New York Camp-Meeting by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 9, 1879

New York Camp-Meeting.

By Editor

The following is from the Buffalo Express, which gives lengthy reports of the Belknap’s Park camp-meeting:—

The opening service was held Thursday, Sept. 18. Eld. White spoke from John 11:56: “What think ye, that He will not come to the feast?” The speaker dwelt at some length on the preparation necessary that Christ might be made welcome at the feast. In the afternoon Eld. Butler spoke from Luke 21:25–34, tracing down the lines of the prophecy of Daniel, chapters 2 and 7, to prove that the prophetic periods are fulfilled, and that the last days are near.

Friday morning W. C. White, vice-president of the General Sabbath-school Association, gave a brief address, containing some practical hints for Sabbath-school workers. At 10:30, A. M., Eld. White gave a clear and forcible discourse from Matt. 1:21. In the afternoon Eld. N. V. Hull, Seventh-day Baptist, editor of the Sabbath Recorder, spoke from the words, “Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

After “Blessed are they that do his commandments,” had been rendered by the choir, an intermission was given, when Mrs. White took the stand, and gave a thoroughly practical address, appealing to those professing to be Christians to avoid the danger of which they are warned in Luke 21:34–37.

Sept. 19. At nine the whole camp met in the pavilion for Sabbath-school. This was one of the principal features of the day. It had been previously classified and arranged in divisions, and teachers and conductors assigned. A large map of the Holy Land hung from the roof of the pavilion, and was freely used to illustrate the lessons. The four divisions, infant classes, children, youth and adults, had each their respective lessons suited to their needs. The lessons were those used by all the churches of this denomination. All, old and young, engaged in the exercises with enthusiasm: Fathers and mothers, young men and maidens, with faces lighted up with earnest thought, and little children, gathered

about their teachers with earnest eyes, and fresh young faces all aglow. The singing was from the Song Anchor, a new collection of Sabbath-school and other sacred music, which is largely used in connection with the other services.

Sunday the people came in from all directions, on foot and with teams; and twenty car loads arrived during a single service. The number of visitors at the park was probably not less than five thousand. The temperance work took up the attention of the meetings during most of the forenoon till the time of the preaching service. The subject of temperance takes a large place in the work of this people, and their platform is a broad one—covering not only what is usually included in the idea of temperance, but more; tobacco, opium, and kindred substances are discarded, and tea and coffee meet as a rule with little favor among them. Two discourses were given during the day, one by Eld. S. B. Whitney, and one by Eld. White, after which Mrs. White spoke upon the temperance question; the crowd beneath the pavilion sat listening intently to the close, while those outside pressed closer beneath the lifted walls to catch the speakers’ words. The large crowd dispersed as the train left, many of them returning to the evening service, when Eld. Butler addressed them upon the subject of sacrifice.

In connection with the camp-meeting was held the Pennsylvania Conference, also the annual meeting of the tract and missionary society. Nine persons were baptized, and four were ordained to the ministry.