The Michigan Camp-Meeting.
By George I. Butler
WHEN I arrived upon the ground, Wednesday night, Sept. 4, 1872, the scene was truly inspiring to a lover of the cause of present truth. Our friends had chosen a beautiful grove about a mile and a half from the city. I think the grove was the finest I had seen in any of the States. The committee had arranged everything very tastefully, and upon a large scale. The circle embraced nearly sixty family and church tents besides the two large, sixty-foot tents for preaching. There were still others which could not come into the circle. This was said to be the largest meeting of S. D. Adventists ever held. There must have been upwards of eight hundred Sabbath-keepers in attendance during the day-time. Nearly that number remained upon the ground nights. It is not my purpose to give a full report of this meeting. The editor of the REVIEW has given its readers the results of his personal observation, of its progress and importance. I wish merely to speak of a few points connected with it. The call, Sabbath afternoon, for all who desired prayers in their behalf, to come forward, was really an interesting sight. I should judge between three and four hundred expressed their desires in this respect, and the Lord seemed specially to bless as we called upon him in behalf of the people. The meetings in the tents after this season of prayer were very precious seasons. Confessions, with strong crying and tears, were by no means uncommon. There was one feature of our meeting that we much regret. There was so much business connected with the Conference, the Tract Society, and the Institute, that it interfered with the spiritual interests of the meeting. This I think should be remedied in the future. When so many hundreds come from long distances to be benefited spiritually, and most of whom cannot feel great interest in business matters, it seems a pity that they cannot receive just that kind of labor that they need. The business, of course, is of great importance, and must receive attention; but it seems to me it would be better to have a special time for its transaction, than that it should interfere with our large camp-meetings. Where there is simply the Conference business to be done, it can be worked in without serious detriment to spiritual interests; but more than this seems to be much in the way. The progress of the cause in this Conference has been indeed gratifying during the past year. Above two hundred have embraced the Sabbath of the Lord within its bounds, and this, with many of its laborers in other fields. Evidently, Michigan is an excellent field for labor, and God has richly blessed the labor which has been expended. Our closing meeting, Monday forenoon, was indeed a blessed one. Short and cheering testimonies, expressing confidence in the work and a determination to be faithful to God, came pouring in rapidly. It seemed hard to break up and go out into the cold world once more. During this meeting, I had the pleasure of introducing our dear Bro. Vuilleumier, who has come among us to learn the truth more perfectly and qualify himself to labor in connection with it. He has made indeed most rapid progress in acquiring a knowledge of our language under the instruction of Bro. Bell. Although he has been with us but two and a half months, he gave us a good testimony that we could all understand in our own tongue. We feel that a heavy responsibility rests upon us as a people that we so conduct ourselves that this dear brother should not receive unfavorable impressions of our piety and consecration. He has set our young men a noble example by consecrating himself to the work of God. We hope many of them may follow his example. Mansfield, Ohio, Sept. 12, 1872.