p. 68 | THE OHIO CAMP-MEETING by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 24, 1876

THE OHIO CAMP-MEETING.

By Uriah Smith

This meeting was held at the appointed time, Aug. 10-15, 1876. There were thirty-three church and family tents on the ground, and three hundred and sixty brethren and sisters present. This is a larger representation than has attended any previous meeting in this State, and shows an encouraging condition of the cause in this Conference, so far as numbers are concerned.

For meeting purposes, two fifty-foot tents were pitched together, making an audience room 50 by 100 feet. These had been pitched separately in the environs of the city of Norwalk, and meetings held in them for a few weeks previous, which had resulted in bringing out quite a number of good, substantial souls, who were very glad for the presence of the camp-meeting.

Thursday and Friday were stormy, but Sabbath and Sunday fair and pleasant. Quite a proportion of the congregation evenings, and through the day on the Sabbath, were from without, the congregation on the Sabbath reaching the number of five or six hundred.

In the forenoon Bro. White introduced the subject of the Sabbath, and many desiring to hear the conclusion of it before evening, he took the forepart of the afternoon service, sister White occupying the remainder of the time. As she appealed to sinners and backsliders, thirty came forward for prayers. She enjoyed unusual freedom, so much so that she was able to testify that she had not felt the blessing of God for weeks to that degree that she did on this occasion.

On Sunday the congregation was proportionately large, numbering in the afternoon upward of two thousand people. The penetrating dampness of the weather had brought upon sister W. a hoarseness quite embarrassing to one attempting to address so large a congregation. With this exception the most complete freedom was enjoyed in the presentation of the word.

One church has been added to the Conference the past year. Two other bodies are about ready for organization and admission. But this does not measure the increase of membership in the Conference, many having embraced the truth in the vicinity of the older churches, and united with them.

But three ministers, belonging to the Conference, were at the meeting, Bro. Butler and Steward having such an interest where they are laboring with the tent, that they deemed it unadvisable to leave.

Monday forenoon Bro. Wm. Cottrell was set apart to the work of the ministry. In the afternoon candidates for baptism were called for. Twenty-four were examined and accepted. A pleasant place was found for the ordinance a short distance from the encampment in the stream skirting the ground. At the water others came forward, among them children from the ages of 10 to 15 years, till the number who received baptism amounted to forty. Bro. Cottrell acted as administrator. It was a scene long to be remembered by those who witnessed it.

An interesting circumstance connected with this meeting was the fact that the owner of the ground upon which the camp was located, was a Mr. Rogers, the tenth generation in a direct line of descent from the celebrated John Rogers, the martyr. He was quite interested in the meeting; and this interest was increased by a dream he had some six months ago in which that ground was shown, white with tents and dark with people. It did not come to his mind till he had given the ground for this meeting, when he saw a literal fulfillment of it, as the meeting was in progress.

Another circumstance is worthy of mention. A young sister from Northern Illinois, a stranger to all present, came forward for baptism. As no one was acquainted with her, it was thought proper that she make a statement of her experience. From her statement, made with deep feeling, it appeared that she had embraced the truth by reading, having never heard preaching on the subjects of present truth. From the time of that conversion by means of the printed page, some two years since, she has been keeping the Sabbath all alone, having no acquaintance with any church, nor the privilege of associating with any of like faith till the present time. Being a teacher in the public schools of the city where she resides, she has never been able to attend the camp-meetings in her own State, as they have not come during vacation when she could leave. But having seen the notice of the Michigan Camp-meeting to commence Aug. 10, and not learning of the change, she started for that meeting, feeling that she could not longer put off the duty of baptism. At Battle Creek Bro. and Sr. Haughey took the same train for the camp-meeting in Ohio, which she chanced to be on, on her way to Lansing. Providentially learning of her case and purpose, they informed her of the change of time of the Michigan meeting, and she came on with them to Ohio, where her long cherished desire for baptism was gratified. The case of this young lady who, with education, ability, and position, took her stand upon the truth by reading, and has for two long years, alone, amid opposition, maintained her devotion to it, and now took a long journey alone into another State for the sake of receiving baptism, shows the power of the truth as set forth in the publications. These silent messengers are proving themselves a more mighty agent in this work than any one has ever anticipated.

During the forepart of the meeting there was an evident lack of the Spirit of God among the people. This was manifested in such a spirit of gossip, jesting and levity among some, as showed that the weight and solemnity of this message was not felt at all by them. This called forth a plain testimony by Bro. and Sr. White which was well received, and greatly helped the spiritual condition of the meeting.

Taken as a whole, the brethren feel that they have reason to be cheered and encouraged at the result of the meeting, and to press the work vigorously on in their State. The good results of the efforts put forth to bring all up to work with system and energy are clearly seen, and these will be continued. A vote of thanks was passed to Bro. St. John for his earnest efforts in this direction the past year, which is a pledge that the brethren will second him in the same efforts in the year to come. U. S.