NEW YORK CAMP-MEETING by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 13, 1878

NEW YORK CAMP-MEETING.

By S. N. Haskell

This meeting commenced Wednesday, May 29. There was a good representation of our brethren and sisters present, and each train brought accessions to the number until Friday night. During the meeting there were also fair congregations of citizens from the surrounding country, especially evenings. The grounds were nicely decorated with mottoes of various kinds. Extending over the drive-way were these words: “Seventh-day Adventist Camp-meeting.” As this was ninety feet in length, the motto could be seen for more than a mile. The squirrels were constantly seen in the woods, and frequently in the tent, as though they would take part in the worship of God. We were reminded of Rev. 5:13.

There was not as large a representation of our brethren and sisters present as there was last year, yet those who did come came to seek God, and God came very near to his people. The season of prayer at the commencement of the Sabbath in the large pavilion was one long to be remembered. Hearts were melted before the Lord. The meetings on the Sabbath were of unusual interest. An opportunity was given for any who were anxious to make a start to serve God to come forward. As some moved for the first time, the Spirit of God in a remarkable manner seemed to rest upon the encampment, and a large proportion of the entire congregation took their places as penitent seekers after God. The broken sobs showed that hearts felt and felt deeply. Truly God walked in our midst. Said a correspondent of the Commercial: “At the close of the afternoon service, deep feeling pervaded the camp. There were no noisy demonstrations, or appeals to the emotions. The appeals that were made seemed to be to the reason and judgment as well as to the heart. The meeting in the pavilion adjourned only to meet a few minutes later in companies in the small tents, whence the voice of prayer, or broken confessions, or songs of triumphant faith were heard on every side.” This continued for about one hour and a half.

On Sunday it was estimated that there were about five thousand present. Two trains came to the ground crowded with passengers, and there was one continuous stream of teams from nine A. M. until two P. M., and many came during the remainder of the afternoon, some from a distance of twenty-five miles. The best of attention was given to four discourses in the day-time. A conviction rested upon the people that these things were so.

There were in all eighteen regular discourses given. Elds. S. B. and B. L. Whitney and Brn. Reynolds and Ballou assisted in the preaching. A tract and missionary meeting was held Monday, with excellent results. Nearly $200 were pledged in less than one hour to liquidate their tract society debt. The brethren in New York are in earnest about this matter. They have set their hearts to pay their present indebtedness to the Office, which is between two and three thousand dollars, by the time of their October meeting, and to secure funds for their fall campaign. This is what should be done in every Conference. While the Office has thousands of dollars (about twelve thousand at the present time) lying in the tract societies, the cause of God is crippled. The brethren in New York say the Office may depend on them to cancel their indebtedness. They send out ten tents this summer, five more than in any previous year; and if they retain the spirit they manifested in the missionary cause, we shall expect to see the Empire State double its membership in a short time.

Eleven were baptized, nearly all having taken a decided stand at this meeting. The parting meeting was held Tuesday morning. The general expression was, “I am glad I came, we have had a good meeting.” May God bless this State, is our prayer. S. N. HASKELL.