THE VERMONT CAMP-MEETING.
By Uriah Smith
This meeting was held, according to appointment, Aug. 17-22, 1876. The brethren assembled to the number of about three hundred and fifty, bringing upon the ground forty church and family tents, besides the large tents for meeting purposes. There are brethren in this State old in the truth and proportionately strong in the faith. It was good to meet with these veterans in the cause of the third message. There are also not a few young men of activity and promise in this Conference. All freely testified to their confidence in the truth, and their love for it; but this, as was manifest on this occasion, is not always synonymous with spiritual activity. It soon became apparent that the brethren were not prepared to take hold of the work of the meeting with all that life and vigor that was desirable. This called forth some special labor and earnest exhortations from the servants of the Lord. As the Sabbath drew on, the people assembled at the stand, to welcome in the Sabbath with a season of prayer. Bro. White was led out in some very impressive and instructive remarks relative to the privilege of prayer, and its almost omnipotent power, as by this means we move the arm that upholds and moves the universe. He then enjoyed much freedom in calling upon the Lord. Others had freedom in prayer, and it was felt that the Lord was drawing near to his people. There were several such occasions during the meeting, when light broke in, and a good measure of victory and freedom was gained. On Sunday, the morning was cold and rainy, but before noon the clouds dispersed, and fair weather smiled upon the encampment. In the afternoon, by actual count, five hundred and fifty-one teams came through the gate of the camp-ground, averaging four persons to each team. These, with the Sabbath-keepers upon the ground, made a congregation of twenty-five hundred, to whom Bro. White spoke with great liberty on the reasons of our faith and hope. Unfortunately sister White was unable to speak at all on first-day. The business sessions, both of the State Conference and the T. & M. Society, passed off harmoniously and well. There was no dragging in the proceedings, but everything moved off promptly and in order. Bro. Hutchins, the President of the Conference and of the tract work, has labored hard to infuse a spirit of order and activity into all branches of the work, which has been to quite a degree successful. On Monday ten were baptized by Bro. Bean, in the beautiful Lamoille river which flows through the deep valley immediately west of the ground. Many from the surrounding neighborhood assembled to witness the ceremony. The attendance from without was quite large during the week-day meetings. The parting meeting was held Tuesday morning, and the brethren reluctantly separated for their homes.