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The Iowa Camp-Meeting

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 30, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 31.

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The Iowa Camp-Meeting.

By A. G. Daniells

The Iowa camp-meeting and annual Conference for 1901, was held in Des Moines, May 30 to June 8. The camp-ground was located on Governor’s Square, a grassy, shady park but a few blocks from Iowa’s fine capitol building. One of the electric street-car lines passes the park, making it easy of access to the public. Des Moines is centrally located for all our brethren throughout the State. And yet, with all these points in its favor, I cannot believe that the Iowa camp-meetings should continue to be held in Des Moines. One great purpose of the camp-meeting is to enlighten the men and women who do not know the beauty and value of the truths we hold. In order for this important point to be gained, the people must attend the meetings. But the Iowa camp-meetings have been held in Des Moines so many years that they have lost all attractions to the public. Our Lord’s instruction is that if the people will not hear us in one city, we should go to another. The time has certainly come for the Iowa camp-meetings to be held in cities that have not had such privileges. Personal convenience and Conference expense are of small account compared with the privilege of placing the truths God has given us before hundreds of people for a period of ten days. This is the point that should weigh most in the location of our camp-meetings.
The attendance of our people was not as large as on some former occasions in this State; but, all things considered, it was fairly good. Nearly all the Conference laborers were present. The general laborers from abroad were Professor Prescott, Elder Hoopes, Dr. Paulson, Professor Magan, Elder Lewis Johnson, and the writer.
From the beginning of the meeting there appeared to be an earnest desire on the part of all, especially the brethren bearing Conference responsibilities, to be right with God, and to arrange every detail of the work in Iowa so that the Lord’s special blessing could rest upon the cause in that State. The light, love, and harmony that came into the meeting from day to day were evidences that the Lord set His seal of approval upon the course pursued.
The business of the Conference was considerable, and it received as prayerful, manly consideration as I have ever seen given to such matters. The arrangements that were made were for the development of the work, regardless of personal considerations. The Sabbath-school Association was dropped, and its interests were made a department of the Conference, thus completing the work, begun several years ago in the State, of simplifying the organization. As it now stands, the tract society and Sabbath-school branches are simply departments of the Iowa Conference.
The theme that received the greatest attention during the meeting was the question of giving the Advent message to the world in this generation. This subject touched a responsive chord in the hearts of our brethren. The speakers enjoyed much freedom in presenting the evidences of the soon coming of Jesus, and the need of earnest efforts on our part to arouse the whole world to a realization of the time in which we live. As we dwelt upon these soul-stirring truths, hearts that had been cold were made to glow with new warmth; the spirit of consecrating life and means to the work of God came upon the congregation. This was manifested in a number of very practical ways. It was unanimously voted to support the ten-cent-a-week plan in behalf of the mission work in the regions beyond. It was also unanimously voted to pay a second tithe of the Conference to the General Conference for mission work. Besides this, the Conference heartily voted to support laborers in needy fields outside of its own boundaries.
One of the most remarkable meetings I ever attended grew out of a resolution to support laborers in foreign fields. This resolution opened the valve for the escape of the missionary spirit that was pent up in the hearts of the brethren. The entire camp was so anxious to express approval of this measure that the session was turned into a stirring testimony meeting, which lasted more than two hours. Scores of brethren and sisters earnestly testified that they were so anxious to have the message given to the people in darkness that they were willing to have the ministers devote the most of their time to places in the State where the truth had not been fully presented. They were also more than willing to part with any of the laborers whom the Lord might call to foreign lands, and to have the means now used for their support in the State go with them. Many testified that they had proved that there is power in this message to sustain its followers. They said that they had learned from the Bible how to find the Lord, and how to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth from day to day. Others testified that they had learned from the same word how to settle difficulties without calling ministers from the field for this purpose. While the people expressed themselves on this wise, the ministers testified of their longing to go to people in darkness, and give them the light. Young men offered themselves for service in any part of the great harvest-field where they are most needed, and for any kind of work in which they can render the best service. It was truly good and refreshing to be there.
That meeting resulted in raising several thousand dollars for the cause, and changing the field and work of several ministers. Elder C. A. Hansen and wife have since gone to Newfoundland; Elder Willis M. Adams and wife have gone to Manitoba; Elder T. H. Jeys has cheerfully taken the State agency for the canvassing work; Elder F. L. Moody has removed to Michigan to take charge of the canvassing work in the Lake Union Conference. Other laborers have volunteered to go abroad, and are holding themselves in readiness for a call at any time.
This is the true spirit of this message. When the latter rain falls upon this people, as it surely will, no man will count his life, nor the things that he possesses, his own. All will be laid at the feet of King Jesus, with the earnest prayer that He will use all now for His glory.
On the afternoon of the last Sabbath, eight young men were set apart by ordination to the work of the gospel ministry. At the close of the ordination service, there followed one of the most soul-stirring praise meetings it has ever been my privilege to attend. Hundreds of short, crisp testimonies were borne, expressing undoubted confidence in the final triumph of this message, and the determination to triumph with it. The blessing of God that rested upon the entire congregation was to the young men a token of the Lord’s approval of their ordination.
Altogether, about ten thousand dollars was raised in pledges and cash for the work outside of Iowa. This was distributed to all parts of the world, for nearly every phase of the work. Two brethren gave one hundred dollars each for India; two others gave the same amount for France. Several hundred dollars was given for Australia. About one thousand dollars was pledged in the way of missionary farming for the medical work. Some was given to the work in the South; some to Tahiti; and several thousand dollars was raised for the Relief of the Schools Fund; and, praise the Lord, all this came from cheerful givers, whom the Lord declares He loves.
It was especially refreshing and encouraging to me to attend this meeting. Iowa is my native State. The last camp-meeting I had attended in that State was held on the same ground in 1886. At that meeting Elder Haskell related his stirring experiences in Australia and New Zealand, whence he had just returned. While telling us how God had wrought for him and his brethren in those far-away lands, my heart was greatly stirred. It was then that I received the first intimation, both from the Lord and the brethren, that I might be called to that country. While Elder Haskell was telling of his experiences, Elder Butler, by whose side I was sitting, turned to me and asked if I did not want to go to New Zealand. It was not long after this meeting until the suggestion took serious, practical form, and I was off.
To meet my dear brethren of Iowa after fifteen years of blessed experience at the front, was a great pleasure. I was glad to find so many still rejoicing in the truth, and I was glad to be able to tell them that my confidence in this message and in the certainty of its speedy triumph had grown with the years of toil and blessed experience abroad.
Brethren, this is God’s work, and He is waiting to bring our hopes regarding its future to a glorious consummation. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” And of the proclamation of this gospel to all the world, the Lord declares that “there shall be delay no longer.” Blessed assurance! A. G. DANIELLS.