The Seymour (Ind.) Camp-Meeting by F. C. Gilbert

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 27, 1906

The Seymour (Ind.) Camp-Meeting

By F. C. Gilbert

The second camp-meeting of the Indiana Conference was held at Seymour, Ind., August 8-16. As two camp-meetings were held in the State, one in the northern part and the other in the southern, each was held only eight days, and both were followed with tent efforts.

The camp was located in a central part of the city, the use of the city park being given for the purpose. It was a very interesting meeting, and a great blessing to our own people as well as to others. This meeting came so soon after the South Bend meeting that the goods which were shipped from there did not arrive in time for the opening of this meeting. This naturally was a great perplexity; but the dear people appreciated the fact that not only do all things work together for good to them that love God, but that Rev. 14:12 is a good text for the people of God to-day when it is needed. How much we need to appropriate the word of God at the time when it is due! This is one way of appreciating the blessed practical nature of the Word of God, and of the precious present truth.

There was a good representation of our people present, and it certainly seemed as if there must have been as many there on the Sabbath as there were last year, with one camp-meeting for the whole State. The blessing of the Lord was present all through the meeting, and the Lord gave his servants power in presenting the truth. The interest of the citizens was very encouraging. At the afternoon meetings the tent was almost full, and as the truth of God was proclaimed with clearness and power, many acknowledged that God was with this people, and that they were proclaiming the truth.

There were from five hundred to eight hundred of the citizens at the camp nearly every evening; and on Sunday evening there must have been fully a thousand persons present. They gave good attention as the peculiar truths were presented, and we feel sure that the blessing of the Lord will bring forth good results from the work done there.

The Sabbath was a blessed day. The Lord came near by his Spirit, and as opportunity was given for those who were discouraged to renew their consecration to the Lord, a goodly number came forward, and many heartfelt confessions were made to one another, and to the Lord. The Lord did certainly work, and sinners were converted to him. How precious it is to know that our great High Priest is still pleading his blood before the Father, and in response to the cries of his children, in his mercy he still sends forth the Holy Spirit to convict and to convert hearts. Bless the Lord for his power and for his great grace.

Several of the local ministering brethren

were in attendance, and there were present from outside the conference Elder J. G. Lamson and Professor Stone, from the South, who had charge of the music. The writer was also present during the first part of the meeting; toward the close Elders Evans, Enoch, and Warren came, and stayed until the end.

There was no business transacted. This left the ministers free to help the people. This is as it should be. The Testimonies have spoken explicitly upon this point, and the closer they are followed, the greater the blessings must be to the people of God. A good work was done for the young people, and many of them determined by the grace of God to secure an education and receive a fitting up for the work of the Lord. The different departments of the work were represented, and the hearty co-operation of the people was enlisted in the different branches of the work of God.

May the Lord bless the work in this conference, and may the camp-meetings from year to year become more powerful, that the truth may spread rapidly and triumph gloriously. F. C. GILBERT.