THE ILLINOIS CAMP-MEETING by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 12, 1876

THE ILLINOIS CAMP-MEETING.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Friday noon we found ourselves on the Illinois Camp-ground, about three miles east of Kankakee. The brethren had hired the Methodist Camp-ground. It was, for warm weather, a fine location, being situated upon the east bank of the Kankakee River and in a beautiful grove of small trees. But the weather was very cold all the time, so that we needed fire more than shade, and warm houses more than the cold wind from off the river. Fortunately, there were several houses on the ground, so that, with good fires, most of the people were comfortable.

But the cold weather kept the crowds away, so that the outside attendance was very small. Every reasonable effort should be made to have our camp-meetings near the railroad and within walking distance of the city. Then we can always have a crowd. The brethren find it much the cheapest to hire a ground all fitted up like this one. It saves money and hard labor. Another good thing Eld. Colcord did here. He hired an excursion car to come to the ground on Thursday and return on Tuesday. By so doing most of the brethren came to the ground early and remained till the close of the meeting; and it reduced their fare from nearly $10 to $4—less than half fare. I have seen this tried before with the best success.

There was a good turnout of our people,—larger than ever before. All seemed to be of good courage. Several new churches were added to the Conference; and many scattered Sabbath-keepers attended who had only kept the Sabbath a few weeks or months. This is always cheering. There was also a large attendance of the French brethren. Bro. Morin held special meetings in the French tongue for them. At this meeting this dear brother was solemnly ordained to the work of the ministry. Then he baptized several of his French people. Probably he will soon return to Europe to aid in the mission there.

Bro. B. F. Merrit was also ordained at this meeting. For a few years past he had been in some trial of mind and had not thrown himself fully into the work; but now this is all removed and he takes hold earnestly to lift with the rest in this closing work. All were rejoiced at this.

Considerable improvement has been made in the Conference the last year both financially and otherwise. The officers of the Conference are fully determined to bring things up still further this year. A lack of coming up financially is what has crippled and dwarfed this Conference in the past. There are wealthy men here who do next to nothing for the cause. God cannot prosper such a course.

Our social meetings were good. The time was always well filled up. Sabbath afternoon, when Sr. White invited the people to come and seek God, some seventy-five came forward for prayers. Bro. White spoke several times with specially good freedom. These worn laborers have now attended every camp-meeting this year, fourteen in succession. When we consider the amount of anxiety, hurry, and wearing labor this has called for, we feel sure that God has helped them, and we are grateful that they come through it all so strong and well and cheerful in God. May the angel of the Lord go with them still.

Our indispensable reporter, Miss Mary Clough, was also on hand with her genial good nature and ready pen, keeping a half-dozen copyists busy sending the reports of our meetings to papers in all parts of the State. If any one in the Northern States doesn’t know who Seventh-day Adventists are by this time, it is not because the papers haven’t done their duty in the case!

So closes another camp-meeting season, by far the best we have ever had. A new impetus has been given to the work, a much larger attention to this solemn message has been secured from the public. In all this we recognize the opening providence of God; and our hearts are filled with gratitude, and our souls with new courage.

D. M. Canright. St. Louis, Mo.