Wisconsin Camp-Meeting.
By James White
THE annual meeting of the State Conference of Wisconsin was held at Sparta, June 15–20, in a beautiful grove of evergreens near the city. The natural advantages of the grounds are the best we have seen. The whole plain is elevated upon a bed of white sand well turfed. The pines are of sufficient size to afford good shade, and the purest water is obtained by sinking wells in the white, hard sand. The gathering at this yearly feast of tabernacles of our good people in Wisconsin, was unusually large and prompt. When we reached the grounds in the evening of the first day of the meeting there were, with the exception of three which were afterwards pitched, forty good sized, family tents in readiness for occupation. Besides these there were three congregation tents, one 60-foot and two 40-foot. The 60-foot and one of the 40-foot, were put side by side to accommodate the congregation in case of rain. The other 40-foot tent was occupied by those who had no share in any of the family tents. The arrangements for lodging these scattered ones was excellent. The sisters occupied the 40-foot tent not used for the congregation, and the brethren lodged in blankets in the 60-foot tent. Besides these quite a number lived in their covered wagons. We were happy to greet old friends upon the Sparta camp-ground and to form new acquaintances. As at all our annual gatherings, many stated, in giving their testimonies, that this was the first camp-meeting they had ever attended. It is a very cheering feature of our cause that the ranks are filling up everywhere. Again we met in annual convocation, elders Sanborn, Decker, Olson, Downer, Atkinson, Tenny, Olds, and others. Elders Smith and Matteson came with us from the Iowa meeting. We were in a community who looked upon us with favor, and a large gathering, and a liberal hearing from the outside was expected by all parties. This was the situation of things at the close of the first day of the Wisconsin meeting. But the sound of heavy rain was heard on the canvas of all the camp during the night. It was a cold rain, and the most that can be said in favor of the situation is that those who had the best tents were most comfortable, especially if they had a stove, as had our favored tent company. The heavy rain continued. Many were quite uncomfortable, but none left the ground. Stoves were furnished for the larger tents, and all was done that could be for the comfort of the people, in hope of good weather; but the rain continued for more than three days and three nights. In the morning of the 20th the heavy rain abated, so that when the camp was breaking up the weather bore that fickle aspect of rapid changes from sunshine to light rain and to sunshine again. The outside attendance was very small. Our labors were directed to benefit the church, and those persons from abroad who had come to the meeting by invitation of their believing friends. And the blessing of the Lord attended the labors of his servants in a wonderful manner. The 60-foot tent proved to be the most comfortable place for the people, when seated compactly, and the canvas closed as completely as possible. All appeared happy, and seemed to enjoy the preaching and the social services as fully as any congregation under the most favorable circumstances. Elder Matteson held meetings between the regular services for the benefit of the Danes, Swedes and Norwegians, of great interest to our Scandinavian brethren. We never attended a camp-meeting where the interest was more general with those in attendance. At one time nearly one hundred came forward for prayers. It was a frequent occurrence to see nearly the whole audience in tears. Many took the cross of speaking before the people for the first time, and the countenances of not a few indicated the joy of their hearts in experiencing the change from distress of mind in consequence of their sins, to the full enjoyment of the pardoning love of Christ. Thirty-three were immersed. The several business sessions of the Conference moved off with a marked degree of unity, and closed with complete satisfaction to all. Brethren Olds and Tenny were ordained to the work of the Christian Ministry, and several pressed into the ranks to receive papers from the Conference to improve their gifts as teachers of the Word of God. Some existing trials among the ministers were removed by a full and free explanation. And the meeting closed with feelings of unity, love and good cheer, such as we have seldom witnessed. And while those in attendance will hardly forget the gloom and discomfort of the perpetual heavy rains, as long as they live they will ever remember the light, comfort and power of that heavenly grace that sustained the crowd of five hundred brethren and sisters at the Sparta, Wis., Camp-meeting, without a murmur or a complaint from first to last. A few years since the Wisconsin Conference was small, distracted, and weak. It is becoming one of our most united and strong Conferences, with fine prospects for the future.