The Approaching Camp-Meetings in the West
By George Ide Butler
HAVING been requested by the General Conference Committee to attend camp-meetings in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, I will say, first of all, that Elder Haskell and myself desire a large attendance. We can not do the people good that remain at home, at least by any direct action of our own. Some good, indeed, may result from the presence at the camp-meeting of a number of fellow church-members whose opinions, reflected from the camp-meeting, may affect others in their society, but the direct action on souls by laborers of the camp-meeting will reach only those who attend. Our people in all parts of the field, as a general rule, are but little in contact with one another. They are usually scattered in small churches over a large area, and are not often visited. Some large central churches are an exception. With the great amount of work before us as a people, our ministers must be largely evangelists, reaching out to give the message to the world in general. Our camp-meetings are designed to be convocations. The most experienced laborers are usually selected to give instruction at camp-meeting, men who are familiar with the needs of the cause and the best methods of advancing it. They are supposed to be men of God, whom God is guiding by his Spirit, who are able to impress the truth earnestly upon the hearts of their7hearers. They have information that will greatly benefit our people, leading them to take a proper view of the work, and to realize the vast importance of the message God has given us for the last days. Surely if it is worth while to be a Seventh-day Adventist at all, it is worth while to listen to men of this description a few days, whose whole hearts are supposed to be impressed with the importance of the message God has given us, and whose hearts are hungering to do the people good. It is to be hoped that our people will never get so taken up with worldly things that they will feel that it is a matter of indifference whether they have the benefit of such labor or not. If some do reach such a sad condition, they, more than all others, ought to be present to hear the inspiring words relative to the advancement of the work and the necessity of being wide-awake, earnest, and zealous in the great truths committed to our hands. These thoughts should be considered by our people thoroughly the present season. The writer greatly desires and expects that our camp-meetings will be more largely attended this year than ever before. Our numbers are rapidly increasing, and we are nearing the end. Why should we not, therefore, feel the importance of using the means which the grace of God brings within our reach to help forward the last message to a fallen world? While these things are so in a general sense, may it not be true that there are special reasons why our people should attend the camp-meetings in these four Western States of which we have spoken? The laborers sent to these four meetings will be a little out of the common order—old, gray-headed pilgrims who have long been in the way, who have met the brethren and sisters of these conferences many times in various meetings long ago. Elder Haskell has been laboring in various fields far removed from this country, in parts of Europe, South Africa, and Australia. His arduous labors are well known to our people. The writer has been absent from these States for fifteen years. Many of the rising generation he will not know personally, many of those who are now active in the work may not be personally known, but there must be many old friends whom he greatly longs to see. Shall these two aged laborers in this work have the privilege of speaking to large congregations at these meetings?—We truly hope so. We shall come from our fields of labor filled with the love of the cause and the love of God, and longing to be a help to all who will attend. For one, the writer looks forward to these meetings with great anticipation and bright hope that they will be seasons of deepest interest. God is working in our great Southern field. Our recent meetings at Graysville and Nashville have been seasons of deepest interest. The election of officers for our publishing association, and the many meetings of the executive committee for the transaction of important business, have been blessed of God. Many of the leading brethren have said this was the best meeting ever held in the Southern Union Conference. A spirit of love and union not hitherto seen, was present, and important steps for the furtherance of the cause were taken. The General Conference gave our Southern field greater attention, and voted means more liberally to help forward this work, than in any year past. We are all hopeful that light will spring forth. Personally, the writer can say that never has the Lord seemed nearer, or hope more buoyant that we shall see the mighty work of God manifest in the near future. We long to talk to our brethren of these precious hopes, and to stir up their minds by way of remembrance, to increase faith in the work of God for this time, to impress upon the people the certainty of the soon coming of Christ and the great preparation necessary for it. Do you wish such help, dear brethren? or do you feel satisfied to make a little money and to spend your time in worldly matters? Are you not willing to come out and give us the privilege of seeing your faces, and shaking you by the hand, and imparting to you all the spiritual strength God has given us, that we may all be sharers together of his blessing, with the living hope of soon meeting him and dwelling forever with him? We look forward to the first meeting in Iowa with deepest interest. Here were our early labors, and God brought us out of a period of great depression, and established the cause on a new basis, and many new churches were added. Now let us call up these memories, and thank God, take courage, and go forward. We will venture to call for the greatest attendance that has been seen for old Iowa. We shall surely look for it, and hope it will not be in vain. In the other conferences we shall also expect to meet many old friends, and renew our acquaintances, and share in the blessings of God. Bring the children. Bring old neighbors and friends with you. Many in past years were converted to God on such occasions. Many now stand in high places whom God has made use of in many important responsibilities. As he is soon to come, and the loud cry to go forth with mighty power, may we not anticipate the blessing of heaven. So we may fully believe that all who come will be sure of the blessing of God.
GEO. I. BUTLER.