NORTH-WESTERN KANSAS CAMP-MEETING.
By Smith Sharp
This meeting was held as appointed, at Bethany, Oct. 2-6, and has just closed. Although no help came from outside of our own Conference, yet we sought and obtained the help of the Lord. I had earnestly requested help from the General Conference Committee, and had given encouragement to the friends that help might be expected. More than two hundred were encamped on the ground. There were twenty tents, and many camped in wagons. At our Sabbath-school at 9 A. M. Sabbath morning, there were 250 scholars and about 20 teachers. The penny box contained $7.65. The preaching during the day was practical, and when a call was made for sinners and backsliders to come forward for prayers, between 40 and 50 responded. The remainder of the day was spent in an especial effort to benefit them. The railroad which crossed the ground gave us excursion trains on Sunday over both branches of the road. It was the first Sunday on a camp-ground that I ever felt that I would not regret to see it rain; but being alone except the few licentiates in that part of the Conference, and just getting up from sickness, I felt unequal to the task of meeting a crowd. But the day was “one of nature’s best.” Early in the morning the trains stopped on the ground, and people from all directions came with teams until many hundreds were poured into our camp. Several editors and reporters were there, and took notes during the day. This is the first excursion that we have ever been able to obtain in Kansas. The superintendents of the roads always claimed that it would not pay them, but the conductors who were on the ground during the day told me the company had been well paid. We appointed canvassers for all our periodicals, and a good number of subscribers were obtained during the day. I never saw a more orderly company on a camp-ground. During Sunday and Sunday night, a large proportion gave close attention to the preaching, which was on the leading features of our faith. Monday morning we took up the health and temperance work. It was ascertained that a large proportion of those on the ground had already signed the teetotal pledge; still there was considerable opposition to it on the part of some, and many questions were asked. Canvassers were appointed, and thirty-five signed the teetotal pledge and paid the initiation fee, besides many that signed without paying. The camp-meeting fund and the T. and M. reserve fund were remembered, the friends subscribing liberally to both. On Monday a good number again came forward for prayers; and in the afternoon thirteen were baptized in the Solomon River. Tuesday morning one hundred spoke in our parting meeting in thirty minutes, and all felt that they had been greatly benefited, and that the meeting had been a profitable one. The success of the meeting, under the blessing of God, is due to the fact that the brethren did not despond when they found no help came, but took hold in earnest to lift the burden. There was much preaching to be done besides a great deal of other hard work, and I had been sick in bed only a short time previous. Bro. and sister Enoch and Bro. G. H. Smith came not expecting to preach, but when they saw the circumstances, no one refused. The same may be said of the lay members when they were called upon to do anything. By the special blessing of the Lord in answer to the earnest prayers of the brethren, I was able to do at least half of the preaching. SMITH SHARP.