little, became at last one of its most attractive features under the superintendence of C. W. Stone, who accompanied the choir with a cabinet organ. On Monday three were ordained to the ministry: Elds. E. Van Deusen, Jerome Fargo, and M. B. Miller. Thirty-seven persons were baptized in Grand River, Elds. D. H. Lampson, and E. R. Jones administering the rite. A parting meeting was also held, in which farewell addresses were made by Eld. and Mrs. White and Prof. Whitford. Deep feeling was manifested by all present, and the day which had been crowded full of business and religious meetings closed with a solemnity befitting the last night in camp. Tuesday morning the camp broke, and, as suddenly as it had sprung into life, the tented city was gone, and its inhabitants rolling off to meet the early morning trains. Through all the utmost harmony prevailed. The business of the General Conference and the various societies pertaining to it, as well as that of the Michigan Conference, were transacted with unparalleled dispatch and satisfaction to all concerned. One of the pleasantest features of the meeting was the mutual good feeling existing between the people of Lansing and those in camp. Altogether the Michigan Camp-meeting was a glorious affair, a grand triumphal finale to the successful campaign of the summer. REPORTER.