p. 206 | Our Camp-Meeting by Jos. Clarke

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 9, 1873

Our Camp-Meeting.

By Jos. Clarke

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is.” Heb. 10:25.

We had a press of work on hand, and in addition to this, we were laden with worldly cares and responsibilities; but we left all, packed up, prepared tent, &c., and took up our march for Lexington, one hundred miles away. Some five teams from Bowling Green led the way; and we had a very delightful journey. We camped at night in our tents, ate our dinners in pleasant groves, and slept safely in the woods. We passed through the villages and cities on our route, a religious caravan; not on our route to Mecca, but to a pleasant grove, where were some of the most faithful of our people preparing the grounds, fitting up things for a temporary home.

On the way, people were astonished to see us out on a religious enterprise. Some supposed it must be an excursion of pleasure, and in this they were not mistaken; for in addition to the feelings of pleasure and devotion inspired by the contemplation of God’s handiwork in the beautiful scenery, was the anticipated enjoyment of communion with saints and the blessed Master, who, it was expected, would attend the feast.

The meeting surpassed all our anticipations. Kind, pious people zealously built a cotton city, a voluntary police was soon formed, and all went on profitably. The lukewarm church was faithfully and lovingly warned.

Brn. Butler and Haskell have worked beyond their strength to inspire our people with the spirit of devotion and sacrifice. They accomplished much good here. Even the most hardened were moved to new resolution and feeling. Many hearts overflowed with holy love, and many will always remember this holy feast to the Lord.

But the best and pleasantest meetings in this world must end in separation, and so with this. The time came for our meetings to close and for our little, temporary city to be removed. Sudden partings of friends took the place of religious devotions. The whistle of the locomotive rudely sounded the signal of departure, and soon our little companies were journeying homeward; not, however, with the feelings with which we came, for the meeting had sobered our senses, and worldly grandeur and delightful scenery were eclipsed by the near approach of the advent and the thrilling considerations which attend it. Jos. CLARKE.