The New England Camp-Meeting.
By George I. Butler
This meeting was commenced when I reached the ground, Thursday noon, and I found quite a large number of Sabbath-keepers in attendance. It has been the largest of the eastern camp-meetings thus far. The scattered ones were present in more than usual numbers. This was an encouraging feature. Some thirty-two or thirty-three tents were pitched in the large circle, and two large tents were also erected to accommodate the people, when the weather was stormy; and such was the case most of the time. The weather was the most unfavorable during this meeting of any I have attended this season. There was only one really pleasant day while the meeting was going on. I have been surprised at the coldness of the weather this summer in the East when we hear such accounts of the heat and dryness of the season in the West. In our three eastern camp-meetings thus far, there have been but few nights but that a heavy overcoat seemed almost a necessity. At our meeting just closed, most of the religious services had to be held in the large tent, instead of on the seated space in front of the speakers’ stand. From the first, there seemed to be a readiness to work on the part of the brethren and sisters. They took hold well in the prayer and social meetings, and many expressed themselves as much benefited. Quite a number took a new start, who confessed their backslidings, and returned once more to the Lord, and seemed greatly encouraged. A very large proportion of the people came forward for prayers, and manifested a determination for a renewed consecration to the work. Ten were buried in baptism. The preaching was largely practical, and calculated to show what our characters must be to pass the Judgment. All that I have heard express themselves were much encouraged by the meeting, and thankful for the privilege of attending it. On the whole, I think the meeting was in advance of the one held last year. Our Monday’s meeting was, as usual, one of the most important of all. Quite a number, however, left too soon, and thus lost its benefits. How strange it is that when our people take so much pains and expense to attend the camp-meeting, they will not reap all the benefit possible. That they should leave such an important means of grace when in full progress, seems very strongly to show that they cannot prize it very highly, or that they think themselves in such good condition that they need no further help. In either case, such must be in great danger. They would not pursue such a course in worldly matters. In the raising of means for the cause, New England still takes the lead of all other Conferences. Last week, we thought Vermont had the first position, in proportion to wealth and numbers, but this meeting rather proves the contrary. Sunday morning, when we laid before the people the progress and wants of the cause, especially in reference to our school, there was a liberal response. With what has been previously signed in the Conference, some $5,000 were pledged for this purpose. This was done without any special effort being made, or pressure being brought to bear. Indeed, I think less of this was done there than at any other camp-meeting held the past season. The friends acted as though they had learned how to give. It came easy. And this makes it proper for me to again refer to the tract and missionary society. My judgment is more and more convinced of the vast utility of this society. Before it was organized, New England was one of the hardest places to raise means in largely, of any of our Conferences. It was missionary ground. That is, laborers were sent there by the General Conference, and supported there by the General Conference treasury. Now, instead of this, there is no Conference which pays so much means into the General Conference treasury in proportion to its numbers as New England. She voted, this year, $800 unsolicited, and had plenty left to pay all her own bills, with a handsome sum provided for future uses of her own. I do not believe the people are more naturally inclined to give than in other Conferences. But they have been instructed in the importance of cultivating a spirit of sacrifice, and a good example of this spirit has been set before them. It has not been a matter of driving, either, that has brought this about. But the proper motive has been appealed to, and as the people learn to sacrifice, they grow more and more willing to do it. The tract society work is of just that nature. To what other means can this be attributed than the one I have suggested? The people are not especially rich in New England. It is generally thought, in the Western and Middle States, that the Yankees of New England acquire sharpness and closeness of dealing in their characters, because it is such a hard place to get a living in that they have to watch the corners so closely, and have to look very anxiously after the pennies and sixpences in order to get a living. How, then, does it happen that they are far ahead of our richer brethren, West, in giving to the cause? I do believe that the Western people are generally better off than those living here in New England. I attribute this result to the working of the tract society. The New England Conference has not far from three hundred members. These give to the school $5,000. Iowa has upwards of seven hundred. At the same rate she would give some $12,000. Michigan has more than six times as many members, and, on the average, they are wealthier. She would, then, at that rate, give upward of $30,000. Who dare to expect she will come anywhere near that sum? and yet she ought to be far more interested in the school than New England; for it is in her midst, where many of the people can directly avail themselves of the advantages of it, while New England cannot hope to send many pupils to it, comparatively. It has been thought there would be a reaction in New England—that the pressure for means had been so high that the scale would soon turn the other way. So far from this being true, never have means been more freely given than this year. And I can see no signs of such a thing. In conclusion, I express my full belief that the tract and missionary work should receive a large amount of the credit for this changed state of things, and that our other States will stand greatly in their own light if they do not feel interested in the same good work.