The Wisconsin Camp-Meeting.
By C. W. Stone
This meeting was held at Grand Rapids, Sept. 11 to 16. Eld. S. N. Haskell and myself reached the place Thursday forenoon. We found the camp finely located on the grounds of the Wood County Agricultural Society, the use of which was freely offered by the directors. The number of our brethren present was very small indeed. Quite a number, including three directors of the T. and M. society, were detained at home by sickness. But the main cause seemed to be the lack of means. The spring-wheat crop was a failure, and this is the principal crop here. The lumber business has been dead on account of bare ground all last winter; and as this is the great industry of this part of the State, many have been thrown out of employment, and their income has stopped. Hence even those that were present were in poor circumstances, some having just enough money to take them to this meeting and home again. Nevertheless, the wants of the cause being laid before them, about $50.00 was pledged for the English mission, and $100 for the Dime Tabernacle. Eld. Haskell presented the tract and missionary cause, and labored to awaken an interest to labor more earnestly in it. The society responded by voting to raise, including the pledges made at Madison in June, the sum of $1500 in 1878 for this work and for a book fund; and then they pledged $150 toward it at this meeting. The converting power of the truth seemed to rest down upon the meeting on the Sabbath, and some forty came forward for prayers. Among these were some of the children of Sabbath-keepers who were making their first move, some who had recently come into the truth, and some who had backslidden. After the meeting, the congregation repaired to the Wisconsin River, and ten were baptized. Three more were baptized on Monday. The interests of the Sabbath-school were considered, and from the report of the secretary it seems that this work is advancing. Children and youth are becoming interested in it as never before. On Monday morning, after a closing social meeting, Bro. O. A. Johnson was set apart to the work of the ministry by prayer and the laying on of hands. The outside attendance was very large, and increased from the first, and the interest surpassed anything we ever have seen awakened in so short a time. The Sabbath question was presented on Sunday as fully as it was possible to present it in three discourses. In the afternoon a large number declared it to be the truth, and in the evening, after an audience of a thousand had listened to a discourse by Eld. Haskell on the work of Christ and antichrist, several told us they should keep the Sabbath. The people began to urge us to stay longer. On Monday we were continually hearing of those who had decided to keep the Sabbath, or were almost persuaded to do so. One Catholic asked his priest on Sunday if it was true that the Catholic Church changed the Sabbath as we had stated. The priest answered publicly in his congregation that it was, and then forbade their attending our meetings any more. This opened the eyes of some, and they said they should come as often as they chose. That evening one of their number asked some questions concerning the prophecies, and said he believed we were right, and that the Catholic Church was indeed corrupt, and he would have no more to do with it. The wife of a wealthy citizen, a banker, has fully embraced the Sabbath. She is superintendent of the Methodist Sunday-school. With some others who have accepted the truth, she will be baptized in a few days. Many of the citizens, including the leading members of the society, freely admit the truth. The interest is so great that it was decided that I should stay with Eld. Decker a few days to carry on the work. We shall hold meetings every afternoon and evening. The county fair begins the 23d. The governor of Wisconsin is to speak here on the 25th, and the Agricultural Society has engaged the tent for the occasion; so it will stand where it is during the fair, and, if thought advisable, we may hold evening meetings at that time.