Western Tour by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 28, 1870

Western Tour.

By James White

IOWA CAMP-MEETING—CONTINUED.

First-day morning June 12, the social seasons were usually good. Some things were deeply interesting. At half past ten the congregation was very large. We spoke from 1 Pet. 3:15, giving some of the reasons of our faith and hope to a very large and attentive audience. God gave us power in the word. We were happily disappointed to witness the almost perfect order of the entire crowd. We think we never witnessed a more general interest, and disposition to respect the worship of God. The large tent was seated full, principally with ladies. Seats were made outside the tent, in close connection with those under the tent. The speakers’ stand was several rods from the tent. The wall was raised and closely fastened up. There were it was estimated more than three thousand people who gave good attention to the word.

At 2 P. M. Mrs. W. spoke to a still larger audience. It was one of her best efforts. She enjoyed perfect freedom. The people listened with wonderful attention, and many wept. Strong men who were apparently indifferent in regard to the popular religious services wept like children. And when the service closed, the congregation lingered as if loth to leave the place. This was remarkable. The usual noise and confusion of hurrying from the place of meeting was not witnessed. As the crowd moved out into the road, the number of teams counted was more than seven hundred, and the number of persons was more than three thousand. Besides these, there were left nearly one hundred teams at a proper distance from the encampment owned by our friends, and at least five hundred persons, who remained constantly on the ground. In the evening the congregation was comparatively small by reason of a storm. Bro. Canright spoke on the signs of the times.

Second-day morning Bro. Littlejohn spoke to the people with freedom. And by request Mrs. W. spoke in the afternoon. By this time there seemed to be a deep interest on the part of many in the community. The word took a strong hold of many. After Mrs. W. closed her discourse, we called upon sinners to come forward and give their hearts to the Lord. God helped by his Holy Spirit. About forty came forward, and most of them bore good testimony. Our season of prayer was with freedom and victory. In the evening Bro. Littlejohn spoke upon the Sabbath, exposing the seventh-part-of-time theory. The congregation was large, and the people felt the force of the arguments.

Third-day morning at 5 A. M. the brethren assembled in the large tent, to examine candidates for baptism. About thirty presented themselves as subjects. This was a deeply interesting season. There was the aged man of eighty, the middle-aged, young men, young women, and children who had not reached their teens. The brief relation of experiences constituted a deeply interesting part of the whole good meeting. None needed urging. All promptly responded when called. Our aged Bro. Garret, who has observed the Sabbath about ten years, but had not united with the church, feeling that he was not worthy, finally came forward. He stated that he had never attended such a good meeting before; that he never before had the evidence that his sins were forgiven. Now he felt assured that his sins were all forgiven. His decided testimony sent a thrill through the congregation.

At this meeting Bro. Galey of Illinois, who had been a Methodist class leader for twenty years, took a firm stand with us, and was baptized. His testimony and experience added to the interest of our good meeting.

Twenty-eight were baptized. Among them were the sons of Bro. and Sr. Leach of Laporte. These young men just entering manhood, followed each other into the water, to be buried with Christ in baptism. How solemn the scene! Here was the aged man of white hairs, the youth, and little children, all under the influence of the word and Spirit of God, taking the solemn baptismal vow.

The time had come when our meeting must close, and the brethren return to home duties. Some of them had come with their teams between one and two hundred miles. Necessarily the time in coming and returning, added to a week spent upon the ground, would make about two weeks that these farmers were from their homes. At this season of the year, this was quite a sacrifice. But it is a wonderful fact, that in the work and cause of God, our sacrifices are met with the blessing of God.

The baptism filled most of the forenoon. Immediately after dinner all assembled to listen to remarks appropriate to a parting meeting, then all bowed while one led in prayer. The scene was solemn and affecting. And thus the Iowa camp-meeting closed. Next came the hurry of taking down tents, packing up, that last hearty shaking of hands, and moving of nearly a hundred teams off the ground. God bless the brethren as they return to their homes.

The several sessions of the Iowa Conference, which were held between religious services, were marked with unity, and spirit. This Conference has nearly recovered from the treacherous course of Snook and Brinkerhoof. Although the leaders of that party have forsaken them, some, who were with them in their rebellion, still remain notwithstanding, outside of the body. We would help these if we could; but the difficulty in the case is, they seem unwilling to be helped. The influence of these is exceedingly small, and probably does not in the least injure the influence of the Conference. It is a terrible thing for men to fight against God. The fearful consequences will in the end fall upon their own heads. But opposition to correct theory and sound practice may often result in much good to the humble people of God. Opposition to the subject of spiritual gifts, as held by Seventh day Adventists, is necessary to lead us to a full examination of this important subject. And probably, in order that we as a people, may have a proper appreciation of the sacrifices, and the spirit of consecration of the one whom God may lead out in the manifestations of spiritual gifts, it may be necessary that some should sympathize in the spirit of wrath of the dragon, and the war against those who not only keep the commandments of God, but have the testimony—“spirit of prophecy”—of Jesus Christ. Would God that all men who profess to love and serve him, would cease to war against any part of his work. But as the war must come for the good of the church, we do not feel the least anxiety in reference to existing elements of opposition, only to live worthy of the truth we hold, and of the persecution which an adherence to the truth of God must bring.

God is making Eld. Geo. I. Butler of the Iowa Conference a strong man in him. Eld. D. M. Canright is free in God and in his truth. And several young men in that Conference are entering the ministry. This Conference does liberally for its ministers, and this year donates $300 for the General Conference. May God still bless his dear people in Iowa.

ILLINOIS CAMP-MEETING.

Fourth-day, June 15, at 8 A. M., we took the railroad train at Marion, Iowa, and reached Nora, Ill., the same day at 7 P. M. Our company consisted of

Bro. Littlejohn, Mrs. W., myself, Willie, and sister Hall. At Nora station we found a carriage and a farm wagon, waiting to take us and our baggage to the home of Bro. and Sr. Higley, not long since from Michigan. Here we found kind friends, and all that could make a company of weary pilgrims comfortable. Here we enjoyed rest and were refreshed.

Fifth-day morning we were taken to the camp ground, about three miles from the railroad, and found one large tent up, in which Elders R. F. Andrews and T. M. Steward had been lecturing; and there were also eight or ten fine smaller tents upon the ground. We found the brethren laboring under the mistaken idea that the services of this camp-meeting were to be held under the large tent. This was a great mistake. If you are to have a tent meeting, go out into the open prairie, where you can get all the breezes that blow. But to pitch a large tent in the edge of the wood, where no breeze can reach you, and yet where the hot sun can come down on the white canvas with scorching power, and heat the dead air beneath it nearly as hot as a baker’s oven, is a wonderful mistake. We hold camp-meetings in the edge of the woods, and pitch our large tents just outside the woods, to flee to in case of rain, and for strangers to sleep in.

We found our brethren ready to be instructed, and in a few hours we had a beautiful grove well seated, a speaker’s stand erected, a large family tent wheeled into the circle of tents, and all in good order for worship. We pitched our family tent, and were ready for housekeeping just about noon, when, in a short time, Bro. Higley came in with a good, warm, hygienic dinner, just from Sr. Higley’s hands. And as we partook of this good dinner—not spoiled with an excess of salt, butter, and sugar, yet palatable, nutritious, and healthful—we felt thankful that Sr. H. had spent some time at our Health Institute at Battle Creek, where the science of good cooking stands high among the benefits it confers. While we think no one can charge us with following the Master for the loaves and the fishes, we confess that in our opinion, in such a campaign as ours, which demands energy, powerful efforts, and wearisome toil, good, well-cooked, healthful, nourishing dinners are not to be despised. In our opinion, more of our good sisters should visit the Health Institute at Battle Creek, or Bro. Gage should get up a cook book, or something of the kind should be done. Our sisters should understand how to prepare a good variety of nutritious food without the usual excessive use of salt, sugar, and grease. And here we wish to plead with our people, in preparing food for camp-meetings, where laboring people spend a week without physical labor, to cook plain simple food. If fasting be ever a duty, it is at such meetings. Cheese is an exceedingly doubtful article of food at any time, and never should be used by those who stay day after day upon a camp ground. If brought upon the ground at all, it should only be when the brethren undertake to supply the crowd on Sunday, to deal out to those only who will have such things. Sisters, do not, in preparing for camp-meeting, make yourselves sick by cooking pies, sweet cake, and rich dainties, before you start, to make all hands sick upon the ground. No; give us food, good, plain, healthful food. If it be plain, some may eat less of it, and thus keep the stomach clear, the head clear, and the conscience free of condemnation from gluttony. All consistent, God-fearing brethren and sisters will agree with us in these things. We speak for the benefit especially of those who do not labor at camp-meetings. Especial care should be taken with the feeble ones, and those who do the work, that they be properly nourished with good, well-prepared, nutritious food.

Sixth-day, A. M., Bro. Littlejohn spoke upon the Judgment. We occupied the afternoon, speaking relative to the prosperity of the cause. In the evening, Mrs. W. spoke to a full, and very attentive congregation in the large tent.

Sabbath, A. M., Bro. Steward spoke upon the blotting out of sins, which led him to examine quite fully the great subject of the sanctuary. In the afternoon, Mrs. W. spoke with freedom. Then there was a general movement forward to seek the Lord. It was a very interesting season. Many came forward, and there was a general deep feeling in the congregation. In the evening, Bro. Littlejohn spoke upon the Sabbath.

First day, A. M., at an early hour, team after team, loaded with people, came upon the ground. At the hour for preaching the congregation was large; but not as large as at the Iowa camp-meeting. This seems to be a rougher community than that. But we succeeded in holding the crowd in the forenoon. Most of the large audience seemed deeply interested in the subject, while we gave them some of the reasons of our faith and hope. Mrs. W. spoke in the afternoon. It was exceedingly warm, and a portion of the crowd seemed restless, but more than a thousand were very attentive. It must be that some good souls in this crowd will be led to seek the Lord and his truth. In the evening, Bro. Littlejohn had a good hearing. The ground was quiet during service. The truth spoken by Bro. L. had a commanding influence. The power of the word, and the Spirit of God, seemed to hold everything during the hour of service. At the close, as the people retired from the ground, the baser sort gave vent to the spirit of the devil pent up in them, for a time, by unearthly yells, which continued to be heard at a distance. The ground was quiet for the night.

Second-day morning, we wake to enjoy the pure, cool air, after taking good sleep. And as we write, the brethren and sisters are having their before-breakfast, public social service. The business sessions of this meeting have been marked with general harmony. By unanimous vote, the Wisconsin and Illinois Conference is divided into two: one, the Wisconsin Conference, and the other, the Illinois Conference. Each has a new tent, both to be in the field this season.

The day has been a profitable one. The work has been deepening in the hearts of the people. In the evening, Mrs. W. spoke with great freedom. The Spirit of the Lord rested upon her, and she spoke in a manner to touch the hearts of the people. When she closed, very many were in tears, and the sobbings of the weeping congregation were distinctly heard in different parts of the assembly. This was indeed, in answer to the opening prayer, “the best of the wine is the last of the feast.”

Third-day morning the camp broke up, after enjoying an excellent social season in the large tent. Our company, though weary, and needing a day of rest, have to pack, and hasten to the Minnesota Camp-meeting. Mrs. W. has been writing all day, and we have been crowding every moment into answering letters, writing this report, packing boxes for Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Battle Creek. We hope for good rest to-night, and a passage on the cars at 4 o’clock in the morning. Brethren, pray for us.

JAMES WHITE.

Nora, Ill., June 21, 1870.