ILLINOIS CAMP-MEETING by G. W. Colcord

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 4, 1877

ILLINOIS CAMP-MEETING.

By G. W. Colcord

I am in receipt of many truly encouraging words, which speak of the effect of our late camp-meeting at Clinton; and, believing that they will prove a source of encouragement to the generality of the friends of present truth, I will transcribe some of the most important.

Mr. Campbell, proprietor of the camp-ground, said: “I will put these stakes in a dry place, so that you can use them next year.” He said he anticipated trouble from the rowdies, but he acknowledged we out-generaled them the first evening, by so freely vacating our seats for them. Further, he remarked that our people should have staid another week.

The American Express Agent said: “Had your folks remained a little longer quite a number would have united with you.”

A minister of the M. E. church came upon the ground during public services; becoming interested in the speaker’s theme, he wholly forgot to take a seat! Another gentleman confessed that a similar experience befell him. By these incidents it may readily be seen that there is power in this message, and by these evidences we prove that the people are starving for want of spiritual food.

Bro. Stimpson writes: “The people say, ‘Your ministers should come and preach in our hall.’ I thank the Lord for the impression our meeting made on the public mind. Never before has Clinton been so moved by religious influences as by our late annual meeting.”

By letter from Brn. Merritt and Morrison I learn that the people at Farmer City have read so much about the camp-meeting that it has plainly increased their audiences.

The following I clip from the Clinton Register:—

“On Tuesday evening there ended the most successful camp-meeting ever held in this section, so far as attendance and order are concerned. A little over two weeks ago our people were surprised by the announcement, by posters, that the Seventh-day Adventists would hold a camp-meeting in Campbell’s grove, near this city, continuing from the 22d to the 28th. Before their questions as to who and what were the Adventists, were satisfactorily answered, the Adventists had arrived, pitched their tents, and a little village had sprung up in the grove.

“Usually camp-meetings are scenes of disorder, many attending for no other purpose than to create a disturbance; but this meeting evidently had at its head men of great executive ability, for the grounds were neatly kept and the best of order was maintained at all times. The people were welcomed to the grounds and every provision made for their comfort, but they were politely but firmly given to understand that it was a religious meeting, and no disturbances of the exercises would be allowed. The consequence was that the vast audiences were quiet and attentive, the speakers being distinctly heard at the very outside of the crowd. During intermission the people assembled in groups and quietly ate their meals and discussed what they had heard. Go where you would upon the grounds, you would find an Adventist ready to assist you or answer your inquiries in regard to their doctrines. All the meetings were well attended, and on Sunday there were several thousand persons present, coming from every portion of the county.

“As the doctrines of this sect are new to most of our people, we give them in brief as near as we were able to learn them. They believe that the seventh day (Saturday) was set apart by command of the Lord as a day of rest and worship, and that the Sunday observed by other sects is an unwarranted innovation upon the divine command. They believe in the second coming of Christ, and that the time of his coming is near at hand, but do not pretend to set the time of the second advent. They believe that the sin and impurities of this earth will be destroyed, thereby making it a fit home for the righteous, who will live upon it, while the wicked will be destroyed. The arguments of their speakers were ably delivered, and while our people were not convinced as to all their doctrines, they were made to look upon them with respect. The Adventists have at least this much to commend them—they are zealous workers and seem to live up to their faith.

“On Monday a number of them went to Salt Creek, where twenty-five were immersed. We have been often asked what was the object of their meeting and how they came to hold it in Clinton, when there is no organization of the sect in this county. We were told, in response to the same questions, that the meeting is an annual Conference of the State, and that the president of the association, in looking around for a place to hold the meeting, was struck by the convenience of access to our city, and therefore decided to hold it here. They expressed themselves well pleased with the treatment they received from our citizens, and we know that our people were pleased with them, and hope they may hold their next meeting near our city.”

Friends in Illinois, let us not slack our hold on the cord of living faith.

G. W. COLCORD.