The Maine Camp-Meeting by W. C. White

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 29, 1904

The Maine Camp-Meeting

By W. C. White

It was my privilege, in company with Dr. G. A. Hare, of Washington, D. C., to spend five days at the Caribou, Maine, camp-meeting.

Caribou is one of the most northerly cities of Aroostook County, which constitutes a large part of the great hunting and fishing grounds of northern Maine. Parts of this great northern county are very fertile, and are being rapidly converted into farms. The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad has built two lines through the most fertile sections to the Canadian border, and along these lines are growing up thrifty villages and cities.

All along the line for more than a hundred miles we noticed numerous large storehouses at each station, and upon inquiry learned that they were potato storehouses.

On each side of the line there were large potato fields, and in the machinery sheds potato planters and potato harvesters. Two hundred and fifty bushels to the acre, we are told, is not an unusual yield. Over seven million dollars was brought into Aroostook County last year in return for its crop of potatoes.

But large portions of this and adjoining counties of northern Maine are yet but little else than a wild, rocky, beautiful forest, dotted with lakes and lumber camps.

Of these great northern hunting grounds it is said, “There are nearly fifteen thousand square miles of hunting and fishing country in northern Maine, a territory the size of the State of Massachusetts. More than ten thousand non-resident sportsmen visit this section annually.” During 1902 there were shipped from this section two hundred and forty-four moose and four thousand four hundred and ninety-five deer.

This northland of the Atlantic coast is becoming more and more a popular summer resort, and we hope that small sanitariums may take the place of some of the hunting camps, and that the good fruits, grains, and potatoes of the settlements may be eaten instead of the beautiful deer and noble moose of the forest.

Caribou, where the camp-meeting was held, is a thrifty city of about three thousand people. It is the center of trade for a large and prosperous farming district. Here Elders P. F. Bicknell and F. C. Gilbert had been holding a tent-meeting for about ten weeks. Their large tent was conveniently located and nicely fitted up, and there was a good attendance, and a deep interest manifested in the truths presented.

The good people attending the meetings, although much interested, and acknowledging the correctness of the doctrines presented, were slow to decide to obey. The camp-meeting, as we hoped, has influenced some to decide fully to obey.

About twenty-five tents, and many rooms in the neighborhood, were occupied by our people at the meeting. I think there were one hundred and fifty in attendance.

On Sabbath, August 27, solemn appeals were made to our people that they renew their consecration to the Lord. On Sunday the camp-ground was thronged all day. Hundreds from the surrounding country drove in with their teams, and the railroads, running special trains, brought eight hundred to the meeting.

Although naturally there were many curious and restless elements in the throng, yet their attention was held by a clear and forceful presentation of truth by Elders H. W. Cottrell and F. C. Gilbert.

On Monday and Tuesday Dr. G. A. Hare, of Washington, D. C., gave several helpful and practical talks on healthful living. These health talks were greatly appreciated by the people.

The business of the conference was transacted quickly, and the campers were invited to organize into a band of Christian visitors. Wednesday morning a large number went out to visit the people of Caribou, telling them of the blessings received at the meetings, and inviting them to attend. The experience meeting held Friday morning, when the visitors related their experiences, was an hour full of thanksgiving and praise, and a meeting long to be remembered.

The conference committee requested Elders Gilbert and Bicknell to continue their labors in Caribou, and invited Elders Goodrich and Hersum to join them. The interest aroused by the tent-meetings extends for miles into the country, and much visiting needs to be done. W. C. WHITE.