NEW ENGLAND CAMP-MEETING.
By James White
THE annual camp-meeting of the New England Conference was held at West Boylston, Mass., Aug. 25-31. This was the largest and best camp-meeting ever held by this Conference. There were sixty family tents on the ground, besides the mammoth pavilion, 80x125, three smaller congregation tents partitioned for campers, the provision stand and dining hall. The weather was fine, and the grounds delightful. Elder Butler reached the place of meeting Tuesday the 24th, and had spoken to the people with entire acceptance before we arrived on the noon train the 25th. Mrs. W., our children, J. E. and E. L. White, and the writer constituted our party. We had been enjoying brief visits with relatives and friends at Portland and Gorham, Me., the two days that followed the Maine meeting, and were in good condition for labor. We were indeed happy to meet Elder Robinson and Bro. Haines, and many old and tried friends of the cause, at this camp-meeting. The preaching was generally practical, and the brethren opened their minds and hearts to the pointed truth spoken. On Sabbath afternoon Mrs. W. spoke with great clearness and force, and at her call not less than two hundred came forward for prayers. The brethren of the New England Conference are greatly scattered in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut, and in the absence of Elder Haskell, President of the Conference, had enjoyed but little pastoral labor; and yet they turned out to camp-meeting as never before, and revived wonderfully under the plain word spoken in a hopeful manner. Faith revived and all hearts were filled with good cheer. Our children conducted the singing. The "Song Anchor," and "Temperance and Gospel Songs" were used principally, and the people seemed delighted as they listened to some of those best temperance pieces which bless "Pure Water" and set forth the "Villainous Weed-Tobacco," in its abominable defilement. This feature of the exercises added much to the interest of the meeting. The rain that threatened on Sunday morning and which fell in torrents in the afternoon was unfavorable to a large crowd on that day. Under the embarrassment of the rain, pouring on the canvas, J. E. White gave a lecture on the subject of temperance, with important illustrations, which was highly prized by all who heard it. His labors in the Sabbath-school work were fully appreciated. On Monday Elder Robinson baptized thirteen. Elder Butler left for Boston to visit a brother, and we for South Lancaster, where we held two very important meetings. Letters follow us, reporting good results of our labor at that place. It is in our heart to return to New England after General Conference, and labor till very severe weather, then go South, holding meetings in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama, on our way to Florida. May the Lord direct to his own glory. J. W.