WISCONSIN CAMP-MEETING by George C. Tenney

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 28, 1877

WISCONSIN CAMP-MEETING.

By George C. Tenney

Our yearly meeting has just closed, and it is our privilege to report it a grand success.

It opened under unfavorable circumstances. It had rained nearly every day for a week, which greatly hindered the preparations and kept many from coming who had intended to do so. Besides, the times are so exceedingly hard that fully one-half our people who otherwise would have come were kept at home. These things, with the doubtful prospect of help from the General Conference to direct our meeting, caused a feeling of uncertainty and anxiety to rest upon all, and especially upon those having charge of the meeting. But the matter was taken to the Lord in a season of prayer, and in answer positive assurance came that he would lead to the glory of his name and cause. From that time, courage took the place of doubt, and not a murmur was heard from the lips of any, though we watched the trains with anxiety until the last moment.

Forty-five tents were on the ground, including three large ones, one of which was 60x100 ft. Meetings began Wednesday evening; but there was an intermission Thursday A. M. for the purpose of pitching tents. The weather became beautiful. All were in good spirits. The meetings were excellent, increasing in interest to the Sabbath.

The exercises on the Sabbath day began with a social meeting at 5:30 A. M., which was indeed a precious season. Immediately after breakfast, six prayer and social meetings were held in different tents, conducted by the several ministers. These meetings were held for the purpose of giving all who wished to do so an opportunity to participate; but ten o’clock came before this object was accomplished. These meetings were signally blessed. The forenoon discourse by Bro. Olsen, from 1 Pet. 3:9, “But ye are a chosen generation,” etc., was timely, and directed by the Spirit of the Lord to the hearts of the people. At 2 P. M. Eld. Decker spoke on the second coming of Christ; Bro. Sanborn followed with an earnest exhortation to the unconverted and backslidden to prepare for that great event. Sixty-five responded by going forward for prayers, and deep feeling pervaded the entire assembly. The meeting occupied most of the afternoon.

Sunday was a “perfect day in June,” and the people came in for miles, expecting to hear Bro. and Sr. White, or Eld. Waggoner who used to be well known in this vicinity. The disappointment, however, was accepted as such, and the best of order prevailed. While Eld. Olsen spoke on the signs of the times, at 10:30, the crowd was almost as silent as if in a church. At 2 P. M. Bro. Sanborn preached on the subject of the Sabbath. By this time there were, by estimate, four thousand people present, who paid good attention to the word spoken. After this service, the ordinance of baptism was administered to thirty-two candidates by Elds. Olsen and Decker. The crowd lined the semicircular bank of the lake. The scene presented the appearance of a vast amphitheater, and was very beautiful. In the evening Eld. Sanborn continued the subject of the Sabbath.

Monday morning, we had the best social meeting that many of us ever enjoyed. One hundred and fifty testimonies were given in an hour. The rest of the day was taken up by business sessions of the Conference and T. and M. Society. They passed off harmoniously. In the Conference the officers of last year were retained. Five new churches were admitted, and the old churches were reported in better condition than for years. Five tents will be in the field this season, manned as follows: No. 1, I. Sanborn, J. P. Jasperson; No. 2, H. W. Decker, O. A. Johnson; No. 3, W. Olds, S. S. Smith; No. 4, Geo. C. Tenney, H. W. Reed; No. 5, N. M. Jordan, A. D. Olsen.

T. and M. reports show more work done than in any previous year. In the closing meeting Monday evening, the different ministers spoke briefly, and at its close Bro. B. Carter was ordained as elder of the church at Lisbon. The camp broke up at an early hour this morning, and our dear people went to their homes with fresh courage for the conflicts of another year. May God bless them. The experience of the meeting has, no doubt, been good for all, people and ministers; and though we missed the presence of Bro. and Sr. White, whom we all love as servants of Christ, and whose counsel we greatly esteem, we thank God for the prosperity of this cause, which calls their attention to new fields of labor. And we have resolved to do what we can to encourage them in their labor of love.

We were glad to have with us Bro. Wm. Armstrong, of Chicago, who makes most of our tents. He has taken up the cross of the Sabbath, and identified himself with our people. The meeting has been reported in five papers, and one sermon on the Sabbath was furnished in advance to the Chicago Times, and published June 18. The laborers in Wisconsin are thankful for the prosperity of the cause in our State, and go out to battle once more, with renewed courage in the Lord.

GEO. C. TENNEY.

Portage, Wis., June 19.