CAMP-MEETINGS
L. A. HOOPES
AT our last General Conference considerable time was devoted to the study of camp-meeting work. A special Testimony was read, relative to the subject. More attention should be given this matter. “Instead of having mammoth camp-meetings in a few localities, more good would often be done by having small meetings in many places. Let these be held in cities and towns where the message of present truth has not been presented. Help those who are interested to attend, if necessary providing them with food and lodging. And let the meeting continue two or three weeks. This should be followed up by a tent-meeting and Bible work.”GCB January 1, 1899, page 9.2
The foregoing is an extract from the Testimony read at the Conference on this subject. It will be seen that the Lord wants us to take hold of this work in a tangible form, to work for those who know not the message for this time. It will pay every laborer to get the entire article referred to and study it. This article is on page 128 of the recent Daily Bulletin. The manner of conducting the meetings, and the different elements that enter in to make them a success, are mentioned.GCB January 1, 1899, page 9.3
Much may be done to encourage the brethren throughout the conference by bringing the meetings within their reach. The large camp-meetings are so unwieldy that much of the needed personal work is neglected, simply because the laborers are overtaxed in other directions. The real work of the camp-meeting is too often made a secondary matter. We “should work as if searching for the lost sheep.”GCB January 1, 1899, page 9.4
Children’s meetings are to be held. Our children demand our attention. They are coming up to a crisis in their lives, when they must stand wholly on their own faith. The question that we as parents should ask, is, Have we given them every opportunity, every advantage, to obtain a thorough Christian knowledge? Do they not have a right to receive from us, Christian fathers and mothers and workers, just such a knowledge, which if acted upon by a living faith, would enable them to stand, no matter what the trials may be? We should look for great results in labor for our young people at our camp-meetings.GCB January 1, 1899, page 9.5
We should take a step in advance. When the meeting is over, we should have learned the lesson so that we could take the next step when we are away from the good influence of a camp-meeting.GCB January 1, 1899, page 9.6
The Lord has told us how to carry on the instruction for both old and young, for the converted and the unconverted. It is always safe to follow his direction. “In these meetings we should not at first present doctrinal subjects, of which the hearers have no understanding. Hold the attention of the people by presenting the truth as it is in Jesus. The very first and most important thing is to melt and subdue the soul by presenting our Lord Jesus Christ as the sin-pardoning Saviour. Keep before the people the cross of Calvary. What caused the death of Christ?—The transgression of the law. Show that Christ died to give men an opportunity to become loyal subjects to his kingdom.” It is in this way that “the people are to be led to take their stand for the truth.”GCB January 1, 1899, page 9.7
Every camp-meeting should be a place where every person in attendance gains the victory over self. He should know how to rise above every cruel and murderous assault of the enemy. He should know how to impart the same knowledge to some one else.GCB January 1, 1899, page 9.8
Who are the helpers at the camp-meetings?—Every person who is acquainted with Christ should be a worker. He need not enter the pulpit to do his work, neither is it necessary for him to bear a long, drawn-out testimony in some social meeting in order to demonstrate that he is a worker. “Let all obtain the real facts of faith in their own souls through belief that the Holy Spirit will teach them because they have a real hungering and thirsting after righteousness. In this way the right kind of education is given to the people in religious exercises, and there is presented also the discipline of organization and order.”GCB January 1, 1899, page 9.9
Thorough consecration and much prayer is what counts in our religious experience. No one is prepared to go through a crisis in his religious experience unless he knows what prevailing prayer is. He can not meet the attacks of the enemy successfully unless he knows how to flee to Christ, the mighty helper. Be assured that at all our camp-meetings the enemy will be present to offer his suggestions and insinuations, and by every means possible divert the minds of the people from the straight path of duty. Satan is angry with those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus. A warfare is being waged, and at no place will it be more marked than at our general meetings. As intelligent beings, we should keep this in mind, and hold in reserve, in the best possible condition, every power of our being to be used at Christ’s bidding in the work of saving souls.GCB January 1, 1899, page 9.10
It is quite a noticeable fact that at our large meetings there are always a great many who have a great burden to get something new before the people, some side issue; and before the meeting is over, a call is made for a donation. In many instances these contributions have no direct bearing upon the message for this time. We would not presume to dictate just what ones should be admitted, and what should not. Here is where wisdom is needed, to discriminate what is in keeping with the message and what is not. The camp-meeting is not the place for excitement, for shows, or exercises that are calculated to arouse the curiosity of the people. There is enough in the third angel’s message to satisfy the curiosity of every longing soul, and it certainly is the business of this people to see that this message is properly presented to the people.GCB January 1, 1899, page 10.1
One very important feature that has always received a good deal of attention at our camp-meetings, is the business meetings. There is always some business that needs attention. Notwithstanding all this, there has been much precious time consumed in the discussion of nonessentials, and matters of very little importance. The salvation of souls should be the primary object of all our work.GCB January 1, 1899, page 10.2
We can do no better than to here quote the words found on pages 229 to 231 of “Gospel Workers:—GCB January 1, 1899, page 10.3
“In all our business meetings, as well as our social and religious meetings, we want Jesus by our side as a guide and counselor. There will be no tendency to lightness where the presence of the Saviour is recognized. Self will not be made prominent. There will be a realization of the importance of the work that is to be done. There will be a desire that the plans to be laid may be directed of Him who is mighty in counsel.GCB January 1, 1899, page 10.4
“Could our eyes but be opened, we would behold the angels of heaven in our assemblies. Could we but realize this, there would be no desire to hold to our own opinions upon unimportant points, which so often retard the progress of the meeting and the work. If there were more real praying done, if there were more solemn consideration given to weighty matters, the tone of our business meetings would be changed, elevated. All would feel that the assembly had met to lay plans for the advancement of the work, and that the object of the work is only to save souls.”GCB January 1, 1899, page 10.5
“All that we do, and all that we say, is transferred to the books of heaven. Let us not be guilty of bringing down God’s work to the level of common business transactions. Our standard must be high; our minds must be elevated.”GCB January 1, 1899, page 10.6
“In our business meetings, it is important that precious time should not be consumed in debating points that are of small consequence. The habit of petty criticism should not be indulged.”GCB January 1, 1899, page 10.7
“In our business connection with the work of God, and in handling sacred things, we can not be too careful to guard against a spirit of irreverence; never, for an instant, should the word of God be used deceitfully, to carry a point which we are anxious to see succeed.... Our every thought, word, and action should be subject to the will of Christ. Levity is not appropriate in meetings where the solemn work and word of God are under consideration.... Let us bear in mind that Jesus is in our midst. Then an elevating, controlling influence from the Spirit of God will pervade the assembly. There will be manifested that wisdom which is from above, that is first pure, then peaceable, full of mercy and good fruits, which can not err. In all the plans and decisions there will be that charity that ‘seeketh not her own;’ which is ‘not easily provoked,’ that ‘thinketh no evil.’ ... Self must be hid in Jesus; then the judgment will not be onesided and warped, so that there can be no dispassionate and righteous decisions.”GCB January 1, 1899, page 10.8
These words will bear much prayerful study.GCB January 1, 1899, page 10.9