p. 431 | Canada Camp-Meeting by A. O. Burrill

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 17, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 27.

Canada Camp-Meeting.

By A. O. Burrill

This meeting was held at Waterloo, which is rather a thriving place of about 2,500 or more inhabitants. The grounds were good and well shaded. The Camp-meeting Committee had made ample preparations, and everything was in good order. The attendance was fair. One good feature was that all were present at first and remained to the close.

The attendance from without was not large, yet on Sunday the 60-ft. tent was well filled by very attentive listeners. I have never seen unbelievers give more heed to the words spoken. Several embraced the Sabbath, and others were almost persuaded. This is a field where the Crisis had considerable influence, but it is crumbling as it is destined to before the third message.

On Monday several of their leading men were present when the wants of the cause were presented and pledges called for. We thought we could discover that they did not expect much would be donated, but before the meeting closed, $3,412 was pledged to forward the work. Six thousand was the amount called for, to be divided as follows: $3,000, for the Tract Repository; $2,000, for an Educational Fund; and $1,000, for a Reserve Fund. We all felt that a good beginning was made. I was told by a lay member of the First-day Adventists that he was astonished. "Why," said he, "we had a meeting as large as this, and did much more talking than was done here, and got only six dollars." But this is the power of the third message upon men. I do have some appreciation of the truth; there is a power in it to move the heart that cannot be found in error.

Elder Owen was elected president of the Conference and T. and M. Society. A goodly number received colporter's licenses. Several probably will attend the South Lancaster Academy the coming year. Our social meetings were quite interesting. On Sabbath about twenty came forward, some of whom were starting for the first time. The children's meeting was an interesting feature of the services. The preaching brethren from abroad were Elders Haskell, Hutchins, Robinson, Whitney, and Bro. M. E. Kellogg.

The canvass for the Signs before the meeting had made a favorable impression upon the public mind. The local papers had contained several favorable articles relative to the meetings and our work.

The parting meeting on Tuesday morning was a good season. Tuesday, July 1, was what is known as "Dominion Day," and to the Canadian is about the same as July 4 is in the States. The Canadian Temperance Society had the tents, and a large crowd was addressed, by two members of Parliament and other prominent men. Elder Owen and myself had the privilege of representing our position on this question. The day passed off well and a good work was accomplished for our cause even at this temperance meeting. On the whole, we left the ground feeling that the meeting had been very profitable, and that the coming year will see much good accomplished for the cause in this province. A. O. BURRILL.