Importance of the Camp-Meeting
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matters connected with the various branches of the work, and for the
training of workers in different lines.
All these interests are important, but when they are attended to at
a camp-meeting, but little opportunity remains for dealing with the
practical relation of truth to the soul. Ministers are diverted from their
work of building up the children of God in the most holy faith, and the
camp-meeting does not meet the end for which it was appointed.
Many meetings are conducted in which the larger number of the
people have no interest; and if they could attend them all, they would
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go away wearied instead of being refreshed and benefited. Many are
disappointed at the failure of their expectation to receive help from
the camp-meeting. Those who came for enlightenment and strength
return to their homes little better fitted to work in their families and
churches than before attending the meeting.
Business matters should be attended to by those specially appointed
for this work. And as far as possible they should be brought before
the people at some other time than the camp-meeting. Instruction in
canvassing, in Sabbath-school work, and in the details of tract and
missionary work, should be given in the home churches, or in meetings
specially appointed. The same principle applies to cooking-schools.
While these are all right in their place, they should not occupy the time
of our camp-meetings.
The presidents of conferences and the ministers should give them-
selves to the spiritual interests of the people, and should therefore be
excused from the mechanical labor attendant upon the meeting. The
ministers should be ready to act as teachers and leaders in the work of
the camp when occasion requires; but they should not be wearied out.
They should feel refreshed, and be in a cheerful frame of mind; for
this is essential for the best good of the meeting. They should be able
to speak words of cheer and courage, and to drop seeds of spiritual
truth into the soil of honest hearts....
* * * * *
The Training of Young Workers
Those who are in training for work in the cause in any line, should
improve every opportunity to work at the camp-meeting. Wherever
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