Importance of the Camp-Meeting
The camp-meeting is one of the most important agencies in our
work. It is one of the most effective methods of arresting the attention
of the people, and reaching all classes with the gospel invitation....
If our camp-meetings are conducted as they should be, they will
indeed be a light in the world. They should be held in the large cities
and towns where the message of truth has not been proclaimed. And
they should continue for two or three weeks. It may sometimes be
advisable to hold a camp-meeting for several successive seasons in
the same place; but as a rule the place of meeting should be changed
from year to year. Instead of having mammoth camp-meetings in a
few localities, more good would be done by having smaller meetings
in many places. Thus the work will be constantly extending into new
fields....
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 if 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....
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Securing Attendance
At one time as we were preparing to hold a camp-meeting near a
large city where our people were but little known, I seemed one night
to be in an assembly met for consultation as to the work to be done
before the meeting. It was proposed to make large efforts, and incur
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