CAMP-MEETING IN MISSOURI.
By George I. Butler
Our camp-meeting held with the Prairie Valley church, Oct. 4-9, has just closed. It has been a great success, and in some respects better than any camp-meeting ever held in the State before. Though the weather was somewhat against us, as it rained the Monday and Wednesday before the meeting, stopping and turning back some who had started, and no doubt hindering many others, and though it rained much of the day Sunday, thus keeping away the crowd, yet there was at our meeting a larger number of our people than I have ever seen in Missouri, or when Missouri and Kansas were united. An immense crowd of outsiders would have been present Sunday but for the rain; for the livery men in towns eight or ten miles away had all their own teams engaged, and many others had been engaged of private citizens, and all through the country many had said they were coming. But the rain stopped many of these, so Sunday there was not a great number of any but our own people present. But at night, after the rain, and Monday night, though dark and muddy, the tent was well filled, and a good degree of interest manifested. Our own people go home from this meeting greatly encouraged. We had an excellent social meeting Monday afternoon, in which many short, cheering testimonies were given. Almost every one commenced with, “I am thankful to God for this good meeting,” or “I am glad I came to this meeting,” or kindred words. There has heretofore been a great lack of interest among our people here in our camp-meetings; but many expressed themselves determined from this time forward to attend; to provide themselves with tents, and come at the beginning and stay to the close. Our brethren this time did nearly all stay till Tuesday morning, though many had not intended to when they came. Another gratifying feature to me was this, that our camp-ground presented a more neat and orderly appearance, and the tents were better than I have ever seen before in this Conference. On Sabbath day, our meetings were solemn. By a rising vote, nearly all pledged themselves to live nearer to God and be more earnest in his work than ever before. On Monday, not far from twenty came forward for prayers, when I invited those who felt they were far backslidden from God, and those who had never started in his service, to consecrate themselves to him. It was a good season, and the Lord came near. In preaching, Brn. Chaffee, Wood, Rogers, and T. J. Butler took part, while I spoke fifteen times in all, filling in all the available time between regular services. There was so much I wanted to say, and that needed to be said, that I hardly knew where to stop. It was all received kindly, and seemed to be enjoyed. I felt greatly anxious that the brethren should feel we could have as good a state of things in Missouri as anywhere, if we would go to work for God, and regard the light he has given us, and the agencies he has instituted for our good. I believe impressions have been made which will be lasting. The last two weeks have been a source of great encouragement to me. At these two meetings I have had the privilege of speaking to not less than two hundred and fifty of our people, over half of our membership; and though this number seems small when compared with the numbers attending such meetings in Iowa, Michigan, and the other large Conferences, yet the time was not far back when this would have been a respectable attendance for either of those strong Conferences. How the cause is growing! and even this is in glorious contrast with the meetings in Missouri only a few years ago. I am in favor of a great many camp-meetings. While we need one general meeting in every Conference, at which to attend to business matters, and which should be a general gathering of delegates and brethren and sisters from all parts of the Conference, I see no reason why we cannot have other camp-meetings, more local in character, which may be seasons of great profit to the cause. If these are managed right, they need not be financially expensive. The two just held have cost the Conference nothing from any fund. If it is the desire of the brethren, I see no reason why we may not have three camp-meetings in Missouri next season, one in Northern and one in Southern Missouri in the spring, and a general meeting in the central part of the State in autumn. It does our brethren good to stir out, get acquainted, and get their hearts warmed up. We have received subscriptions for our tent and camp-meeting fund to over $350. We hope to raise this to $500 before spring. We want to buy two tents, one large and one small one, pay off our debts, and get things on the right basis. We expect to do this. The brethren are beginning to wake up in Missouri; and though the victory is not yet complete, and there is much hard work to be done, yet God lives, and will help all who are in earnest; and we must gain the victory. Let us remember the Christian's watchwords, “Watch, pray, and work.” Gallatin, Mo., Oct. 10, 1877.