p. 609 | ILLINOIS CAMP-MEETING by S. H. Lane

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 17, 1901

ILLINOIS CAMP-MEETING.

By S. H. Lane

Another excellent Illinois camp-meeting is in the past. It was held at Kankakee, August 22 to September 1. The camp-ground was a beautiful one, water was excellent, and shade sufficient. There were about one hundred tents on the grounds, containing five hundred campers, some rooming in nearby houses. The camp-ground was under the supervision of Elder J. P. Anderson, and was a model of neatness, the arrangement being excellent; and the tents were kept in such a tidy appearance that many favorable remarks were made by those who attended from the city.

From the first, there was a good spirit in the meeting; the sermons were of a practical nature throughout; and a deep impression was made not only upon our own people, but upon all who attended. The attendance from the city and country was fair, not large; but those who came seemed interested, and it was thought advisable to follow up the effort by leaving a tent and a company of workers in the city. These are now at work, and we trust that through the blessing of the Lord some souls may be brought to a deciding point.

The Illinois colporteur wagon has been run all through the country adjacent to the city, and quite a number who have become interested in our work through the efforts of the colporteur were present, and greatly enjoyed the meeting; and some have accepted the truth as a result of the work done. The State ministers, Bible workers, and canvassers were for the most part present at the meeting. The laborers in attendance from outside the State were Elders Daniels, Thurston, Starr, of Iowa, and the writer. Dr. Edwards and his wife did valiant service in teaching our brethren health and temperance principles. There was some sickness on the grounds, which might have proved serious had it not been for the untiring efforts of the doctors. They were called into the city, and even into the country, to consult with individuals. The interests of the medical work are surely gaining ground.

Professors Magan and Sutherland represented the educational work. Brother Allen Moon was elected Conference President. Several revival efforts were made, and on the last Sabbath one hundred or more came forward for prayers, and nearly the entire congregation consecrated themselves to the work of the Lord as never before. The Kankakee River skirted the south border of the camp-ground, and in its clear waters twenty-eight willing souls were buried with their Lord in baptism. A wholesale merchant in the town became so much interested in our work, especially the health work, his wife being at the sanitarium, that he sent men down to cut away the brush along the water’s edge, and became very enthusiastic over the baptismal scene. When he saw the hundreds in attendance, he said, “This is a grand scene, and I am well satisfied with the efforts I have put forth to accommodate your

people.” He and others desire a sanitarium built there, and a tract of twenty acres of beautiful land in the suburbs of the city, skirting along the river, has been offered free as a site on which to build a sanitarium, and the citizens think that they can raise twelve thousand dollars besides the donation of land. Surely such things should be a source of encouragement to us.

Illinois is a grand State—I speak from experience in it. Fully one half of the counties have never been entered by one of our preachers for the purpose of holding a series of meetings. The people are intelligent, well to do, and turn out fairly well to every meeting in which an effort is made to present the truth. We fully believe that with earnestness and much energy put into the work, hundreds in Illinois could soon be brought to the knowledge of the truth. As the brethren returned to their homes, they felt that they had enjoyed a feast of righteousness. A few more camp-meetings, and those that are faithful will encamp on the eternal shore.

S. H. LANE.