The Vermont Camp-Meeting.
By George I. Butler
We reached the ground at Wolcott, Thursday forenoon, and found the meeting in progress. We were glad to find quite a large attendance of brethren and sisters; indeed, the meeting was considerably larger than the New York Camp-meeting, which we had just left, though this Conference has not half as large a membership as that. I was glad to greet the friends of my native State, some of whom I have been acquainted with for more than twenty-five years. There seemed to be a discouraging feeling upon the minds of many of the friends of the cause, and there was not all that interest and spirituality in the meetings that I wanted to see. But the Lord gave good freedom in preaching the word, and the meetings rose in interest till the close. Especially was this true of our meetings Sabbath and Monday. On Sabbath, a large number came forward for prayers, and there was quite a breaking down before the Lord. On Sunday, when there was a large crowd present, of course we could do but little, except to attend to business matters, and preach to those especially who had come in to learn our views. Good attention was paid, as the reasons of our faith were set before the people. Many hundreds were in attendance from all the surrounding country. But on Monday, when we returned to those things which were calculated to help our own people, we made an advance again, and many were deeply affected. One thing we greatly regretted, and that was, that so many had gone home Sunday night. Those who went, lost the very best part of our meeting. It seems surprising that so many of our people will not learn to reform in this respect, and will thus neglect the very means that are calculated to benefit them most. We were very particular in the notice of these camp-meetings to state that they would continue through Monday. We have learned that the crowd and the business of Sunday have an influence to lessen the good impression that has been previously made upon the mind. It is important that our people should receive all the good they can at these meetings. What a pity, then, that they should leave just at that time when they may receive the greatest good. Nothing seems more discouraging to those who travel at great expense to meet with the people to help them, than to see them go home and neglect the means of grace that God offers. Those who did remain were privileged with special spiritual blessings. The remarks of Eld. Haskell, Monday night, upon the true spirit of sacrifice, were worth going many miles to hear. How I wished every Sabbath-keeper in the State could hear them. There was quite a breaking down, Monday afternoon, among all the people. Some with whom I had the privilege of praying at their tents, and beseeching them to give their hearts to God, started out, for the first time, in the Lord’s service. May they continue faithful. The hearts of the people seemed very much drawn out and encouraged by the time the meetings closed, so that we could hardly tear away from them. On Sunday morning, we set before the people the progress and wants of the cause. The Lord specially helped in the presentation of this subject. The hearts of many were moved, and when we called for pledges for the school, there was a general response. Upwards of $3,100 were pledged in addition to the $1,000 obtained before, making over $4,100 subscribed by the little State of Vermont for our proposed school. We doubt if any other State signs as much in proportion to its numbers and means. We confess to surprise at the result. In producing it, we urged no one personally to pledge. We only set before the people the work at its present stage, and what we ought to see accomplished. Our people are willing to take hold when these things are fully understood by them. Altogether, we were much pleased at the result of the Vermont meeting, and we trust there will be a coming up in the work there, hereafter. South Lancaster, Mass., Aug. 22, 1873.