Camp-Meeting in Michigan by Stephen Nelson Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 16, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 39.

Camp-Meeting in Michigan.

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

THIS meeting was held in Jackson, which is the fourth city in population in the State. It contains about 20,000 inhabitants. The meeting commenced Thursday, September 18, and continued until Tuesday morning, the 30th. It was the largest camp-meeting ever held by Seventh-day Adventists. Probably it was the largest number of seventh-day observers that has ever assembled at any one place since the days of the apostles, unless it was by the Waldenses, centuries in the past. There were 1,850 persons camped on the ground. Many living in the surrounding country attended during the day. The city and the entire county had been previously canvassed by students from the college, and nearly every family visited. The result of this move was seen in the immense crowds of people attending the meeting. On the first Sunday 10,000 were present, and a good congregation each day and evening. About 200 tents were on the ground including three 50-ft. tents, one 50x70, one 30x50, one 20x40, one 28x50. The preaching pavilion was 80x120. The tent room was not sufficient to accommodate those who wished to camp on the ground. Nearly 50 procured rooms in the city. It was decided to raise a tent fund of $2,500 and have a tent for public services next year 100x150 feet. This will be needed. Besides this they will have on hand a sufficient number of smaller tents to rent to the friends who may wish to attend.

A good degree of spiritual interest was manifest, although all did not seem to realize the importance of the present time, as has been the case in some other places. The testimony of Sister White was never more appreciated, especially by those not of our faith. The second Sunday of the meeting was a rainy day, and showers prevented the speaker from being heard at times, so that she was obliged to cease speaking, yet at an early hour the tent was literally packed with many of the first citizens of the city waiting to hear Sister White. She spoke on temperance to as interested an audience as ever listened to any speaker.

An opportunity was given several times during the ten days of the meeting for those who wished to give their hearts to God for the first time to come forward. This was responded to each time with an increasing interest. On the last Monday morning over 500 made a move. Fifty-five were baptized. Nearly 300 students, helpers at the Sanitarium, and workers at the Review office came to the meeting on Friday and returned Monday night. Instruction in canvassing, Bible-reading, and various other branches of the work was given during the meeting. Occasionally the early morning meeting was devoted to practical health talks from Doctor Kellogg, who would come in the night from Battle Creek and return after the morning meeting. These were highly instructive and imparted information which could not fail to benefit all. His long connection with the largest and most completely equipped sanitarium in the country, at Battle Creek, Mich., has amply qualified him for this work.

The Michigan Conference is the largest Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in the world. There is an enrollment of about 4,000 members, over one-quarter of whom are members of the Battle Creek church. The publishing house, sanitarium, and college naturally make this an important center. The college students, nearly 300 in number, 100 helpers and workers at the sanitarium, and over 100 employees at the office of publication, help build up a large church here; and the influence of these institutions gives this State advantages, in many respects, over others east of the Rocky Mountains.

The financial condition of the cause was considered, and it was voted that this Conference should raise the sum of $75,000, to be appropriated as follows: $25,000 for the college, to be used in the erection of suitable buildings for boarding the students, for work shops, etc.; $10,000 for the central European mission; $7,500 for the English mission; $5,000 for the Scandinavian mission in Europe; $5,000 for the International Missionary Society; $15,000 for the city missions and general missionary work in Michigan; $2,500 for a tent fund; and $5,000 for an educational fund. The figures handed me as pledged upon the ground were $28,463. Adding this to over $22,000 previously pledged would make over $50,000 pledged towards the $75,000. This was doing no better in proportion to the numbers present and money represented than the other Conferences we have visited this year have done. Our people begin to realize that the Lord is soon coming, and that $1,000 to be used this present year in the work of God will tell more towards the advancement of the cause than ten times that amount in a little while from now.

It should ever be remembered that the raising of these large sums of money is not merely to support the cause in its present state, but that the openings before us which lead to missionary effort in planting the truth into regions beyond, creates the demand for these large sums of money. During the past nine months there has been actually pledged, east of the Rocky Mountains, to meet openings before us, about $300,000. Were every cent of this money immediately paid, all of it could be appropriated within three months' time, and the present openings before us would not be met. Souls are hungering for the truths of the Bible. The Macedonian cry comes from every part of Europe, from Asia, Africa, and the islands of the sea. The cloud is rising before us. This camp-meeting, like many others this present season, which were held in the cities, resulted in many embracing the truth, and leaving an impression for good on the minds of the citizens of the place. Our brethren returned home much encouraged. S. N. HASKELL.