THE MICHIGAN CAMP-MEETING.
By Uriah Smith
It was our privilege to attend this meeting from Friday, Sept. 21, to Sunday, Sept. 30. During all this time the weather was remarkably mild, and a cloudless sun made the shade of the grove inviting and agreeable. The grand pavilion, so happily dedicated last year, stood in its old place, facing the entrance, and was again filled with crowds congregated to listen to the proclamation of the present truth. Around this on three sides was pitched a double tier of church and family tents, the only break being the entrance, which was flanked by the book and provision stands, while in the west end of the ground the large number of remaining tents were arranged in hollow squares. These were separated by appropriately named streets and avenues giving to this collection of one hundred and forty tents the appearance of a cotton city. And we trust the character of those thus temporarily located here, was such that it might not inappropriately be called the camp of the saints. By far the largest number of Sabbath-keepers was present at this meeting, taken in the aggregate, that ever attended any of our camp-meetings in this State, many being on the ground during the first part, and then returning to let other members of their families attend until the close. From two thousand to twenty-five hundred Sabbath-keepers thus had the privilege of enjoying some portion of the meeting. A delegation of one hundred and fifty college students went from Battle Creek to the ground by special train on the 21st, intending to return the following Tuesday. But such an interest among them, and for them, was developed by the meeting, that their vacation was extended to Sunday the 30th, and their number was increased by others from the college to about two hundred. On Monday forenoon a special meeting was held for the students. It was such a meeting as we never before witnessed. Not a heart remained unmoved. Scarcely an eye was free from tears, while many were crying aloud to give expression to the intensity of their feelings. In all parts of the congregation students could be seen going to their companions weeping over them, and exhorting them in the most earnest manner to seek the Lord. It was not a wild or boisterous scene, but a natural and intelligent expression of the deep feeling that prevailed. It was a meeting of unparalleled interest. Many meetings were held for the students during their stay, and all of them were very largely of this nature. A good work has been wrought for the school, the effects of which we are sure will be seen in days to come. Some who went to the meeting for the avowed purpose of having a season of sport, gave their hearts to God, were baptized before the meeting closed, and returned rejoicing in the truth. The general social meetings were seasons of interest. The congregation was so large that it was usually divided into three companies, so that three separate meetings were carried on at once under the canvas, yet without any confusion. As many as three hundred and fifty testimonies were sometimes born in less than an hour. In one of the student's meetings forty-five spoke in ten minutes. There were twenty-two ministers present; and discourses were given by sister White, and by Elds. Corliss, Decker, Haskell, Jones, Smith, Colcord, Lane, Canright, Lanson and Waggoner. Sister W. spoke five times besides almost constant labor in social and special meetings, and for individuals. A number of opportunities were given at the close of some of her powerful appeals for individuals to come forward for prayers; and on one occasion about three hundred and fifty were found thus earnestly seeking the Lord. The business sessions of the various organizations, which held their anniversary meetings at this time, passed off very pleasantly. A large amount of business was transacted with such dispatch as to keep the interest unabated. The reader will not pass by these reports found in other columns, in which are many items of interest, and we need say no more in regard to them here. There were two seasons of baptism: one on Friday, the 28th, and the other on the Sabbath, the 29th. The place was just below the bridge in North Lansing. On the first occasion seventy-five were baptized, and on the second fifty-six, making one hundred and thirty-one in all. Both were scenes on which Heaven appeared to smile; but the second seemed to us peculiarly impressive. It was just at the close of the Sabbath. The sun was calmly sinking below the horizon. The beautiful river softened beneath the lengthening shadows, spread out almost as calm as a mirror before us. The four thousand spectators lining the high banks of the river on either side, the terraces of the mills, and the bridge, observed respectful and almost reverential silence. And as the candidates went down into the water, generally two at a time, were buried in the watery grave, and came up with the glow of satisfaction, and the answer of a good conscience, beaming from their happy faces,—he who could look upon the peaceful and impressive scene unmoved, must be unfeeling indeed. Bro. D. H. Lamson and E. R. Jones were the administrators, performing their work in an unexceptionable manner. On the first Sunday there were from six to eight thousand present, and on the second, Sept. 30, from eight to ten thousand. The order was as good as in other places. There were many features of this gathering which we felt were singly worth the entire effort of the meeting. We listened to several discourses, to hear any one of which would have made it worth while to hold the meeting. The presence of Bro. Littlejohn, and the happy spirit of conciliation that prevailed in reference to matters which have been a source of trial to him, as reported in the Conference proceedings, were worth all the meeting. The victorious meetings of the students more than paid for the camp-meeting. And the hallowed baptismal seasons paid for all the meeting. Thus we think we can speak for the brethren, generally, who attended, that they feel many times repaid for the time, labor, and expense of the meeting. These are not worthy to be compared with the spiritual blessings and benefits received. We thought of the first general meeting of this people which we attended, twenty-three years ago, in the house of Bro. White, in Rochester, N. Y. All assembled were conveniently accommodated in one room. The publishing work was then comparatively in its infancy, and the issuing of books scarcely commenced. Yet there the loud cry of the third angel's message was looked forward to and talked about. Could those then present have been, by some instantaneous transition, set down in the midst of a scene like that witnessed day after day on the Lansing camp-ground, a sea of heads crowding the great pavilion, listening eagerly to the earnest proclamation of the truth in the clearness and strength with which it is now brought out, a small city of tents clustering around the large one, delegates and letters from sixteen State Conferences in this country and from missions in foreign countries, a book stand in lively operation, from which nearly a score of bound volumes and a hundred different tracts and pamphlets issued in the defense of these truths were offered to the people, the numbers of earnest young men preparing themselves for labor, half our membership transformed into missionary workers, and books and papers going everywhere, to say nothing of the College, Institute, and publishing houses, with their steam presses, in California and Michigan, and papers issued in French and German in the old world—could they have been suddenly placed, we say, in such a scene as this, would they not have thought that the loud cry they were expecting had already come? It will be safe to say that S. D. Adventists never held a camp-meeting like the one just closed. We know not in what respect it did not surpass all its predecessors. We have reason for gratitude to God, and courage, in his name. U. S.