The Ohio Camp-Meeting by G. W. Mitchell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 11, 1875

The Ohio Camp-Meeting.

By G. W. Mitchell

We arrived at the camp-ground on Thursday, 3 o’clock P. M. About sixty persons were present. Bro. Canright was addressing the meeting on the subject of reformation, showing the necessity of living out the truth in every sphere of life. Bro. U. Smith followed, showing that reform had been progressing since the days of Luther, in every direction, physical reform as well as mental. Friday morning, a short exhortation by Bros. Canright and Smith on the necessity of courage in all that we have to perform, trusting in God, and cheerfully pressing forward.

At 11 o’clock, sermon by Bro. Canright on the second coming of Christ; the signs of the end; and the meaning of the expression, “This generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled.” The visions of Daniel and John were explained, showing that the four universal kingdoms of Asia and Europe had passed away, and had occupied all the territory; that the two-horned beast of Rev. 13 symbolizes the United States of America; and that this completes the circuit of the globe. In connection with this, the moral and political signs were presented, demonstrating that the great and mighty God was about to set up his everlasting kingdom.

Friday, 3 o’clock P. M., sermon by Bro. U. Smith from Rom. 13:11, 12. The words of the text were shown not to be applicable in the past, but to us of the present time; timely admonitions were given against the great temptations of these days; the revelation of Jesus Christ was spoken of and the nearness of salvation; the day and hour are not known; the time is to be understood by the people of God. “Ye are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” “As ye see the day approaching”—conclusion: We can see the day approaching. To be asleep is incompatible with “knowing the time;” hence the necessity of being awake; of knowing the truth theoretically and practically; of feeling its force.

Here Bro. Smith made a direct appeal to the audience to arouse from their lethargy; saying that it is high time to awake out of sleep; it cannot be put off longer; Laodiceans referred to; reasons why we should awake. Two great movements in the religious world were mentioned. 1. False prophets, etc.; spiritualism, its work, its effects; it is sent as a strong delusion because the people have “pleasure in unrighteousness.” Truth alone shields from error; the Satanic delusion is nearly finished. 2. The gospel of the kingdom. This mighty movement precedes the end of time; when it has accomplished its purpose, the end comes. This work is world wide; hence the necessity of doing our duty; for the night is far spent. Darkness and ruin, followed by extinction of being, were contrasted with Christ’s glorious kingdom. This should stimulate us to cast off the works of darkness, and put on the whole armor of light. Works of the flesh and fruits of the Spirit were referred to; and the necessity of self-examination, that we may be free from darkness and murmuring, and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit. We must be tested by the Judgment; then let us be energetic, realizing the importance of having the Spirit of God.

Sabbath evening, address by Bro. St. John, from Rev. 13:11, showing that the two-horned beast which was seen coming up out of the earth is a symbol of the United States. 1. There is no place in the old world for this beast, as the territory has all been occupied. This government had its rise at the right time, when the papacy lost its power. As there are no crowns on the two-horned beast, it must symbolize a republican form of government. It came up out of the earth; different writers have spoken of its silent growth. 2. Its power, civil and religious. It promises liberty to all, is lamblike in its pretensions, but exercises all the power of the first beast. It does great wonders; makes fire come down from heaven, and deceives by its miracles. The image of the beast is the union of church and State. Great men of the nation are engaged in securing the Constitutional Amendment. How the earth and its dwellers worship the image; the earth worships by not being tilled on Sunday. There are two rival rest-days; one given by the great and mighty God; the other, by the man of sin. The seals of each were considered. The number of the beast is found in the Latin words expressing his title, Vicar of the son of God. The U. S. government will try to enforce the day appointed by the man of sin.

The first angel’s message was world wide. The second angel’s message, showing that Babylon is fallen, was given in 1844. The churches themselves admit a departure from the faith. The third angel’s message warns against the mark of the beast and its consequences; it is the last call of mercy to a perishing world. The message sounds louder and louder as the opposition calls, Let us make an image to the beast. The awful denunciation of the third angel’s message shows the great responsibility resting on those who understand this truth. Entire consecration is necessary. The reward was considered.

Bro. Canright followed with remarks on the representation of the Son of man seated on the white cloud, with a sharp sickle in his hand. The harvest of the earth is nearly ripe. The message given by Noah to the antediluvians ripened the earth for the flood; so the third angel’s message ripens it for the final destruction. A threefold warning is being given. A people is being brought out keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Fifty thousand were turned out of the churches in 1844 for being Adventists. He spoke of the grand idea of the messages; when God gives a message to man, he will make it known. All Heaven is alive with this work, which is almost closed. Have faith in God; go home to live it out. Let us be living tracts, to be read of all.

Sabbath morning, a social meeting, in which seventy-five testimonies were given, was followed by a lecture from Bro. Canright on Romans 12. All things were made for God’s glory. He is the author of the universe, and all things therein. All are under obligations to God, whether converted or unconverted. The grand object of the whole human family should be to glorify God. The first petition in the Lord’s prayer is, “Hallowed be thy name.” The primary object in keeping the commandments is to glorify God; the whole man is required to honor God. The necessity of controlling the appetite and the passions, of temperance in all things, and of not being conformed to the world, was spoken of. God’s people are pilgrims. The dress and manner of life of the Primitive Methodists were referred to. There is danger of conformity to the world. We should put away every idle thought and word, and should not indulge in unkind thoughts toward our neighbors. Phil. 4:8 was quoted, “Whatsoever things are true” &c. The church is many members in one body; hence it is necessary that each one follow his proper calling with his might. All gifts are from God; the gift to make money is from him.

We should have love without dissimulation, and an abhorrence of that which is evil. A want of kindness prevails at the present time. The fruits of the Spirit were dwelt upon. Cheerfulness, one of these fruits, is necessary; we should not be gloomy or sad, but rejoice always. We should be holy.

Sabbath afternoon, Bro. Smith spoke from Rev. 11:19. The ark of the testament is here revealed, with its contents. There is no mistake in the matter. The object of the law of God is to be a blessing to those who understand and obey it. Under the sounding of the seventh angel the nations are angry; the dead are to be judged; and God’s kingdom set up. God’s word is its own interpreter. There was an object in opening the temple and revealing the ark of the covenant and the sanctuary at this period. The captivity of Israel, and their fall, as given in Romans, was mentioned. Sacrifices were necessary; there is no remission of sins without the shedding of blood. Man ceases to exist if he pays the penalty himself. The law of God demands the death of the offender. The epistle to the Hebrews was written to show the object of sacrifices. The heavenly sanctuary and high priest were compared with the old covenant and earthly sanctuary.

The door opened in Heaven, as seen by John, revealed the reality of God’s law. Sacrifices pointed to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world, who made one offering forever. The Jews erred in thinking that the blood of animals could take away sins, instead of trusting in the blood of Christ. Christ’s sacrifice was made in reference to God’s law. The sacrifices of animals were made in figure, and Christ’s offering was made in fact. It is necessary that we take a deep interest in this matter. The day of atonement was a type of the work to be done by the Son of God in the most holy place. The Sabbath should be observed; it is necessary that we keep God’s law before coming to Christ. The mercy-seat was explained. The law and gospel brought together. The work is almost finished.

Bro. Canright followed with a few remarks. Zacharias and Elizabeth kept all the commandments, and walked in the ordinances of the Lord blameless. Dress, meetings on the Sabbath, the duty of elders, weekly prayer-meetings, and Sabbath-schools, were considered. It is necessary that brethren inform themselves. Reading the Bible and secret prayer should not be neglected. Adventist publications and the testimonies should also be read. The ordinance of the Lord’s supper is important.

Evening after the Sabbath, Bro. T. J. Butler delivered an address on the law of God still binding on man. The temple of God is opened in Heaven, and the ark of the testimony is positively there. Its contents were considered. Sin is the transgression of God’s law. The immutability of God’s law and its spirituality were considered. This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. The two laws were compared. Jesus is the messenger of the new covenant. Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled. The teachings of Christ were considered. He ratifies the covenant.

Sunday at 11 o’clock, address by Bro. Smith. Text, 1 Thess. 4:13, 14. Subject, Resurrection and Second Advent. He explained the term sleep. Paul comforts those whose friends are asleep in Jesus. The condition of the hopeless and the foundation of the Christian’s hope, were dwelt upon. Those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. If brought from Heaven, they are asleep there. We shall not all sleep, but shall all be changed. The sleeping saints have not life, only the promise of it, at the resurrection. The advent of Christ insures the resurrection. The first and second advents were compared. The second advent will be witnessed by all who are alive at the time. Christ will return to earth as he left it, personally and visibly. It comes as a snare to the wicked; but the righteous are prepared for their Saviour. The great questions of the age, the signs of the coming of Christ, and the visions of Daniel and John, were referred to, and the condition of the world, both morally and physically, considered. “When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” The millennium is not temporal, does not come before the advent. The nations are angry—in a warlike position. The prophet Joel showed the condition of the nations in the last days. The importance of entire sanctification—of spirit, soul, and body—and its meaning were dwelt upon. Character is to be developed. Christians should pray to be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sunday, 2 o’clock P. M., Bro. Canright gave an address on the Sabbath. All agree that the seventh day was the Sabbath. The commandments are as unchangeable as their Author. God is immutable; therefore, his law must be. The change of the Sabbath was considered—by whom effected. All things that were binding in the old dispensation, and are done away, are pointedly mentioned, as circumcision, change of the priesthood, etc. The institution of the Lord’s supper and baptism are so plainly pointed out that no one can mistake them. The first day of the week was considered. Christ met with his disciples after the first day was past, as the day expired at sunset, and eight days after would be on Monday evening, after the second day of the week had closed. The first day of the week, as mentioned in Acts and first Corinthians, were carefully examined. No evidence is found in the New Testament for keeping the first day of the week.

Sunday evening, an address by Bro. St. John. The Sabbath was shown still to be sacred, and to have had its origin at creation before man fell; hence, it is a moral institution. The design of the Sabbath was not to afford a day for worship, nor a rest-day; but a memorial of creation. This is its foundation as recorded in Gen. 2. Exodus 16 was referred to, and the fall of the manna considered; day of the provocation in the wilderness compared with this time. God wrote his own law. Ex. 20. There is a distinction between the Lord’s Sabbath and the rest-days mentioned in Lev. 23. Works of mercy are done on the Sabbath; Christ healed the sick on that day. The teaching of the Rabbis prevented their people from doing those works on the Sabbath. It is right to do well on the Sabbath. Testimony for keeping the seventh day is found in Mark 16:1, 2; Luke 23:56; Acts 13:27, 42, 44; Acts 18:4; 17:2. We have prophets and apostles for examples in keeping the Sabbath. The Sabbath is mentioned fifty-nine times in the New Testament, first-day only eight times. A restoration of the Sabbath is predicted in Isaiah 58:12, 13.

Monday morning, Bro. Canright addressed the members on the subject of their duty toward their unconverted friends. A call was then made to the thoughtful, and more than thirty came forward for prayer; much feeling was manifested by the whole assembly. Those who came forward were mostly youth.

At two o’clock P. M., one hundred and ten persons, including two ministers, went to the Maumee river, a distance of ten miles where thirty persons were buried with Christ in baptism. Among them, was a girl nearly fourteen years of age and a boy only twelve. The remaining portion of the congregation attended to the business of the Conference, and the demands of the Tract and Missionary Society.

On Monday evening the meeting was addressed by Bro. Canright on the extent of the work. The church are not yet fully awake. There is a lack of men and women of ability at Battle Creek, and in the field generally. Missions are increasing; the truth is to be sent to all parts of the world. System is necessary. The school at Battle Creek was alluded to. Errors of church officers were pointed out. Energy and patience are necessary. The last message of mercy is being given to the world! Sublime and awful thought!

Bro. Smith followed, showing the present magnitude of the work compared with the past, with assurance of increase in the future. He spoke of the necessity of order in every department, and the want of competent men and women to assist in this great work.

The number of Adventists present was about two hundred and fifty. On Sunday A. M. over one thousand people were present; at 2 P. M., fifteen hundred.

G. W. MITCHELL.

Zanesville, O.