The Wisconsin Camp-Meeting.
By E. O. Hammond
It has been decided that our next camp-meeting will be held at Lodi, Columbia Co., commencing June 18. It is expected there will be a general rally of the friends of the cause from all parts of the Conference. These meetings are mainly for the benefit of the churches, that the bond of union may be strengthened among them, that they may have a mutual understanding of the magnitude and importance of the work, and that they may leave home cares for a few days for the special purpose of getting very near to God. Our camp-meetings are attended with a great deal of labor and expense, and are of the utmost importance to the people of God. In order to get the benefit of them, the brethren and sisters must attend. Worldly considerations should not keep them at home. I knew a brother who was in debt, and thought his time should all be occupied in accumulating means to pay his just obligations. He therefore remained at home to sow his fall grain, which was afterward killed by the frosts of winter, and he lost not only the inestimable blessing of God, but also in a pecuniary point of view. Another brother on one occasion thought his call was to the hay field instead of the camp-meeting; so he spent the day he should have started to meeting with his mower, cutting down his grass. But the rain came on, and at the close of camp-meeting week he found himself, not only barren of the Spirit of God, but his hay was greatly injured, and his work not much farther advanced than it would have been if he had spent his time with the people of God, seeking his precious blessing. Nine-tenths of the excuses the brethren make to justify themselves in staying away are the result of unbelief in the providence of God. If we do meet with a few dollars’ loss for the time being, we should remember that the Lord is able to give us ten times as much, and he certainly will if it is for the best. Let the brethren, far and near, throughout the Conference, make up their minds early in the season that nothing but providential hindrances will keep them from attending this yearly feast, and set themselves to making the necessary preparations, such as procuring tents and arranging their temporal affairs so they can leave home. Better hire some one to look after our growing crops in our absence than stay at home and lose the blessing of God. But the most important of all is a preparation of heart. We must be at peace, not only among ourselves, but with all men. If we cherish envy, jealousy, or hatred, in our hearts toward any of our fellow-men, the gentle Spirit of God will be grieved away from us, and a channel be opened for Satan to approach us and control our minds. Let us begin the work of self-examination at once. As we value the blessing of God and eternal life, let us not go up to this meeting with any known duty left undone; but let us go with teachable, inquiring minds and tender hearts, that Jesus may come in and sup with us, and we with him.