The Dakota Camp-Meeting.
By Stephen N. Haskell
AFTER a ride of fourteen hours during which we traveled five hundred miles over extensive prairies, we arrived Wednesday, June 30, at Huron, Dakota, a town of thirty-five hundred inhabitants, and the place of the camp-meeting. When we reached the ground, which is in the midst of the city, there were about sixty tents already pitched, and others were rapidly going up. The camp was laid out in regular streets, and the cotton dwellings presented a picturesque appearance. The reception tent, dining tent, State secretary's tent, book tent, and the main preaching pavilion, 60x100 feet, bore marks of enterprise not seen even in our older Conferences which are managed by brethren of more experience. This is one of the youngest of the Conferences which compose the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, which embraces some of every tongue, nation, and people, and whose influence extends throughout the world. Over the front of the preachers' stand was an arc bearing the motto: "The Lord Is in His Holy Temple." Just below this, over the speaker's head, was an evergreen basket containing roses of various colors. On the other side of the arc, facing the preacher, were the words: "Preach the Word." The posts which supported these mottoes were wound with red cambric on which were evergreens interspersed with red and white roses. The posts for the lamps here and there throughout the auditorium were completely covered with evergreens. An air of Christian refinement reigned, and a heavenly atmosphere pervaded the encampment, demonstrating the absurdity of the idea that taste and neatness are antagonistic to the religion of the Bible. Though it was Pope who said that, "Order is Heaven's first law," it is as true as though it were scripture. Those coming to labor in the meeting were not forgotten. A tent was prepared with table, wash stand, chairs, beds, etc. A dining tent was also made ready for them, where they might counsel together while eating. There was one disagreeable feature, however, in connection with the meeting. On Thursday, the first day of the meeting, the wind blew so that it was necessary to let down the preaching tent, while quite a number of the family tents were blown down. Thus the services were interfered with during that afternoon. At the close of a sermon on the signs of the times, two gentlemen bore testimony that their mothers saw the darkening of the sun, May 19, 1780, and a number were present who saw the falling of the stars, Nov. 13, 1883. This Conference shows its spirit of keeping pace with the growing cause by sending some of its members to the camp-meetings of the most advanced Conferences to learn the best and most approved methods of labor, arrangement of camp-ground, etc. This is far different from a spirit of self-sufficiency, feeling confident that they have the best methods, and taking an independent course in many things which pertain to the interests of the cause. Some Conferences are in advance in one direction and some in another; that one which is the farthest advanced is the one that takes pains to learn and combine the good of all. This spirit characterizes the officers of this Conference, and they infuse the same spirit throughout the rank and file of its members. This, like other Western Conferences, is composed of Scandinavians and Germans as well as English-speaking people. The truths of the gospel know no distinction in nations, tongues, or people. There is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, but all are one in Christ Jesus. The Dakota tract society had an increase of over one hundred members during the past year. The society has taken three hundred and thirteen copies of the SIGNS during the year, besides one hundred and ninety-six copies taken in clubs. Four churches were added to the Conference. There was a good degree of interest from the outside, many attending the meetings nightly. God blessed the word spoken. One man who had been reading our publications, attended the meeting and became interested, and sent for his wife to come over six hundred miles that she also might hear the truth. They both took their stand for the truth. The Conference numbers, including those that were added this year, about five hundred and fifty members. And yet there were more than that number in attendance at the meeting. The Sabbath-school interest was good. There were regular services in the Scandinavian and German languages in tents pitched for this purpose, but in the Sabbath-school they were all brought together in one tent. The Germans and Scandinavians occupied the ends of the tent, while the English were in the center. The general review was an interesting sight. At one end were the Scandinavians reviewing the lesson in their language, in the other end the Germans were doing the same, and the Americans in the center, all answering questions at the same time in their different languages. We spoke, through an interpreter, to both the Scandinavians and Germans on the spread of the truth in different parts of the world, and also gave instruction to the Scandinavians on Bible-readings. On Sabbath afternoon at the close of the discourse about one hundred came forward for prayers. Many bore testimony that they had been blessed of God. Some of them, with broken sobs, declared that the peace of God had entered their hearts. The childrens' meetings were not forgotten. The same has been true of all the camp-meetings we have attended this season. And in those places where such meetings were held from the beginning of the camp-meeting, and were faithfully followed up once or twice each day, they seemed to accomplish more in conversions than in those camp-meetings where they were not held regularly. At one camp-meeting I think there were as many as twenty-one converted. These results are too precious to be neglected. During this camp-meeting season we have had the privilege of laboring with Elder Butler, the President of the General Conference, which reminds us of our early efforts in labor of this kind, many years since. Our relations have always been of the most agreeable nature. Many times has the sweet Spirit of God come upon us while praying together in secret, as well as in our public labors. On Monday there were forty-eight baptized. Our brethren raised $5,300 on the one-hundred-thousand-dollar fund. S. N. H.