The Indiana Camp-Meeting by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 21, 1875

The Indiana Camp-Meeting.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Bro. Smith and myself arrived upon the camp-ground Thursday morning before breakfast. It had been raining hard several days, and the weather was quite cold. The prospect looked very dreary. Many remained away on this account, and others came late Friday. The weather continued bad during the whole meeting, and the last day it snowed and ice froze upon the water, so that stoves and fires were in good demand.

We found Brn. Lane and Kenyon both unwell. It appears to be unusually sickly this fall on account of the continued wet weather. However, this was the largest meeting we ever had in Indiana. Twenty-one tents were pitched upon the ground, and there were about two hundred persons present besides the outside attendance, which was good considering the weather. Evidently there would have been a very large turnout under favorable circumstances.

We were glad to find the friends of the cause all of good courage, alive to its interests, and devoted to the work. Our social meetings were most excellent. The time was well improved on each occasion. Many were affected to tears as they related their conversion to the truth and their love for it, and told what God had wrought for them. A large share of those present had embraced the truth within the last year or two. Four new churches were added to the Conference this year and several last, so that the Conference has doubled its numbers in two years.

This is very encouraging, and the prospect is better now for success than ever before. There are promising and urgent openings everywhere. Numerous meeting-houses are freely opened for lectures. We hope the preachers will push the work here vigorously the coming year.

Several young men received license to preach. We hope that they will have energy and devotion enough to make a good mark for the cause in this State the coming year. If Brn. Lane and Kenyon will remain here to follow up the work now begun, we shall expect to see the numbers here again doubled in a short time.

There are several quite wealthy men in this State who are well able to help the young and needy cause if they will only consecrate their means to God. It is, however, a sad fact that wealthy men are generally the least liberal of all men. We have often found it so among our people. But this is not always the case, and we pray that it may not be so here.

The Lord gave us good freedom in speaking the word. We dwelt largely upon the great pillars of our faith, the signs of the times, the messages, the Sabbath, &c. Our people need such discourses as these to renew their faith in the work, as many of them hear little or no preaching the year round. Then there are always quite a number present who are interested and are investigating the truth. This is a good opportunity to fully decide them for the truth. This was so here. Monday morning we invited all to arise who had here decided to begin the observance of the Sabbath. Ten persons arose and bore their testimony and took their stand with us. Among these was a young man who is an intelligent school teacher, a Baptist deacon, and others who will be a help to the cause. Two others also will keep the Sabbath who were not at that meeting, making one dozen as the fruit of this camp-meeting. Besides these a good number came forward for prayers and for baptism. These were examined and taken in to the different churches. Nearly every church received from one to half a dozen additions.

Monday afternoon we all went one mile to a river where Bro. Kenyon baptized twenty-three. This was the largest baptism our people have ever had in this State.

As many had to leave for their homes in the night Monday, and early Tuesday morning, we had our closing meeting in the evening. Bro. Smith spoke a while, and then we enjoyed a good social meeting. All expressed themselves as abundantly paid for their trouble in coming to the meeting. Many said it was the best camp-meeting they ever attended. All resolved to live nearer to God for the coming year, to do more for the cause, and to sacrifice more to advance the truth. Union and harmony among themselves, and full confidence in the general management of the cause, prevail throughout the State. This is as it should be.

So closes the camp-meetings for this year. Bro. Smith promises to give a summary of them all, which will show how important a part of the work these camp-meetings are coming to be. We are both in good health and good spirits.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Oct. 12, 1875.