Untitled article by M. C. Wilcox

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Sep 26, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 39.

NOTES BY THE WAY. No. 4.

By M. C. Wilcox

We reached the Vermont camp-meeting, Monday, August 20. The meeting had been in progress three days, and a spirit of devotion and prayer was manifest. It was held in the beautiful town of St. Johnsbury, on the Passumpsic River. The camp was situated in a pretty grove, on the river bank, half-encircled by the rapid, shallow, though clear stream. Just above were the falls of the dam. The tents were neatly arranged, and there was but little dust. The weather was delightful, and the cool nights and the song of the singing river made sweet and serene the nights for sleeping. The writer and Brother Curtiss spoke in the aggregate five times. Later came Brethren H. F. Cottrell and Allen Moon, who also were at Virginia and Maine meetings.

The meeting was a success, closing with excellent results, thirty-one being baptized, of which three were rebaptisms. Elder J. W. Watt was elected president of the conference and tract society. As we left before the meeting closed, we did not learn the names of all the officers. These we will give later. A State agent was elected, and the promise is good in the year to come for much larger success in the missionary work. The work in St. Johnsbury has been conducted under the charge of Brother Grant Adkins, formerly an employee of the Pacific Press, now a minister of the Gospel of Christ.

August 24 we left St. Johnsbury, Vt., for Ellsworth, Me., passing on our way through the White Mountains, in full sight of Mount Washington, arriving on the camp-ground in the evening, in time, weary and worn, to speak at the first meeting. This meeting was about the size of that of Vermont, about 200 being encamped upon the ground. Here we stayed until the morning of August 29, speaking seven times while present, leaving five days before the meeting closed, the last meeting—a social service—being the best of all. Pastor H. C. Basney was elected president of the conference and tract society, and Miss Eliza H. Morton secretary and treasurer.

At both these meetings we were right royally treated, and made welcome. There are many old soldiers of the cross in both of these States. The tendency is as age comes on to lay off the armor and retire from active service. But this is not God's plan. While the body may grow old, God designs to keep the heart and soul young and warm and fresh in Him. May the hearts and lives of God's children in Vermont, young and old, be as green as their mountains now are, and as free and full of life as the swift flowing rivers. More than this, may they drink from the living fountain and be "trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified." M. C. W.