Camp-Meeting in Colorado.
By E. R. Jones
THIS meeting was held in the city of Denver on grounds occupied by our mission-tents during the summer. Street-cars ran on three sides of the grounds, giving an excellent chance for those in the different parts of the city to ride to and from the meeting. The city had been well canvassed, and our meeting thoroughly advertised, and before the meeting commenced there was a manifest interest in it and an anxiety on the part of many to attend. Our people were promptly on the ground, with the camp all arranged before the first meeting, on Wednesday evening. There were thirty-five tents occupied by the campers, who numbered about one hundred and twenty-five. In tents and people our meeting was more than twice as large as it was last year. There were but few young people in the camp: indeed there are comparatively few among our people in this State. The tent for public services was pitched on the corner of Twenty-third and California Streets, while the camp reached around the north half of the same block. The large tent was fifty by eighty feet, comfortably seated and well lighted, and high expectations were entertained that we would have an excellent meeting. Brn. Olsen and Farnsworth came in time for the first service, which, as to outside attendance and preaching, was gratifying indeed. There was an unusual interest among the people of the city from the first. During the day the preaching was close and practical, and should not have failed to touch the hardest heart, and arouse the most indifferent. But we are sorry to say that there seemed to be an influence of coldness that was wholly unmoved by the powerful preaching and touching exhortations which we believe were indited by the Spirit of God. At times, in our early morning meetings, and once or twice in the services during the day, the light would come in as the rays of the sun shine through a rift in the clouds, and many were moved to tears. On the Sabbath the Lord seemed to come near and the congregation was powerfully moved. When the invitation was given, about fifty came forward for prayers; also nearly as many on Monday. The Sabbath-school was a very interesting feature of the meeting. It was led by Bro. C. P. Haskell, of Denver, and the entire camp took part in it. Lessons were well learned, and questions were promptly answered. The Sunday services were attended by crowds of deeply interested people. Four discourses were given, one of which was in the Scandinavian tongue, by Bro. Olsen. In the evening the large tent was filled to repletion, and as many more stood on the outside. They listened intently for an hour and a half, while Bro. Farnsworth convincingly set before them the authority for the change of the Sabbath. This day's meetings made deep impressions on very many. In passing through the congregation at the close of each service, we could hear many such expressions as the following: "I believe this is the truth;" "We never heard such things before;" "I am convinced the seventh day is the Sabbath and I am going to keep it," etc. The evenings following, the congregations were large. Seeds of truth were sown at this meeting, which we believe will spring up and bear much fruit hereafter. Never was there a greater interest in the city of Denver to hear the truth than now. The interest excited and impressions made by this meeting far surpass anything for which we dared to hope. Hundreds of people have become anxious and are inquiring the reasons of our faith. The prospect is cheering and our hopes are high, as to the future of our cause in this large place. There was no time taken to raise means for the general work in this State, as that had been done the first part of the season. On Monday, eleven were baptized. It was a touching sight to see strong men and women, and tender children of the age of thirteen, buried with their Lord in this solemn rite. There were few dry eyes in the large congregation that witnessed it. In the evening of this day Brn. Olsen and Farnsworth started on their way East, and left the meeting with Bro. Ostrander and the writer; it was to close Tuesday morning, but many of our brethren were very anxious to have it continue one day more. But very few left the ground, and the meeting did not close till Wednesday morning. Tuesday was quite fully given to the T. and M. work, and finishing the business of the Conference, which had its session at this meeting. In the evening a large congregation gave good attention to a discourse on the nature and progress of our work, as indicated in Rev. 7: 2-4, and this closed the preaching services of the occasion. In the morning there was a brief social service and then the camp was broken. At midnight of this last night on the ground, three of our brethren who were good singers stole softly to the organ in the large tent and gently sang four or five beautiful hymns. Many hearts were touched by the words,
"O Lord Jesus, how long, how long,
Ere we shout the glad song."
And finally, as the sweet words,
"'Tis midnight, and on Olive's brow
The star is dimmed that lately shone;
'Tis midnight in the garden now,
The suffering Saviour prays alone,"
Floated out over the camp in beautiful strains, many were moved to tears. On Wednesday, as the tents were being taken down, a number of people came on the ground and inquired if the meeting was ended. On being told that it was, they expressed sincere regrets that it could not have continued over another week. In many respects it was an excellent meeting, and as our brethren separated and went on their way home, to those who could discern the nature of the work and the indications, it was a source of courage and hope.
E. R. JONES.