SHERMAN CITY CAMP-MEETING.
By James White
Four camp-meetings have now been held in the State of Kansas the present season. One was held in May, at Neosho; and three others have been held in the months of October and November. The annual Conference was held at the first meeting in the spring, at a central point. The three autumn meetings have been held at three points in the State from north to south. The last, the Sherman City camp-meeting, has been held in a community cursed by the blighting influence of opposition to the health reform, and to the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy. This meeting appeared small when compared with our camp-meetings in older States, yet it was large when compared with the attendance at the Methodist camp-meeting held on the same ground two months ago. The country is new, and the meeting was located at a great distance from villages of importance, where there is but here and there a humble dwelling. The Sherman meeting commenced Oct. 31. There were ten family tents and a large number of covered wagons on the ground, besides two congregational tents. One of the large tents was used as a chapel for conference and prayer meetings, and the other was divided into apartments for families. There were not far from one hundred brethren and sisters on the ground. It seemed to be a general gathering of the scattered ones. They were gathered from Southeast Kansas, from Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, and some from Iowa and Michigan. Mrs. W. attended the Richmond meeting near Topeka, which was much larger than the Sherman meeting, and was on the ground at this last meeting one day in advance of us. When Elder Bourdeau and the writer reached the ground, sixth-day, November 1, Elder Haskell was preaching to a good audience. Mrs. W. preached in the afternoon. Few here had ever heard her, and the deepest interest was felt in what she had to say. The brethren continued to come in until the sun went down, reminding us that the holy Sabbath was at hand. A general gathering of the entire camp was called as the sacred hours of the Sabbath drew nigh. At this meeting we took the stand and made remarks appropriate to the occasion; then we enjoyed a season of prayer. It was evident to all that the presence of the Lord of the Sabbath was with us. This interesting meeting was more than one hour in length. After a brief intermission, Elder Bourdeau gave a discourse on the subject of redemption, and was followed by remarks from the writer until the time to retire had come. Elder Haskell was on the ground in advance of us, and had erected a comfortable tent, furnished with a board floor, covered with a plain carpet; in this tent was a good bed, a table, a stove, chairs, and other things necessary for a week’s sojourn in camp. Here we were made comfortable, and found rest in sleep such as we ever enjoy in tent life. The weather has been dry and very mild, excepting the slight chill of evening and morning. While we write, it is as mild as a Michigan September morning. Sabbath morning we spoke for nearly two hours to a tent full of eager listeners, on the words: “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Rev. 19:10. Elder Haskell spoke in the afternoon on the subject of sacrifice. And as the sun was sinking in the west, and the close of the Sabbath drew nigh, the camp was assembled under the large tent to take leave of our dear friend, the blessed Sabbath. At this meeting we spoke quite fully of the proper manner of observing the Sabbath, and especially of guarding both ends of it. We stated that while it is yet light on sixth-day, complete readiness should be made for the Sabbath, embracing chores, bathing, and change of clothing; the family should be assembled in the best room in the house, and one or two chapters should be read from the blessed Bible by the light of day, and the entire family should be bowed in prayer, waiting for the coming of the Sabbath. And the best definition of family prayer is, a brief prayer from each one of the family. When an earthly friend is expected, preparations are made with care. How much more should we prepare for the Lord of the Sabbath to come into our homes and hearts at the very introduction of holy time. Be in season. If there is a period of from thirty to eighty minutes between the full light of day and the darkness of night, it is much safer to give the Lord’s Sabbath the benefit of the entire period of doubt as to the beginning of the day. Let the hour of prayer cover the ground, that the first end of the Sabbath be not marred. The close of the Sabbath should also be guarded. The season of prayer should cover all ground of doubt as to the close of the day, and upon our knees we should part with the Sabbath as with a very dear friend. At seven in the evening, Mrs. W. spoke to a crowded tent on the subject of Christ’s triumphant ride into Jerusalem. It was very evident that the interest of the meeting was deepening. First-day morning there were probably five hundred persons on the ground. In the forenoon we spoke for nearly two hours, giving the reasons of our faith and hope, and Mrs. W. spoke on the subject of Christian Temperance in the afternoon. Her appeals to slaves of intoxicating drinks and tobacco were pointed and forcible. One gentleman remarked that he could listen to that woman on the important subject of temperance twelve hours, and not get tired on his rough board seat. Elder Haskell preached in the evening. Monday was a day of labor. The morning meeting in the large tent continued five hours, from nine till two, and during nearly all this long meeting Mrs. W. occupied the stand, excepting the season of prayer for those who had come forward to seek the Lord. This meeting closed victoriously. Strong cries for mercy and grace to endure, and also shouts of victory, were heard. In the afternoon we spoke on the subject of baptism, after which six were buried by Elder Cook in the creek near by. In the evening Mrs. W. spoke to a tent crowded with eager listeners, upon the subject of Bible sanctification. This was a clear, powerful, and timely discourse, in which the bogus sanctification of our time was shown up in its true character. Early Tuesday morning the camp was called up to appear in the large tent for a morning meeting. Our beloved Bro. Santee was to be set apart to the work of the gospel ministry by the laying on of hands. We gave a short discourse appropriate to the occasion, and after the congregation had given a unanimous vote of approval, prayer was made by Eld. Haskell in connection with laying on of hands by Elders Haskell, Cook, and White. Charge by the writer. This was followed by breakfast, and the usual hurry and noise of axes and hammers taking down our cotton city. And away drove those hardy Kansas farmers, with their families, to their rural homes. That which everybody says, is supposed to be true. The united testimony of all our people on the ground is this morning that this meeting, from commencement to close, has been the very best they ever attended. And the outside attendance has been good and orderly. The general compliment has been that this has been the most orderly and most neat and cleanly and respectable camp-meeting they ever attended. Kansas is a good field of labor. Kansas is increasing her population faster than any other State in the Union. The people are generally poor, but intelligent and ready to read and hear, and investigate the reasons of our faith and hope. But there is a great want of laborers in this extensive gospel field. God pity the people of Kansas, and send help to those who are perishing for the bread and water of life. It is now expected that their general camp-meeting and annual Conference for 1879 will be held at a central point about the tenth of May. And we are under promise, if the Lord will, to be at that meeting on our way from Texas to Colorado. Tuesday afternoon, Elder Haskell, Mrs. W., our daughter (Mrs. J. E. White), and the writer, took the train at Oswego, Kansas, for Dallas, Texas. At Muscogee, Indian Territory, we found a good hotel, where, to our happy disappointment, we found the best of accommodations. Wednesday we reached Dallas, dusty and weary, but glad that our journey of about one thousand miles from Battle Creek, Mich., to Dallas, Texas, was at an end. We tarried for the night at the home of Bro. Cole and family, and Thursday came to the good and comfortable home of Bro. McDearman. Here our daughter met her parents, brother, and sister, who have all been brought near the door of death by the fever which has prevailed in this State during the past season. Our coming to them is timely. They have a large house and warm hearts, but as they move about they look more like walking corpses than living men and women. We remain here until Wednesday, the 13th, when we go to the Plano camp-meeting. At present we can only say of Texas that the weather is mild and dry. We already suffer with the heat. Our post-office address at present will be Denison, Texas, where we may spend the winter. Elder Bourdeau remains awhile in Kansas, then he will visit his French brethren in Illinois. After the Plano camp-meeting, Elder Haskell will return to Battle Creek, and labor in New York, New England, and elsewhere. As we write, a gentle rain is falling, which betokens more clear, cool, and healthful weather. J. W.