OHIO CAMP-MEETING by Joseph Harvey Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 12, 1878

OHIO CAMP-MEETING.

By Joseph Harvey Waggoner

This meeting we consider a good one for the cause in Ohio. We were all glad to meet Bro. Canright there. His preaching and his counsel were timely, well suited to the present wants of this State.

The location was well chosen, and the ground well prepared. The outside attendance was not nearly as large as last year; but Sunday was a rainy day. The attendance of the churches was better than last year, yet we regretted to find some churches so poorly represented.

Social meetings and family meetings in the tents were not all that we could desire. But we think they indicated a better condition than those of last year. Some of the causes of discouragement, to which I referred some time since in the REVIEW, still exist, but there appeared to be more of a hopeful feeling that these will be removed and the cause will rise.

All sympathized heartily with Bro. St. John, who was very feeble at the time of the meeting; the condition of his health is such that it is impossible for him to continue to bear any heavy responsibilities in the work. Last year it was only at the earnest solicitation of Bro. Smith and myself that he consented to act as president of the Conference; and we knew not what else to do. But it became so apparent that the burden was more than he could bear in his feebleness, that his friends desired to see him relieved. Rather than to have him taxed so heavily, they were willing to leave the office vacant for a time.

It is hardly necessary to speak of Bro. Stone’s part in such a meeting, as his gift is so generally understood. His speaking and singing are equally interesting. His selections, being always well chosen, serve to impress the truth which is presented.

Ohio is a large State, and a rich State, and the cause ought to be far in advance of what it now is. The interest manifested in the proposed mission to England, and in other parts of the work, proves that there are many here who have the truth deep in their hearts, and are willing to do all they can toward its successful proclamation. About $3,500 was readily pledged to the English mission, a tent fund, a meeting-house fund, and for the Dime Tabernacle. The Lord will certainly bless their efforts, and we expect to see the result in a revival of the work among them. They who hold back in such a time as this will suffer loss.

Quite a number attended this as their first camp-meeting among Seventh-day Adventists. Other companies would doubtless have been represented had the president been able to visit them as he contemplated.

The meeting was too brief, and the time too much taken up with business, to be of much profit to the people of Tiffin. But they were much pleased with the order of the meeting, and interested in what they heard. It has caused a great deal of talk in the city, and we hope that fruit may some day appear. Our faith has never been preached there.

The preaching was largely of a practical character. Eld. Canright gave some stirring discourses to the friends of the cause. Many indicated their desire to see the work revived by requesting prayers. Ten were baptized in the Sandusky River. Most of the doctrinal discourses related to the signs of the times, and the law and Sabbath. All were edified and comforted, and we hope the good resolutions formed may be put in practice, and the coming year be one of still greater prosperity in the work of God than that just past.

J. H. WAGGONER.