THE INDIANA CAMP-MEETING.
By W. H. Littlejohn
This gathering is now a thing of the past. It was held near the city of Kokomo, between Aug. 14 and 19. The occasion was one of very deep interest, and, we trust, of lasting benefit to all who participated therein. All the meetings were characterized by deep feeling, and yet there was nothing in the direction of extravagant demonstration which could have offended the most fastidious. This was not a little remarkable when we remember that this Conference has quite recently been seriously afflicted with a class of individuals who have not been content with pressing their ultra-holiness ideas upon their brethren at home, but have been so far deceived in regard to their real situation that they have carried their views into other Conferences and have sought to urge them at other camp-meetings, regardless of every principle of propriety. It is due to the churches of Indiana, however, to state that they have no sympathy with these fanatical demonstrations, and that they manifested their disapproval of them in the recent camp-meeting by withholding a license from the individual who has figured the most conspicuously in this most unfortunate affair. The Indiana Conference is one of the smallest of those belonging to our denomination, because of its youth; but we predict that the time is not far distant when in point of numbers it will equal, if not excel, some of our Conferences which have been established a much greater length of time. The basis of this prediction is found in the strong faith and zealous labors of the great majority of its members for the advancement of the cause throughout the State. The following statistics are of interest in demonstrating rapid growth, and economy on the part of ministerial laborers, as well as a liberality on the part of the public which cannot be too highly commended:— 1. Twenty-three counties of the State were represented. 2. Delegates were in attendance from nineteen churches. 3. Five churches, with an s. b. fund amounting to over $300.00, were added to the Conference. 4. Two companies came under the watchcare of the Conference, without s. b. 5. Two large tents are properly manned and in the field for service the present season. 6. The receipts of one of these tents has exceeded its expenditures, and those of the other have not fallen short more than ten dollars. The grove in which the camp-meeting was held this year is said, by those who have attended our annual gatherings in the different States, to be superior to anything of the kind which is to be found elsewhere. The trees are of the beech variety, and of large growth. Immediately in front of the stand it would seem that Nature herself had designed to create a bower for the especial benefit of a large congregation, by presenting a space comparatively free from trunks of trees, while the limbs above are so interlaced as to furnish a shade as perfect as it is grateful on the hottest days. In all, there were upon the ground forty-one tents, two of which were sixty feet in diameter. These tents, as is usual on such occasions, were tastefully pitched in a circle. On Sabbath and Sunday about seventy-five persons came forward for prayers. On Sunday afternoon nearly three thousand people were present, although the rain had fallen in torrents in the forenoon and during the night previous. On Monday morning fourteen persons were baptized in a stream which ran hard by the camp-ground. At this time, also, Bro. J. M. Reese was ordained to the ministry by the laying on of hands, Eld. S. N. Haskell giving the charge. The occasion was exceedingly solemn, and as the ministers knelt around the candidate, a wave of deep sympathetic feeling passed over the congregation, leaving pretty much the whole of them in tears. A feature of no small interest during the meetings was the vocal and instrumental music supplied by Bro. C. W. Stone. This brother not only has a fine voice and excellent musical talent; but his selections are made with judgment and apparently sung in the spirit. Eld. S. H. Lane, who was formerly from Michigan, and who may properly be said to be one of the spiritual fathers of the cause in Indiana, was re-elected to the position of president of the Conference. The committee selected to assist him in the administration of matters appear to be men of judgment and great earnestness in the work. Other features of the meeting which were of great interest will be found in the report of Eld. S. N. Haskell, who in another place, speaks of the manner in which the tract and missionary work was pushed forward during the meeting.