Vermont Camp-Meeting by Augustin C. Bourdeau; Daniel T. Bourdeau

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 13, 1870

Vermont Camp-Meeting.

By Augustin C. Bourdeau; Daniel T. Bourdeau

The first camp-meeting of S. D. Adventists for Vermont was held near Bordoville, Aug. 18 to 24, 1870, as was appointed and advertised. It was a large gathering for Vermont. There were present over three hundred Sabbath-keepers, who came from all parts of this State, some from Canada, and a few from New York; and a large number of candid unbelievers were in attendance throughout the meeting, especially on Sunday, when it was estimated by some that the audience numbered five thousand, by others, three thousand; but we should judge there were over twenty-five hundred. It is thought that over six hundred teams came to, and returned from, the ground on Sunday. The camp was in a maple grove on a hill in fair view, and easy of access from the main road. The weather was favorable; and by the use of judicious means, good order and quiet was preserved on the ground during the meeting.

The principal speakers were Bro. and Sr. White, who spoke each six times, besides taking part in the social meetings, and giving valuable advice in the meetings of the annual session of the Vt. Conference which was held on the camp ground. Bro. White gave the main features of our faith in a manner to interest all present. He also made, at different points, short speeches on the present standing and prospects of the cause from the various standpoints of the Publishing Department, Health Institute, and the numerous providential openings for the spread of the truth, which greatly added to the interest of the meeting. Sr. White dwelt on various practical subjects adapted to the wants of the people, such as self-denial, the importance of cherishing a sacrificing spirit, feeling for the needy, and the duty of loving God supremely and our neighbor as ourselves. Interesting discourses were also given by Elds. D. T. Taylor, D. T. Bourdeau, James Ritzenberger, and A. S. Hutchins.

Sabbath afternoon, a call was made for backsliders and sinners to take a stand for God and his truth, and over fifty came forward for prayers. The deep movings of the Spirit of God were present to convict, and encourage to break away from sin and the power of Satan.

Monday afternoon this work was resumed, and carried on with good success, but not as thoroughly as we had hoped to see it. This must be attributable to the following causes, which were faithfully pointed out by the servants of God in their labors:

1. The lack of consecration on the part of ministers, unfitting them to labor effectually for souls. And here we regret that we were not in better working order—that our hearts were not better tuned for the service of God. But we hope that we were benefited in examining ourselves in the light of the plain testimonies that were given. Our prayer is for a fresh baptism into the work.

2. The backslidden condition of many, partly owing to a spirit of colonizing that has been encouraged in Enosburgh and elsewhere, which, when carried out, causes brethren to be shut up to themselves, to lose the missionary spirit, to manufacture trials, and bind the church and preachers. Believers in the present truth should not be thus narrowed up. God help us to learn from the past, and to enlarge our borders in reaching out after perishing souls around us.

3. A spirit of worldly-mindedness which has come over us, caused in a great measure by a failure on the part of preachers to push forward the work, and thereby stimulate the brethren and sisters to sacrifice for the cause; and caused by the love and deceitfulness of riches which eclipse the coming of the Lord and true riches from view, and induce many to withhold from the Lord what he justly demands to advance his cause, and to plan in worldly matters as though the end of all things were not at hand. How important it is for ministers to set a good example to the flock on the use of the means the Lord has given them. Bro. White showed the necessity for those among preachers and people who are childless, and the aged, who have property, to be found appropriating their means themselves while they lived, for the furtherance of the cause of truth, instead of making their wills in such a manner that the cause will be either entirely neglected, or served last if served at all.

In-dwelling upon these points, Bro. White did not plead for himself. He referred to his own experience and example in giving to stimulate others to bear fruit which would redound to their own account and add to their treasures in Heaven. We have reason to hope that the faithful labors of God’s care-worn servants will prove a blessing to the cause in Vermont.

Our hearts were saddened by having Bro. and Sr. White leave us abruptly on receiving unfavorable news in regard to their son Willie, whom they had left sick at South Lancaster, Mass. May God bless, guide, and sustain them in their affliction.

A. C. AND D. T. BOURDEAU.

Bordoville, Vt., Aug. 28, 1870.