The Minnesota Camp-Meeting.
By Geo. J. Butler
WHEN we reached the camp-ground at Medford, Thursday morning, we found this meeting commenced, and Bro. Canright addressing the people in the large tent, with a good attendance of brethren and sisters already present. The ground was the same as last year, and it is well adapted to camp-meeting purposes. A fine stream of water, clear, and with sandy or gravelly bottom, running close up to the speakers’ stand and the edges of the semi-circle of tents which faced it, added much to the beauty of the scenery. It was a pleasant spot indeed. The meeting was the largest ever held in the State, the brethren thought, some three hundred Sabbath keepers being present. There were twenty-one tents pitched, besides the speakers’ tent, and there were quite a number of covered wagons used for lodging besides. The attendance on Sunday was fair, considering the size of the town. It was estimated that there were not far from twelve hundred people present. They listened with good attention, and all the meetings were characterized by good order. There was considerable disappointment among the friends of the cause that Bro. and sister White were not present; and we feared it might work to the injury of the meeting. But as the meeting progressed, and it became evident that the Lord was with his people, the brethren seemed to take courage, and in a measure lose sight of their disappointment. The meetings were solemn seasons. I do not know that I ever witnessed a greater interest among the people than was manifest Friday afternoon, when Bro. Littlejohn called for those to come forward who desired the prayers of God’s servants. I should judge some two hundred came forward, comprising fully two-thirds of the meeting at the time. Before prayers were offered in their behalf, testimonies were called for, and often three or four were on their feet at a time, ready to speak forth their earnest desire for a deeper work of grace in the heart, tears and sobs witnessing to their sincerity. It was truly an occasion of great interest, in which the power of God’s Spirit was manifested. All the religious meetings were interesting. Monday morning, nineteen were buried with Christ by baptism in the stream, a few rods from the camp-ground, among them, one aged friend about eighty years of age. It was a blessed time. There is a general feeling of encouragement among the brethren in Minnesota this year, and a willingness to take hold of the work. The action of the General Conference in sending Bro. Canright there to labor during the year is very gratifying to them. They hope to see the cause move forward. Bro. C. feels a deep interest in his new field of labor, and will do all he can to help forward the work. The Conference is becoming stronger financially than ever before, as the report will soon show, and there seems to be good reason for the friends of the cause in Minnesota to thank God and take courage. If the friends fulfill their solemn vows to God, we expect to see a good increase in strength and numbers the coming year. Austin, Minn., June 26, 1872.