p. 571 | Kansas Camp-Meeting by N. J. Bowers

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 18, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 36.

Kansas Camp-Meeting.

By N. J. Bowers

THE northwestern Kansas camp-meeting was held according to appointment, Aug. 21-31, at Concordia, Cloud Co. The location was Court House Square, a nice grove of cottonwood of about three acres near the center of the town. The place had been quite thoroughly canvassed by colporters, and by liberal advertising a good attendance of the citizens was secured. The meeting extended over three Sabbaths and Sundays. A few days preceding the meeting were devoted to instruction in the canvassing and colporter work. A class of about twenty-five attended these meetings.

Weekly reports of the meeting were published by one of the papers of the town, the Cloud County Critic. This paper is devoted to the cause of prohibition and supports the national candidates, St. John and Daniel. The editor gave us the following unsolicited notice:—

"The Seventh-day Adventists have been holding a camp-meeting on the Court House Square since the 15th, and will continue till Sept. 1. They are a very good class of people, and have some very able ministers here, whom it will repay any of our citizens to hear."

About 250 brethren were in attendance, some coming nearly 100 miles in wagons. Twenty-one family tents were pitched. The preaching was done by Brn. Cook, Barton, Gibbs, Curtis, Johnson, Enoch, and Sister Enoch. On Sundays and evenings it was mostly of a doctrinal character, embracing some of the prominent points of our faith. At other times it related to practical duties—personal consecration and devotion to God. "The Vigilant Workers" had a special meeting every morning at 9 o'clock for consultation and report of labor. By this plan every one on the ground could have the benefit of personal labor. The spiritual condition of all was thus ascertained, and great good resulted. Many were converted, the lukewarm aroused, and backsliders reclaimed. Many with tearful penitence returned to their first love and took up the cross anew.

The end sought by those who had the work in charge, was thorough conversion and consecration to God, a thorough putting away of sin, and the destruction of every idol. We have a truth for these last days. Let us be fully sanctified by it.

The children received a share of attention. Meetings for them were held each day. Eld. John Gibbs had charge of this work, and good was done. Several were converted and baptized.

Eld. O. A. Johnson, of Nebraska, was present and did good service. He had charge of the Scandinavian work. About twenty-five believers of this nationality were present. Services were held in their language daily.

The last Sunday afternoon twenty-nine persons were baptized in the Republican River, about half a mile from the camp. About 500 persons witnessed the rite.

Sunday morning, the 31st, $1,530 was pledged and paid in for the various enterprises of the State, and this with no special urging.

Quite a number will keep the Sabbath as a result of the meeting. N. J. BOWERS.