p. 148 | Camp-Meeting Season by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 21, 1873

Camp-Meeting Season.

By James White

The past camp-meeting season has been one of the deepest interest to us, although deprived of the privilege of attending these meetings, with the exception of one. The general low state of the cause, the fact that some of our leading men were not, from different causes, in a condition to be of real help in these important meetings, and the work of raising funds for a school, made the camp-meetings of the season a matter of great anxiety and interest to all who had a clear view of the situation of things.

From the very first, it appeared that the responsibility of the meetings, and a large portion of the labor, must come upon one man, Eld. Geo. I. Butler. And we confess that we had fears that he would break down in health and courage before the season should close. We were also aware that there were sensitive matters that would come up at the several State Conferences, which would demand the counsel and decision of the General Conference Committee, and which would bring the president into strait places. Having occupied that place under like circumstances, we were pretty well qualified to judge of the labors and perplexities of that position, and to sympathize with Bro. Butler in the work before him.

But, to the praise of God, who has ever guided and sustained his servants who have trusted wholly in him, and have stood boldly up for the right in every religious crisis, we bear cheerful and decided testimony that we have seen the hand of God guiding Brn. Butler and Haskell in the important matters of the camp-meeting season. The amount of labor which Bro. Butler has done is astonishing. His reports in REVIEW have been rich in just those particulars which the readers of the REVIEW wished to learn. They have also been eminently practical, seizing every opportunity to warn of danger, correct errors, and to give important instructions in the religious life.

And now, that the successful season of camp-meetings is past, we are happy to learn from his own pen that he is coming out with pretty good health.

The president of our General Conference is richly entitled to, and should by all means have, that rest from his arduous labors for a few months which change will give. Having been under the strain of important meetings for so long a time, his brethren should not urge him here and there to hold meetings, for several months. The cause cannot afford to have such men break down.

In the rapid growth of the cause, ever opening new fields of labor, and ever calling for new ways and means, as in the case of the missions to the French, Germans, Danes, and Swedes, and a hundred and one other things, the president of our General Conference will find his hands full, without holding common meetings, or giving courses of lectures. We suggest that he cast off the spirit of labor for the present, and as a counselor, touch here and there in the broad missionary field, and give such instruction and encouragement as may be needed, especially by young missionaries.

Bro. Butler has been drinking deep the past season of true Christian experience under circumstances calculated to make him a safe counselor. Our young men should seek his advice.

And those who have suffered loss from a disposition to dodge responsibilities in unpleasant matters may learn that the Spirit of God is able to take a faithful man through the furnace of fire without suffering a hair of his head to be singed. · Oh! for that spirit of true faith that trusts in God ever, and dares to stand for the right.

“Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.” Rom. 13:7. While we are not disposed to praise, or to worship, any man, we believe it to be scriptural, right, and for the glory of God, to honor those whom God honors with his guiding hand, and who are risking all that is of any value in this life for the precious cause of Jesus Christ. J. W.