p. 93 | The Missouri and Kansas Camp-Meeting

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 23, 1875

The Missouri and Kansas Camp-Meeting.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

I ARRIVED upon the camp-ground at Mound City, Kansas, Thursday afternoon, and found a good number already there. Many more came Friday, so that in all about three hundred were encamped upon the ground. We were glad to see so many; and yet had it been a less hurrying time there would have been a greater number. For many reasons, it was very necessary that Bro. and Sr. White should attend this meeting. Hence all came anxiously expecting them. When they learned that they were to be disappointed, it seemed as though it would about ruin our meeting, and things moved hard and slowly the first day or two.

But on the Sabbath the clouds began to break away, the Lord gave good freedom in speaking, and all began to cheer up. In the afternoon the Spirit of God attended our exhortation. The hearts of the people were deeply moved, and many wept. Some seventy-five came forward to confess their sins, to seek the Lord, and to make a start for the kingdom. Then two hours were crowded full in listening to the confessions of these persons. Every moment was occupied; and yet many could not speak. The work seemed to go deep and thorough. Companions confessed to each other, parents to their children, and brethren and sisters to those of their own church. Those who had backslidden from God and the truth returned to the Lord, and others started for the first time. Some here took their stand with us upon the Sabbath and were baptized. In all, fourteen were baptized by Bro. Rogers on Monday. The outside attendance was fair, though not large. The best of order was maintained on the ground throughout the meetings.

This Conference had become so large that all agreed that it ought to be divided, which was accordingly done. Now Kansas and Missouri each has a Conference of its own. The T. and M. Society was also divided in the same manner. This leaves each Conference more than a dozen churches, six preachers, and about three hundred Sabbath-keepers. Nearly every one of these preachers in both Conferences has begun to preach within the last two or three years; yet the Lord has blessed their labors, and new churches are coming up everywhere. Evidently this is a good field of labor. If all these young men energetically devote themselves to the work, as men in this message ought to do, we shall expect to see strong Conferences here in the future.

The drought last year, with the grasshoppers last fall and this spring, has hindered the work some, and discouraged the people a great deal. We felt this sensibly in settling with the ministers. Many of the brethren were unable to pay their s. B., hence the preachers have been paid but little during the whole year. And now there was but little in the treasury with which to help them. Putting together all we could raise by donations, s. B., &c., still they could only be paid from four to six dollars per week for time actually spent in labor. I felt sorry for them, as I saw their clothes worn out and no money to buy new ones; debts on their hands and nothing to meet them with; and a winter before them unprepared for.

But their crops are abundant. The grasshoppers left early enough so that they have raised a large crop of all kinds of grain and vegetables. The finest peaches I ever saw can be bought for twenty-five cents per bushel. Other things are in proportion. So there is little chance for raising money, even for taxes, at present. I have stated these facts to Bro. White, and he feels that something more must be done for them. It certainly is needed, and I hope it may be done soon.

At the close of our meeting, Bro. J. H. Cook was ordained. Others will be at the first convenient opportunity.

D. M. CANRIGHT.