Vermont Camp-Meeting by Dudley Marvin Canright

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Sep 9, 1875

Vermont Camp-Meeting.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

AUGUST 18, Bro. and Sr. White, and myself left Battle Creek for the East. For two days and nights we rode upon the cars. Even this afforded a good rest to Bro. and Sr. White from the overwhelming labors of the past three weeks. I greatly enjoyed this privilege of conversing with them. I am glad to see and know that God is abundantly blessing them and sustaining them with health and cheerfulness in their increasing labors.

We arrived upon the camp-ground Friday morning, and were cordially received by the friends. We found forty-two tents pitched upon the ground beside two large preachers’ tents. Actual count showed three hundred and sixty-eight encamped on the ground. The tents were all of good size and neatly kept. All seemed to be of good courage and hopeful in the work.

Vermont has had but little labor for years, and many have gone West to strengthen the cause in those new States. Yet under these circumstances Vermont holds its own, with perhaps some gain, which shows that it is a good field and that the cause has faithful friends here.

After so brief a rest both Bro. and Sr. White took hold and spoke with as great freshness, interest, and power as I ever heard them. This being a new place for the camp-meeting, the people turned out by hundreds in the day-time and evenings of other days besides Sunday, and they paid the best of attention.

Sabbath afternoon Sr. White made a special appeal to the unconverted and to the backslidden to come forward and seek the Lord. One after another arose with tears and weeping and separated themselves from the congregation. We exhorted and sang for an hour, and still they came till about eighty were upon the mourners’ seat. Many of these were young men and women, the sons and daughters of Sabbath-keepers, who had grown up unconverted. Now they gave their hearts to the Lord. Angels rejoice at such a scene, and so did we.

As we bowed to pray for these the Spirit of God was present in great power. Many touching confessions were then made. Several of the old friends of the cause were there, and spoke of their experience in the message twenty-five years ago. This called out some touching remarks from Bro. White which caused the tears to fall freely.

Sunday we had a good audience; but our meetings were somewhat broken up by rain; yet as many as could be packed into the big sixty-foot tent remained all day, and it was also full at evening. Bro White spoke in the morning with good freedom, on Our Faith and Hope. In the afternoon Sr. White spoke for two hours, with a clear voice, securing perfect attention from the crowded audience though it rained most of the time. Few speakers could have done this. Altogether, Bro. White spoke four hours on Sunday, Sr. W., two hours, and I, one hour and a half, all of which was heard by hundreds who never heard our message before. The only church in the village near by, dismissed their meeting to attend ours.

On Monday, we had fine weather and a large audience again. Several told us they were fully convinced upon the Sabbath, and some said they should keep it. We know that a deep impression has been made upon the community.

Not the least disorder occurred during the whole meeting. The business transactions, as is always the case with our people, passed off in perfect harmony. On the whole, we feel well pleased with our camp-meeting, and the friends will go to their homes much encouraged.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Aug. 24, 1875.