An Old-Fashioned Camp Meeting
By L. Johnson
FROM June 24 to 30 a small camp meeting was held at Stephen, Minn. The brethren in this part of the State are few in number, and live some distance from one another. They are nearly all Scandinavians. The last two years they have had so much rain that it has injured their crops, and therefore money is scarce. This year the spring has also been wet and cold. Brother P. A. Hanson and the writer arrived the 20th, and found Brother Christenson on the ground, making stakes for the tents. The camp was about one hundred rods from the town, which has seven hundred inhabitants. The only help Brother Christenson had for the preparation was a young boy, who served as cook, but we took hold with a good will. We first mowed the ground, and then pitched all the tents ordered, which were thirteen family tents, one tent, fourteen by twenty-two feet, for the children, and one forty by sixty feet in which to hold meetings. By working hard we were all ready to assist the brethren when they began to come in their lumber wagons, some of which were covered. A goodly number came as far as seventy-five miles. But very few came on the cars. Nearly all came in good season, so we had a good congregation the first evening. The people of the village also came out from the beginning, and all seemed to be hungry for the truth for this time. The evening meetings were held in the English language, but the others were either held in the Scandinavian languages or were translated. Brethren Shaw, Detamore, Everest, and Anderson were also present, and Sister Merickel labored successfully for the children and youth. From the beginning, the meetings were excellent, and increased in interest every day. The Sabbath-school work, the canvassing work, the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” education, tithe, the spirit of prophecy, healthful living, were all dwelt upon, and the brethren took a lively interest in all these themes. The truths on the Sabbath, the prophecies, the soon coming of our dear Lord, etc., were also clearly presented, and all said it was the best meeting they had attended. Nine persons were baptized, and by request from the citizens we decided to remain a week longer, that the interested ones might learn more of the blessed Bible truth which the Lord has intrusted to us. Pray for the success of the work.