Dates: June 23 – 29, 1886
Location: Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN
Find it today: Map
The Camp: Located on the west side of Lake Harriet in the vicinity of the Minnesota Streetcar Museum. Travelers to camp meeting arrived at this streetcar station. The camp was stated as being situated as follows: “The Motor Line runs directly past these grounds, and the large tent will be pitched within a few steps of the station.” The camp was likely in the vicinity of the current day Lake Harriet Bandshell Park.
The depot: There is a restored depot fashioned after the one present in 1886. The Minnesota Streetcar Museum runs restored trolley cars from the depot during the more pleasant months of the year – be sure to catch a streetcar ride on the Como-Harriet Line much as they did when they arrived for camp meeting! See pictures of early streetcars at Minnesota Reflections.
The baptisms: Camp meeting baptisms were conducted in Lake Harriet.
THE MINNESOTA CAMP-MEETING – FOR several weeks the appointment of this meeting, June 23-29, has been before the readers of the REVIEW. It has been quite generally understood, and is now settled, that the location will be Minneapolis. The difficulty of obtaining suitable grounds in the midst of the city has delayed our making a definite announcement; and it is with no small disappointment that we announce the defeat of our purpose in this matter. The eligible grounds in the city are either inaccessible by street cars and to our work, or are not to be obtained.
Reluctantly we therefore yielded to these circumstances, and selected a place on the shore of Lake Harriet, about two miles from the depository, but within the city limits.
The Motor Line runs directly past these grounds, and the large tent will be pitched within a few steps of the station.
Trains will run every few minutes from the center of the city, and those who wish to attend the meeting can do so for ten cents the round trip. This is a large reduction, as the regular fare is thirty-five cents. Those of our people coming by railroad should be supplied with Motor tickets before leaving home. Let each company ascertain the number desired, and write to H. P. Holser in time to receive them by mail. Also send the names of those desiring such tickets. The unused tickets can be returned. If any fail to get tickets, they can obtain them of our agent, at the depots; but it is better to be supplied beforehand. The favors shown by the Motor Company were all that could be asked, but they have augmented them by paying for us one hundred dollars for the use of the grounds. We can hardly expect that the meeting will attract as much attention located at the lake as it would in the city, but we shall do all we can to get the citizens to attend.
Application has been made for reduced fare on all railroads which we hope to obtain. The workers’ meeting will open the evening of June 15. At this meeting we shall expect to see all who labor or anticipate laboring in any branch of the cause, and we invite all others who can come, to do so. We shall want considerable help in preparing for the meeting. Let our brethren come prepared to work, and bring such tools as will be useful in preparing and clearing the grounds, and in putting up tents and buildings.
Let us also make this a special season for seeking the Lord. We shall take time for devotional meetings and instructions in different branches of the work. We desire and recommend that our people in this Conference observe Sabbath, June 19, as a day of fasting and prayer for God’s blessing upon our meeting and our work, and for a deeper consecration of our hearts to his service. The shortness of time, the soon closing of the Judgment, and the great work to be done for others and for ourselves, make it imperative that we should have a greater measure of God’s blessing than we now have. In some respects we have prospered during the past year, but we have reason to humble our hearts before God. Some of our churches are rent by strife and division, brethren grudging one against another, while the Judge standeth before the door. The love of self and the love of the world are keeping many souls from the work of God, and will keep them out of the kingdom.
Those who are coming to labor for us are those who are best qualified to help us, and whose labors we have learned to appreciate. The privilege of seeing these faithful servants of God is one of which every one should have the benefit. Special efforts will be made for the youth and children. Who of us as parents can afford to lose such precious opportunities for our children? Often our neighbors and friends can he reached at such a meeting, when nothing else will move them.
All reports should be promptly made out. Church delegates should be on the ground early, and none should leave till the close of the meeting. We shall have tents to rent at about $2 for 9×12, $2.50 for 10×14, etc.; but application should be made early to H. P. Holser. A well-stocked provision stand and dining tent will be provided. Meal tickets will be sold at the rate of five for one dollar. Any desired information will be given by correspondence with H. P. Holser, box 1076, Minneapolis, Minn. Further particulars will be given.
MINN. CONF. Com. – Review and Herald, May 25, 1886
MINNESOTA CAMP-MEETING. This meeting was held June 22-29, at Minneapolis. It was located on Lake Harriet, about four miles from the center of the city, on a short railroad line, where the trains run every twenty minutes. It is a fine pleasure resort, and hence large numbers of people were coming and going all the time. The camp was located in a grove. We have not seen a more suitable place for a camp-meeting than this one, with every convenience, except that it was too far out to reach the people generally.
There were one hundred and seventy-five family tents pitched, besides the usual public tents. It was thought that there was the largest attendance of our people that there has ever been in the State, the number being estimated at about a thousand. There were about two hundred and fifty Scandinavians, who had a separate tent for their meetings, which were conducted by Eld. Lewis Johnson. There were quite a number of Germans present, who also had separate meetings. The brethren had made commendable efforts to have everything in readiness by the appointed time for the meeting; in fact, we had a good day’s meeting on important subjects before the time appointed.
The laborers from a distance were Elds. Butler and Haskell, L. McCoy from Iowa, and the writer. Quite a number, also, from adjoining States were present to enjoy the meetings. All were in good spirits, and there was a free atmosphere to begin with. The meetings took much more of an instructive and educational turn than heretofore, the whole forenoon of each day being devoted to this object in connection with some branch of the work. Our leading brethren feel that our camp-meetings should be given this turn more than heretofore – that we should have less preaching and more instruction. There were several doctrinal discourses, but the preaching was largely of a practical nature. The attendance from without was not great, except on Sunday, when there was a very large crowd, all that could possibly be entertained.
All the business of the Conference passed off very harmoniously, showing a good, steady growth and union among all. Eld. G. C. Tenny was again elected president of the Conference and also of the Missionary Society. Eld. H. P. Holser was elected president of the Sabbath-school Association. The examination of ministers was carried out, and a sermon for their benefit was preached before the Conference by Eld. Butler, followed by a lively discussion of the same by several others. It is felt by all that this move is none too soon. Our ministers are far behind what they might be and should be intellectually. It is noticed that the young men who have attended our College, and have imbibed a spirit of improvement, are rapidly coming to the front, and taking the responsible positions, while those who have failed to study are dropping behind.
One meeting was devoted to the interests of our College and the education of our young people, as should be done at every camp-meeting. Twice a day the little children were gathered together and taught for an hour by two of the sisters. Special meetings were also held for the young people. Eld. Haskell labored zealously in the missionary work, and his efforts were well received and appreciated. Much more time than usual was granted to the Sabbath-school work, and we believe that a new impetus will be given to that branch of the cause in this State. Eld. Butler labored earnestly in all branches of the work, especially for the spiritual interests of the meeting. On the Sabbath, after his sermon, about one hundred and fifty came forward for prayers and to seek the Lord. Many excellent testimonies were borne, and deep feeling was manifested. Monday forenoon the same work was taken up and carried still farther. At the close of the sermon, the Spirit of God came down in a powerful manner, and a very melting season followed.
About ninety candidates presented themselves for baptism. After a sermon on baptism, and other appropriate remarks, the entire camp, with a large number of visitors, gathered upon the banks of Lake Harriet, one of the most lovely lakes I have ever seen. The day was beautiful, not a ripple was upon the waters. Elds. Johnson, Hill, and Schram did the baptizing. Some thirty boats gathered around the place to witness the scene. The most perfect order throughout was maintained. Each elder led two candidates out into the water at a time, often a husband and wife, a brother and sister, two sisters, or a mother and her daughter. The blessing of God seemed especially near as these were buried in baptism. It seemed the nearest like Pentecost of anything I have witnessed in a long time. Some who came upon the grounds, embraced the truth, and were baptized at this time. A Baptist minister who had strongly opposed the truth, lately saw his mistake, and has most heartily and humbly embraced the message. All were glad to hear his testimony, and to welcome him among us.
About six thousand dollars were pledged for the various branches of the work. Minneapolis is to be the head-quarters of the cause in Minnesota. Means were raised to build a church here. The reports showed sixty-eight churches, with a membership of seventeen hundred, and twenty-five ministers. The tithes of the Conference for the last year were about ten thousand dollars. They have sixty local tract societies, with seven hundred and forty-seven members. Several new churches were admitted into the Conference, and the work generally seemed to be thriving. At the closing meeting, E. A. Curtis and M. H. Gregory were ordained. Two of the large daily papers gave us excellent reports, and a column and a half summary was put in the large weeklies. The other papers also gave us more or less space, so that our views will be thoroughly advertised all over the State. On the whole, we regard this camp-meeting as not only a success, but as one of the pleasantest of the season.
D. M. CANRIGHT – Review and Herald, July 13, 1886