Chapter 1—Camp Meeting Address Boulder,
Colorado, September 25, 1881
Dear Brethren and Sisters Who Shall Assemble at the Michigan Camp
Meeting,
[
This appeal was written for the Michigan camp meeting, but being
forgotten at that time, was read before the General Conference,
December, 1881.
]
I feel a deeper interest in this meeting than in any other that has
been held this season. Michigan has not had the labor which she
should have had. God has planted important institutions among you,
and this brings upon you greater responsibilities than upon any other
conference in the whole field. Great light has been given you, and few
have responded to it; yet my heart goes out in tender solicitude for our
beloved people in Michigan. The warning that the Son of man is soon
to come in the clouds of heaven has become to many a familiar tale.
They have left the waiting, watching position. The selfish, worldly
spirit manifested in the life reveals the sentiment of the heart, “My
Lord delayeth His coming.” Some are enveloped in so great darkness
that they openly express their unbelief, notwithstanding our Saviour’s
declaration that all such are unfaithful servants and their portion shall
be with hypocrites and unbelievers.
Our ministers are not doing their whole duty. The attention of the
people should be called to the momentous event which is so near at
hand. The signs of the times should be kept fresh before their minds.
The prophetic visions of Daniel and John foretell a period of moral
darkness and declension; but at the time of the end, the time in which
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we are now living, the vision was to speak and not lie. When the signs
predicted begin to come to pass, the waiting, watching ones are bidden
to look up and lift up their heads and rejoice because their redemption
draweth nigh.
When these things are dwelt upon as they should be, scoffers will
be developed who walk after their own lusts, saying, “Where is the
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