Virginia Camp-Meeting by Stephen Nelson Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 28, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 33.

Virginia Camp-Meeting.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

THIS meeting was held at Mount Jackson, in the Shenandoah Valley. The camp-meeting commenced the evening of the 5th of August, and closed Tuesday morning, the 12th. Eld. S. H. Lane, of Indiana, was present, and aided materially in the meeting.

This Conference has been organized a little more than one year. Elds. E. B. Lane and J. O. Corliss were the first to enter this field as laborers. During the past year Eld. S. H. Lane has labored here with good acceptance. It is now a growing Conference. The camp was well laid out, and twenty-five tents were pitched when we arrived, most of them purchased the past year. There were about one hundred and fifty Sabbath-keepers encamped on the ground. A strong desire was manifested from the commencement to know how to work to the best advantage. Nothing but union of sentiment and harmony of feeling existed.

Brethren were present from different parts of the State; also from Maryland and North Carolina. From the latter place a brother came who was keeping the Sabbath alone, and at this meeting met with others of like faith for the first time. He was anxious for help; had been distributing reading matter, and said if he could not get help he wanted to know how to work. He was baptized.

The camp-ground was on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which granted favors that were appreciated by the friends. All trains stopped at the ground.

On Sabbath quite a number of young people, who made a start for the first time, came forward, desiring the prayers of God's people. Twenty-five repaired to a tent for a more special effort in seeking God. This was a precious season. Seven were baptized on Monday, after a discourse on the subject of ordination, and the setting apart of Bro. B. F. Purdham to the gospel ministry. The flow of tears by the congregation showed that hearts were touched by the Spirit of God. We can see no reason why the work of God cannot move forward here as well as in any Conference in the country. The people manifest a mind to work. The forenoons were devoted to Bible-readings, in which much interest was taken.

On Sunday excursion trains were run, and although it was in a country place and there were strong indications of rain, about 1,500 were present. In the afternoon it rained, which interfered greatly with the meeting.

Monday morning Brother Neff, the president of the Conference, made a financial statement of the work in the State. They had settled with their ministers on the basis of what they considered just, instead of the old plan, according to the tithes paid in. The result was that there was an indebtedness on the Conference account and other matters to the amount of about $200. In a few moments' time the sum of $400 was secured to pay the indebtedness, and the balance to go in their Reserve Tract Fund.

The meeting closed Tuesday morning. Many feeling testimonies were borne, which were very encouraging. We are more and more convinced that the present time calls for greater devotion and more consecration to God's work. God has intrusted means to his servants, and

there is a willingness on the part of many to move forward in the opening providence of God. The cloud is rising before God's people, and by his Spirit and his providence he says, Go forward. We trust God's blessing will rest upon this Conference, that the work may prosper.

S. N. HASKELL.