The Flint Camp-Meeting.
By D. M. Canright
I ARRIVED upon the camp-ground Friday morning. The weather was rather wet and cold, and it continued so during most of the meeting. Probably this prevented some from attending. The outside attendance was not very large; yet perhaps about a hundred attended all the meetings. On Sunday several hundred came, though it rained much of the day. A good work has been done in Flint the past summer by Brethren Jones and Lamson. About seventy-five have come out on the truth. This meeting has strengthened them much. They took an active part in our meetings, several were baptized, and a number decided to keep the Sabbath who had not before committed themselves. Among them were Bro. and sister Betts, the first couple I married, which ceremony I performed some ten years ago in Tuscola County. The seed of truth was not lost, though it has been a long time coming up. Bro. Smith came Sunday morning with a good report from Battle Creek. Brn. Jones and Burrill also assisted in preaching. The Lord gave good freedom in presenting the truth. The social meetings were all good and encouraging. A large number remarked that this was the first camp-meeting they had attended; some, that they had never heard an Adventist sermon before; and many stated that they had but recently embraced the truth. This shows that the truth is spreading in this section. Sabbath afternoon two or three tent companies joined in prayer and social meetings. All reported most excellent seasons. One or more was converted in most of the meetings. About sixty of the brethren and sisters from Tuscola and Gratiot Counties met in the Vassar tent. Nearly all of these embraced the truth under the labors of myself and Bro. Van Horn when we first began to preach ten and eleven years ago. Those were very happy years in my experience, and these friends have always seemed dearer to me than any others; hence this meeting was a precious privilege to me. I rejoiced to see so many still faithful to God. But many have gone down to the silent grave to rest from their toils. But the saddest of all is that some have fallen under the power of the enemy. As we recalled the memories of the past on this occasion, the tears would come thick and fast. For two hours we talked and wept together like children. Every soul was deeply moved. I believe no one present will ever forget that meeting. Monday morning we came together at nine. Our meeting continued over three hours, so that we had no sermon. To me at least this was by far the best meeting I have attended for many a month. After earnest and touching remarks had been made by several preachers, a call was made for those to come forward who would break away from sin and go with God's people. It was a most solemn place. The Spirit of God seemed to be moving upon the entire audience. Nearly every one was in tears. One after another came forward with the deepest emotion and weeping. Many of them were young men and women between fifteen and twenty-five years of age, the sons and daughters of Sabbath-keepers. The joy of their parents was inexpressible. Besides these, a large number of men and women came forward to take their stand for Christ and for the Sabbath for the first time. In all, there were about one hundred who thus came to seek God. As near as I could learn, not less than a dozen here took their stand for the first time to keep the Lord's Sabbath. This alone was worth all the labor of our meetings. Besides these, fifty or more here started in the service of God for the first time. The others were those who had become more or less backslidden, but who now returned to God and to their place and duty in the work. Brother Fisher made a most touching confession, and an appeal to sinners which melted the stoutest hearts. An hour or two was spent in listening to the testimonies of these persons who had come forward. In the afternoon about thirty gave in their names for baptism. Nineteen of these were examined and taken into the different churches, and then they were baptized by Bro. Jones. The others will be baptized in a few days, as it was more convenient for them to wait. Tuesday morning, at our parting meeting, Bro. A. O. Burrill was ordained to the work of the ministry. Thus closes another good camp-meeting. We feel sure that fruits of it will appear in the kingdom. It has greatly encouraged me to labor on, tired or not, with much or little apparent success, trusting in God for fruit by and by.