Report of the Missouri and Kansas Camp-Meeting by Dudley Marvin Canright; W. H. Littlejohn

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 13, 1871

Report of the Missouri and Kansas Camp-Meeting.

By Dudley Marvin Canright; W. H. Littlejohn

May 22, we arrived at Civil Bend, Missouri, to attend the Conference. We found a very beautiful location for the camp-ground. The new tent was pitched, and all necessary preparations were promptly made by the brethren there. Most of the time the weather was favorable. The Sabbath-keepers in these two States are very much scattered, the churches being hundreds of miles apart. The brethren generally are not wealthy, and the failure of the crops for a couple of years leaves them in quite straightened circumstances. Hence the attendance at the meeting was very small—no one being present from Kansas, and only a very few from other parts of Missouri. However, we tried to do the best we could under the circumstances. The few friends of the cause present, manifested a commendable zeal and willingness to labor and sacrifice for the cause as far as they were able. Our social meetings were quite good, especially our closing one Monday morning. The Spirit of God was present, hearts were moved and tears flowed freely. Two were baptized. Though the circumstances were perplexing, yet we enjoyed freedom in speaking the word, and our minds were clear as to duty there.

Had the real condition at this place been known by the General Conference, the camp-meeting would not have been held here. It will be remembered from Bro. White’s report that he and sister White visited this place last fall and labored hard to help unite the Sabbath-keepers here. There were a few who were not in harmony with the body on all points. It was thought that they had been prejudiced by unwise labor among them, and that with proper explanation and a correct understanding of our people and their work, these objections would be removed and the Sabbath-keepers here would be united. An effort was made to that effect. It seemed at the time to be satisfactory and successful. All met and held their meetings together. For a time, things moved on in harmony, till this spring, Eld. Goodenough of the Hope of Israel party visited them, staying several weeks.

We are informed that he took advantage of the union that had been formed by the Sabbath-keepers, came into their meetings, and publicly expressed nothing but friendship and love for the Seventh-day Adventists, but at the same time used every means in his power, privately, to destroy their confidence in the work, and prejudice them against Bro. and sister White. This he did by false statements, and by garbled extracts from our publications. Those who had been formerly opposed to us, received his statements greedily and with the utmost confidence, without seeking information or explanation from us. They supported Eld. G. in all his labor, and threw all their influence against the body of Seventh-day Adventists, although outwardly professing friendship all the time. These took little or no part in preparing for the camp-meeting; yet when our meetings commenced they were on the ground and expected to enjoy the benefits of them. They watched every opportunity to privately talk with our friends who came from abroad, and furnished them with Mr. Carver’s recent work, and prejudiced them against our people. They did this, and at the same time publicly professed a great desire to be united and labor in harmony with us.

We could have no confidence or sympathy with such work, and plainly told our brethren so, and because we did not with open arms and with confidence receive them as brethren, and invite them publicly to take part in all our business proceedings, they professed to be very much injured and grieved; but our minds were clear and we felt the blessing of God in taking the position we did. Either this is the work of God or it is not. If it is not, we will give it up. If it is, we can have no fellowship or co-operation with those who spend their whole energy in opposing, misrepresenting, and tearing it down.

Of all enemies of the truth, those are the most to be feared who, professing to be friends, use our confidence to destroy us. These men have now had a fair chance to inform themselves, to become acquainted with this people and this work, and to be informed in regard to the nature of it. After all our friendly efforts to help them, they are more bitter than ever. There is only one course left; that is, complete separation from them.

D. M. CANRIGHT, W. H. LITTLEJOHN.