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Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
be constantly extending into new fields. Just as soon as the standard of
truth is lifted in one locality, and it is safe to leave the new converts, we
must plan to enter other new fields. Our camp meetings are a power,
and when held in a place where the community can be stirred, they
will have far greater power than when for the convenience of our own
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people they are located where, because of previous meetings and the
rejection of truth, the public interest is deadened.
A mistake has been made in holding camp meetings in out-of-the-
way places and in continuing in the same place year after year. This
has been done to save expense and labor, but the saving should be
made in other lines. In new fields especially, a dearth of means often
makes it difficult to meet the expense of a camp meeting. Careful
economy should be exercised and inexpensive plans devised, for much
can be saved in this way. But let not the work be crippled. This method
of presenting the truth to the people is by the devising of our God.
When souls are to be labored for, and the truth is to be brought before
those who know it not, the work must not be hindered in order to save
expense.
Our camp meetings should be so conducted as to accomplish the
greatest possible amount of good. Let the truth be properly presented
and represented by those who believe it. It is light, the light of heaven,
that the world needs, and whatever manifests the Lord Jesus Christ is
light.
An Object Lesson
Every camp meeting should be an object lesson of neatness, order,
and good taste. We must give careful regard to economy, and must
avoid display; but everything connected with the grounds should be
neat and tidy. Taste and tact do much to attract. And in all our work
we should present the discipline of organization and order.
Everything should be so arranged as to impress both our own
people and the world with the sacredness and importance of the work
of God. The regulations observed in the encampment of the Israelites
are an example to us. It was Christ who gave those special instructions
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to Israel, and He intended them for us also, upon whom the ends
of the world are come. We should study carefully the specifications
of God’s word and practice these directions as the will of God. Let