Western Tour by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 12, 1870

Western Tour.

By James White

THE WISCONSIN CAMP-MEETING.

THIRD-DAY morning, June 28, we packed up, and left the Minnesota camp-ground, rode six miles to Kasson, where we took the cars at 12:30 for Winona. The boat for La Crosse was waiting for us. The day was terribly hot, and we were weary; but we whipped up flagging energies, and, as the boat reached the railroad depot, hastened to the cars. The train was standing near the river, and the high bluffs cut off the breeze on the prairie beyond. The terribly-heated air was still. The cars were crowded, and had been full for half an hour, so that the air in them was not only literally hot, but extremely impure and oppressive. This was beyond anything we had ever experienced. We were in so exhausted a condition that we could not long breathe inside of the car. We therefore supported Mrs. W. for about one-fourth of an hour upon the platform of the car. A gentleman stood near me, supporting his daughter, while the sweat was literally running down his face. The heat was wonderful. This suffering gentleman remarked, as he saw us nearly dissolving with the heat, that should we be compelled to stand there much longer, there would be but little left of either of us. But the train moved off, and gradually the state of the air improved.

At 12, midnight, we reached Kilbourn City, and found a few hours’ rest at a hotel. The reader can here get some idea of the fatigues of our work. We rose at 4 A. M., on the Minnesota camp-ground, attended a meeting of an hour, spent two hours at the book stand, crowding business to the utmost, packed up, took the carriage at 11 A. M., rode six miles to the cars, sixty-five by railroad, forty by steamboat, ninety again by cars, got to rest at one o’clock at night. And this was on the hottest day of the season, after laboring to the very extent of strength on the Minnesota camp-ground for nearly one week.

Fourth-day morning, a brother took our trunks and hand-baggage, and our tent’s company, up to the Wisconsin camp-ground with his farm wagon. This ground is on one of the highest points of land near the Wisconsin river. The situation is rather fine. The only real failure of its being one of the best places for a camp-meeting is, that the trees on this sandy height are feeble, scrubby, and too much scattered to form a complete shade. The sixty-feet tent is pitched where there is some shade, and close to it is the best shade of this eminence, which is also seated, and has a good stand. A few brethren are coming in, and several tents are pitched.

Fifth-day, it is terribly hot, and preparations necessarily move off slowly. The better way is to have a competent man come on the ground one week, at least, in advance, hire help, if need be, and make full preparations before the day of meeting arrives. Then let the brethren at the camp-meeting pay the expense. This would be very much better than to have the interests of the meeting injured by preparations after the time of meeting has arrived. In consequence of making preparations to-day, services have been very short.

Again, we suggest that the Camp-meeting committee furnish everything that should be sold on the ground, at the usual rates, and let the profits pay much of the expenses of the meeting. At the Minnesota Camp-meeting there were two stands doing a large business, at a good profit, yet the Camp-meeting was not in the least benefited. When our people spend time, and toil, and money, to make preparations for the crowd, why not have the benefits of furnishing them with everything that should be sold upon the ground at all? Those things which our people cannot in conscience sell, should not be sold on, or near, the ground, by others.

Sixth-day morning, the air is cool. It is even chilly. There has been quite a fall of rain during the night, which has relieved us of the terrible heat. The change has been sudden, and very great. Yesterday we were suffering from heat while thinly clad; this morning we are trembling with cold with an overcoat on. During the night the railroad trains brought many brethren, which have increased our camp about one-third. We spoke to the people at half-past eight; and after a short intermission, Bro. Littlejohn spoke an hour. At two this afternoon, Mrs. W. spoke to the tent full of interested listeners. We hope for a good meeting.

There are ten family tents upon the ground, some of them very large, besides the large tent, under which many sleep. A large tent had on its front, at an early date of this meeting, the name of the church represented by it, in large letters neatly formed of oak leaves,—“Fish Lake.” Neither city nor country ever afforded a painted or printed sign more truly beautiful. The same artist sisters have given our tent the name, “Battle Creek.” We hope that the cause in Battle Creek will ever stand so high that this name may be our choice, at home or abroad. Our neighbors are following the example, and already at our right, three tents have the same beautiful signs, “Dell Prairie,” “Marquette,” and “Mackford.” In the evening we spoke to a tent full of eager listeners.

Sabbath morning, it is comfortably cool. The early morning meeting was good. At half past eight we are again assembled in the large tent for public social service. Many good testimonies are given. Several are up at the same time. After enjoying an hour in an interesting social meeting, we called backsliders and sinners forward for prayers. Many came forward. We spoke in the forenoon, to a good congregation, upon the three messages. Mrs. W. spoke in the afternoon, after which we again called on those who wished to seek the Lord to come forward. There is evidently a lack of power with the church. Sinners are convinced, but not much moved. There have been, in the Wisconsin and Illinois Conference, elements of weakness for a long time. May God in his providence remove them. And may he bless this people with a consecrated, self-sacrificing, united ministry. Bro. Sanborn has labored under great discouragement; but as he has gone out into new fields, God has blessed his labors, and thus he has been kept comparatively free from the discouraging influence of others. Bro. R. F. Andrews is an efficient laborer when free from the binding influence of others. May God bless him with sanctified independence to move forward in His name and strength.

But to return to the camp-meeting. At the right time, Bro. Sanborn exhorted sinners with power, and many came forward. But what was most needed was a spirit of devotion on the part of the brethren and sisters. How difficult to bring sinners and backsliders to Christ over the heads of a powerless church!

But here are many good souls sighing and struggling for freedom; and others are more to be pitied than censured, on account of bad example set them by those who profess to be leaders of the people. It is no time, however, to withhold the truth relative to those who stand in the way of the work of God. These have had sufficient warning; and unless they will reform, they must be exposed. The cause must be relieved from embarrassments. May God help. The Sabbath-afternoon meeting held several hours. Many spoke. There was evidently great advancement. The erring felt their errors, and confessed. In the evening Bro. Littlejohn spoke with freedom.

First-day, the social seasons were interesting, and the public services at the stand were good. We spoke in the morning, Mrs. W. in the afternoon, and Bro. Littlejohn in the evening. The congregations were not large, but were very attentive. Probably not more than fifteen hundred were on the ground at any one service. This is attributable in part to a want of advertising. The brethren even neglected to obtain the large posters usually used at all our camp-meetings. Where our brethren find best localities, make seasonable and ample preparations, and then do all they can to call the crowd, there it is our duty to labor. Such places of labor we shall seek; for it is our duty to labor where we can do the most good.

Second-day, our meetings were of still deeper interest. Seven were baptized. Several who were partially convicted that we are correct on the fundamental principles of the present truth, at this meeting took their stand. Here was also a French sister, by the name of Capman, now living at Fond du Lac, Wis., who was baptized seven years since in Vermont by Bro. Bourdeau. She had two sons with her, very interesting lads, who were her interpreters. This woman has an opposing husband, and yet has observed the Sabbath, and has led her children also in its observance. She has stood alone these long years, without the assistance of our publications. Noble woman! At this meeting one of her gentlemanly boys was baptized. She asked us to sell her a French and English Bible. We have found, and sent her, a New Testament in both languages, and shall send her the Bible as soon as we can obtain one. Her sons seemed delighted with several publications we gave them, and expressed much gratitude.

Such cases seem to us nothing less than miracles of the power of God. Who can believe that simply the influence of Eld. Bourdeau’s preaching upon the mind of this poor woman, has sustained her in her position, and led her to bring up her children in the fear of God, in the observance of all his commandments, for these seven long years? There can hardly be found a person so credulous as to attribute the course of this woman simply to the influence of man. The evidence to our mind, in such cases, is overwhelming that God sustains and leads them, and that they are miracles of the power of God. The Lord wants to do great things for his people. Oh! that all would consecrate themselves to him, and his work, that he might work mightily through them.

It is a pleasure to express our gratitude to those brethren and sisters who gave us many kind attentions upon the Kilbourn Camp-ground, in the line of fruit, and many other things which we needed. And to none are we more indebted than to sister Lynnell, of Kilbourn, and the very attentive friends of the Dell Prairie tent. May the Lord reward them.

Third-day morning we had an early parting meeting, took down our tents, packed up, and were at the depot at 10 A. M., waiting for the cars to take us to Chicago. We stopped for the night at the Massasoit House. Willie saw Bro. Littlejohn safely on the train of the Michigan Southern road for Allegan at 7 A. M., and we took the fast train at 11:30, and reached Battle Creek at 4:24 P. M. Thank God for his sustaining grace during this tour in the West of five weeks. Thank his name for his work which we have witnessed. We never returned from a tour so well satisfied with,

and feeling such a degree of gratitude for, what we have seen, felt, and heard, of the glorious work of God. Thank God that we are still able to do something in his precious cause.

Sixth-day, July 8, we pitched our tent on the north side of Goguac Lake, about two miles south of Battle Creek, where we are now writing. We have enjoyed a good night’s rest in this beautiful location. Sabbath, the 9th, we drove to our place of worship in the city, and Mrs. W. spoke to the people in the forenoon. We design to enjoy a blessed lonesome in this retired place for a few weeks, write and rest, till time to leave for the Eastern camp-meetings. Our tent’s company here will consist of four, wife, sister Hall, Willie, and the writer. May the blessing of the Lord abide with us, and may the Spirit of God help us in our writings.

JAMES WHITE.

Goguac Lake, Battle Creek, July 10, 1870.