THE VERMONT CAMP-MEETING.
By George I. Butler
This meeting was held in a beautiful pine grove a short distance from the depot at Essex Junction, on the grounds used several years ago. Services commenced Wednesday night. Bro. C. W. Stone gave a discourse that evening. Bro. W. C. White and myself reached the ground after the services. The preaching fell to Bro. Stone and myself, as Bro. Hutchins was suffering from a cold and feebleness. Bro. and Sr. White, with whom I had been laboring at the New England and Maine meetings, had gone with Eld. Goodrich to attend the Carthage, N. Y., meeting. Our meetings the first day were of much less benefit than they might have been, because only about half of the people were there. When will our people learn to come at the beginning of our meetings and stay till the close? About 250 of our own people were present in all, and upwards of thirty tents were upon the grounds. Our evening meetings were quite well attended by the citizens. Sunday there would have been a large crowd, as there was a special excursion train from Burlington, but it was a very rainy day, and only one car-load came. Sabbath morning, at 9 o’clock, we had a good Sabbath-school under the direction of Bro. W. C. White. That branch of the work in Vermont was looked after thoroughly by him, and seems to be in an encouraging condition. During the day the Lord came very near, and many hearts were melted in tenderness. I should judge that upwards of 150 were forward for prayers, and deep feeling was manifested. The social meetings were quite free. On Monday we made special efforts to reach the unconverted, and those who were far backslidden from God. Quite a number moved forward, nearly all of whom bore testimony, expressing deep penitence and a desire for God’s blessing. Still we did not see such a general outpouring of God’s Spirit in the meeting as we desired. We long to see our camp-meetings characterized by the special outpouring of the Spirit of God; and we have no doubt they might all be so if our people would feel the importance of these blessings as they should, and seek for them with all the heart. But so many are measurably indifferent and careless that a general blessing is not always experienced. Oh! when shall we all feel the inestimable worth of a living experience in the blessings of Heaven? In many of our meetings this season it has seemed to me that God had placed within our reach a rich blessing sufficient to fill our hearts to overflowing with a sense of his love and goodness, and he is able to give us just the strength we need to do the work of God for this time; but it seems to elude our grasp because we do not as a people feel its importance enough to seek for it with all the heart, and so we do not get the strength we so much need. We do not press our petitions as we should. God holds his blessing in store for those who realize its value and are willing to make a sufficient effort to obtain it. A good move was made in the temperance work, and an association was organized for the State of Vermont. We obtained 173 signers to the teetotal pledge, which with fifteen who had signed at the Canada meeting, made 188 in all; 117 paying the fee, and becoming full members. Some had gone home before the work was completed. A good degree of enthusiasm was manifested on the temperance question. The T. and M. work was also considered, and the reserve fund, which had been partially raised before, was advanced till upwards of $500 had been pledged for it. As their society is about out of debt, there is nothing to hinder a general move in advance, and the doing of much good. Excellent remarks were made by Bro. White, to impress upon the minds of all the necessity of doing more in this important field. Bro. C. W. Stone was ordained to the gospel ministry by the laying on of hands and prayer. Bro. Hutchins offered prayer, and the aged father of Bro. Stone gave a most solemn and affecting charge. It was an impressive scene, which will be long remembered by those who witnessed it. We left in the morning very early, before the parting meeting. So closed our camp-meeting. GEO. I. BUTLER.