p. 85 | THE OHIO CAMP-MEETING by E. H. Gates

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 4, 1879

THE OHIO CAMP-MEETING.

By E. H. Gates

The Ohio camp-meeting, beginning Aug. 21, was held this year in a nice grove at Spring Mills, about five miles from the enterprising town of Mansfield, Richland Co. This was the largest camp-meeting ever held by our people in Ohio, and, all things considered, was an excellent meeting. We reached the grounds Wednesday morning, and found Eld. Canright and a few others actively engaged in preparing for the coming meeting. The large tent, 60x100 feet, was already pitched, also several family tents. On Thursday the brethren came in from all directions, not only on the cars, but by private conveyance, and soon there grew up as if by magic, a little cotton village. About fifty family tents were on the ground. Meetings began Thursday morning.

Friday evening Eld. Canright received a dispatch saying that Bro. and Sr. White and W. C. White and wife, would be in the camp in about an hour.

On Sabbath morning all hearts were made glad by seeing the faces, and hearing the voices once more, of these worn and faithful servants of the Lord. At 9 o'clock Sabbath morning the camp-meeting Sabbath-school was held in the large tent, under the superintendence of Bro. Reavis. About 300 S. S. scholars, teachers, and superintendents were present, besides a large number of visitors. Sr. White spoke for a little while on the great importance of the S. S. work, in her usually forcible and eloquent manner. In the afternoon Sr. White spoke again, and at the close of her discourse, invited sinners and backsliders to come forward for prayers. The front seats were vacated, and a large number came forward. Tears flowed freely, and all felt that it was good to be there.

On Sunday morning loaded excursion trains began to discharge their living freight on the grounds. At 10:30 A. M. the large pavilion was crowded to its utmost with attentive hearers, who listened to a discourse on the law, by Bro. White. In the afternoon Sr. W. addressed the large audience on her favorite theme, temperance, and was listened to with marked attention. Hundreds could not get within hearing distance.

Monday evening, the last meeting was held. A good audience assembled to hear again from Sr. White, who spoke with great power. The plain, cutting truths found their way to the hearts of the people. As she spoke of the dangers and duties of the times, the tendency to dress, talk, and act like the world, nearly all were moved to tears, and many wept aloud. The Spirit of God seemed to come upon her with great power.

An opportunity was then given to sinners and backsliders to come forward. Many heartfelt confessions were made, and new resolves to live in the future better than ever before. A season of prayer was then engaged in, and meeting closed at about eleven o'clock. May God grant that the good resolves made that night may never be forgotten.

E. H. GATES.

From a short report by Bro. A. O. Burrill, we gather the following additional particulars concerning this good meeting:—

Sabbath morning Bro. White spoke with his usual freedom, and Sr. W. in the afternoon. At the close of the afternoon sermon about forty came forward for prayers, some of whom made a start for the first time. Sunday, about 10,000 were present, and some 1,100 teams were counted as they passed through the gate. The business of the Conference all passed off harmoniously. The testimony of Bro. and Sr. W. was well received by all of our new churches. In fact, it was just what was needed; for it was in this vicinity that the Disciples had made such a strong effort against Sr. W. It was decided at this meeting that I should go to Denver, Col., to assist Bro. Corliss. I hope to return to Ohio after three or four months. As I look back over the few months past, and see how the cause has grown under the management of Bro. Canright, with the blessing of God, I cannot but exclaim, What will not God do for his people if they will work unitedly?