The New England Camp-Meeting.
By Uriah Smith
Owing to circumstances which delayed our departure from Battle Creek, we did not reach the Groveland camp-ground till Sabbath morning, Aug. 25. We came in company with Bro. and sister White, he being but partially recovered from a serious attack of illness of a few days before. He endured the journey well, but was unable to take part in the labors of the camp-meeting, further than to speak a few words of exhortation and good cheer Monday forenoon. These words the brethren were glad to hear, and they were rejoiced to meet him again, though deprived of his usual counsels and labors. Sister White spoke three times with great freedom and power. She was sustained in a remarkable manner, so that she felt to testify, what was also apparent to all, that it was not her own, but the strength of the Lord given to her. Sabbath afternoon, following a stirring address by sister W. on the founding of the Christian church, and the labors and difficulties of the apostles and early Christians, showing a striking parallel between their experience and our own, a call was made for backsliders and sinners to come to the Lord, and to signify their desire by a move in the congregation. About one hundred and fifty promptly responded by coming forward. After prayers, sixty of these in quick succession, bore earnest testimony in regard to their determination to serve the Lord. On Sunday, a rainy morning prevented a large gathering in the forenoon; but in the afternoon, three steam yachts from Haverhill landed about six thousand persons upon the grounds, the cars from all directions poured in their multitudes, and the country contributed its quota of teams and people. All the meetings were held under the large pavilion, 80 by 125 feet, which the New England Conference has purchased since its last camp-meeting. This was occupied to its utmost capacity, and crowds who could find no seats filled the grove. Upwards of 12,000 people, it is estimated, were present, the large majority of whom gave the best of attention as sister W. addressed them on the subject of temperance in a most impressive manner, going in her usual incisive style to the true source of reform on this question, and purging the table of hurtful articles of food and drink. These sources guarded, the grosser indulgences of tobacco and liquor in maturer years, would be all but impossible. A request was made for sister W. to speak again Monday evening in Haverhill, by the same parties who requested this last year, and who were so well pleased with the effort then. But an appointment had gone out for her to speak on the evening named in Danvers, where Bro. Canright and his company are having such an unparalleled interest. This appointment she filled, having a crowded tent and a most triumphant time. Monday forenoon, on the camp-ground she held up before the congregation, as a special warning to the young, the impressive lesson of Solomon's career: his advantages in the beginning, his trust in himself, the seductive influence of his idolatrous wives, and his final apostasy. And even in the time of Christ there was visible over against the temple on the opposite mountain, the debris of Solomon's idolatrous altars, standing as a solemn reminder of the danger of trusting in one's self and coming in contact with those influences which lead away from God. At this meeting, another opportunity was given for those who desired to seek the Lord to come forward for prayers. About two hundred responded this time. It was a very precious season. Steps were then taken to learn who were candidates for baptism. Thirty-eight gave in their names, among whom the writer may be permitted to mention, as a matter of special interest to himself, his natural brother, S. W. Smith, of West Wilton, N. H. After a short discourse by Bro. Canright on baptism, in the afternoon, these were buried in the waters of the beautiful Merrimac, a few rods from the camp-ground. Bro. Haskell was administrator; and it has rarely been our privilege to witness a pleasanter baptismal scene. The candidates, from the little boy in early youth to the aged matron, were perfectly calm and self-possessed. There was no struggling nor strangling, and as they came up out of the water, it seemed as if the light and glory of the new life to which they had arisen, shone from their happy faces. There were nearly fifty tents besides the mammoth meeting tent, which towered up amidst the pine foliage of the beautiful grove, like a little mountain of canvas. The number of brethren and sisters in attendance was larger than at any previous meeting; and many of these were converts of the past year. This was so much a matter of encouragement to the members of the Conference, that resolutions were offered in the business meeting, expressive of their gratitude to God for his blessings in this respect. This is considered the most encouraging camp-meeting ever held in New England. The feeling prevails that God is about to come near to his people here—as indicated by a willingness on the part of those unacquainted with our faith to hear and investigate the present message—and that we are to see the power of the truth to convert souls manifested in this part of the field. So let it be. U. S.