p. 20 | Western Tour

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 4, 1871

Western Tour.

The Wisconsin camp-meeting was held one mile and a half from Milton Junction in a beautiful grove, at a popular place of resort called Clear Lake. Here is one of the finest little lakes in the world, nearly bordered by groves. The trees around this lake are not large, but are close and of sufficient size to shade well a large audience. Taking all things into the account, we think this the best camp-ground we have seen. The committee did well in obtaining it at a cost of one hundred dollars.

The camp-meeting committee made seasonable and ample preparations. There were nineteen tents upon the ground, besides the large congregation tent, and a large wood building upon the ground which was used for a provision store-house and grocery. The meeting was large for Wisconsin, and was in successful progress when we reached the ground, sixth-day afternoon. The expectation was high for a very large gathering on Sabbath and first-day.

But as the Sabbath drew on there were strong indications of rain. Soon it came pouring down upon us, which made the condition of some of our friends uncomfortable. From the circumstances of that storm we are impressed with the importance of having our tents made of ten or twelve ounce duck; and, also, of having suitable trenches dug about them immediately after pitching them, whether the heavens indicate wet or dry.

Sabbath morning, the brethren seemed cheerful and happy, notwithstanding the recent heavy rain, and the unsettled state of the weather. The open grounds were too damp for the morning service, and the large tent was furnished with seats to accommodate as many as possible. At half-past ten it was estimated that at least nine hundred persons were assembled in, and about, the tent. This congregation was made up of Seventh-day Adventists, we judge four hundred; Seventh-day Baptists, probably the same number, and one hundred who do not observe the Lord’s Sabbath. The weather was cool and comfortable, and we took great pleasure in speaking to this candid and intelligent audience. We crowded the hour as full as possible with reasons of the two prominent features of our faith and hope, expressed in our name, Seventh-day Adventists; namely, the personal second advent of Jesus Christ, and the observance of the Lord’s Sabbath. Accepting the simple rule that the Sacred Scripture means what it says, excepting when a symbol or parable is used, we soon found ourselves fully furnished with the clearest and most direct proofs upon the advent question; also shut up to the celebration of Jehovah’s rest-day on the seventh day of our week. We accept the claims of the fourth commandment as it reads, while the first-day men do not. In few words, here is where we differ: The front of our offending on the Sabbath question, is in believing that God, in the fourth precept of his holy law, means what he says.

We do not differ with those who keep Sunday, from a love to be odd. We believe it to be a sin to differ with those around us, unless there are the best of reasons for doing so. But unless our first-day friends furnish better proofs than those already brought into their service, to turn us from obeying the fourth commandment as it reads, we shall cling to the literal text.

*Here all Sabbatarians unite; while those who do not accept this position resort to schemes to evade the force of the literal declarations of the fourth commandment, which, from their number, may be named “legion.”

We recommend to our friends, who differ with us and labor to move us from our position, a Sunday convention, in which to settle their differences upon this subject, as with their present broken front they are poorly prepared to impress us favorably. This, too, we would suggest, is very important in order to attract the people from our appeals.

At the close of the Sabbath morning service, we were cordially greeted by many who reported themselves Seventh-day Baptists, who gave our hand the very next thing to it, if not the real Advent shake. Among these was Prof. Cornell, of the Albion, Wis., S. D. Baptist Academy, who invited us to speak to the citizens of his place. Nothing could have given us greater pleasure than to respond to this, and similar courtesies from others, by speaking freely to this people upon the great fundamentals of our common faith—the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ; but hoarseness, fatigue, and the labors of the Minnesota Camp-meeting the next week, compelled us to pass on without even calling upon any of our S. D. Baptist friends.

Here we may, by divine grace, enjoy a strong union; and while Seventh-day Adventists may prize very highly, and tenaciously hold their views upon the immortality question, and may cherish as important to the glory of God and their own prosperity, their definite views of the manifestation of spiritual gifts, they will agree that it will be much better to seek for that union that may be enjoyed upon the broad fundamentals of our faith, than to sacrifice that union in urging upon them sentiments peculiar to Adventists.

Sabbath afternoon, the weather was fine, so that a much increased congregation assembled in the open grove at the stand. Bro. Littlejohn gave a very impressive, practical discourse. Here we were happy to meet for the first time Eld. D. E. Maxson, pastor of the S. D. Baptist church at Milton, and Eld. Carpenter, retired S. D. Baptist missionary to China.

Our evening meeting was in the large tent. We were impressed with the conviction that our brethren were not being benefited as they should be, and pressed in an exhortation before preaching. Then Eld. Sanborn followed with a discourse.

First-day morning, Bro. Littlejohn spoke to a large and attentive audience upon the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. With the exception of a few young men and boys who were strolling about the lake, all were quiet and very attentive.

Up to this point Mrs. W. had been too ill to come into the congregation. But the word had gone out that she would speak at two P. M., and a very large congregation was assembled to hear. It was with difficulty that she walked to the stand. With the help of God, however, she spoke to the people with a tolerable degree of clearness and power.

Mrs. W. appealed to the very attentive crowd pointedly and affectionately. And in whatever light they might have viewed the peculiarities of her work, all seemed deeply impressed with the purity and piety of her discourse. And we much regret the scandalous remark of the absent reporter of the Janesville Gazette, that he understood that “she talked in the assault and battery style.” Of the three thousand candid persons who were present, and listened to her remarks, he will not find one who will justify his reckless statement.

We design to conduct all our camp-meetings with the strictest propriety, and in a Christian spirit. And thus far, with this contemptible exception, they have been favorably reported by all those journals, from Maine to Iowa, which have noticed our camp-meetings.

On second-day, six were immersed in Clear Lake, by Eld. Sanborn, in the presence of a good congregation, and in the evening Bro. David Downer was set apart to the ministry by the laying on of hands.

During this camp-meeting, the several sessions of the Wisconsin State Conference were held between the religious services. Union and brotherly love prevailed. The finances of the Conference are favorable. There is evidently a great lack of devotion, and the spirit of sacrifice with the brethren in Wisconsin; but we are happy to report progress.

The closing meeting, third-day morning, was searching and excellent. May God assist the dear brethren to pay their solemn vows to him, and may prosperity attend their efforts to advance his cause.

We shall ever cherish happy recollections of the many kind words spoken to us, and the attention of friends in the sickness of Mrs. W. Sister M. E. Steward, wife of Eld. T. M. Steward, was very attentive. We then, at the close of the camp-meeting, went with her to her father’s house, where we found rest and great freedom of spirit under the kind attentions of this family until we left them, the fourth-day at 2:20 P. M., for the Minnesota camp-meeting.

We are now near the Mississippi, at Prairie du Chien. The sun is setting, and darkness, added to the shaking of the train, makes our imperfect pencillings still more doubtful. Thank God for a degree of strength and health which enables us to report under such circumstances. Mrs. W. is fast improving, and is now engaged in an animated conversation with Bro. Littlejohn and Thompson. We take a sleeping car, and hope to reach the camp-ground at Medford, Minn., in the morning. The shades of night press around us, and we are compelled to say, Good night.