1870 – Wasioja

Back to Early Camp Meetings

Dates:      June 23 – 28, 1870
Location:  William Ingraham Farm, Wasioja Township, Dodge Co., MN
Find it today:    Map
East of Wasioja on County Road 16, it is the first farm on the south side of the road. They have a sign posted in the front yard stating that it’s the site of the first Minnesota Seventh-day Adventist Camp Meeting.  (Please be respectful that this is private property – thanks!)
The baptisms:  Camp meeting baptisms were conducted in the Zumbro River.

HERE AND HEREABOUTS – The Seventh-Day Adventist will hold a camp meeting at Wasioja, in this county, commencing June 23d, 1870, and continuing five days. A number of distinguished speakers are expected to be in attendance. A cordial invitation is extended to all.
Dodge County Republican, June 10, 1870, 1.

MINNESOTA STATE CONFERENCE. – THE next annual session of the Minnesota State Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, will be held at Wasioja in connection with the Camp-meeting, June 23-28, 1870. We hope every Church which now belongs or wishes to belong to the Conference will be represented by delegates. They should come prepared to give written reports of their standing their loses and additions during the year, also the yearly amount of the S. B. fund. We hope all the churches will send in their arrearages on S. B. fund to the close of the Conference year, and also come prepared to meet camp-meeting expenses.

MINNESOTA STATE CONF. COMMITTEE.
Review and Herald, May 17, 1870, 176.

WESTERN TOUR – TRIP UP THE MISSISSIPPI. – Fourth-day, June 24 [sic] (it was actually June 22), we left the good pilgrim’s tavern, at the home of Bro. and Sr. Higley, at 4 A. M., and hastened to Nora station, where we took the train at 4:40. The extreme drought fills the ears with black, prairie dust, which is very disagreeable. But we were soon, at Dunleith, where, about 9 A. M., we took the steamer Minnesota for Winona. Washed and brushed we entered upon our voyage up the Mississippi. The boat is a good one, and all connected with her seem attentive and kind. The clerk readily gave half-fare tickets to all preachers who give evidence that they are such. Our Michigan passes were sufficient proof that we were men worthy of their usual deductions. Mrs. W. found a special friend in the worthy stewardess.

We have, in our upward trip, met many, and very large, rafts of lumber drifting down the river. On them are erected board shanties in which the men cook and sleep. We observed, as we passed a large raft, in which there were probably forty men, one man swimming toward the steamer, while others were swinging their hats, and crying, “Papers!” These were immediately thrown overboard, and gathered up by the swimmer and taken to the raft. In a few moments these could be dried, ready to be read.

This gave Willie a new idea. He immediately went to my traveling bag for present-truth books and cord, and to the fireman for stone coal. Between two pamphlets he would tie a piece of coal, and as we passed within throwing distance, we would land the books quite on to the rafts. They were eagerly seized by the sturdy lumbermen. God bless the truth thus distributed.

As the sun sank behind the bluffs on the Iowa side, the air grew cooler, and the evening was delightful.

Image by RENE RAUSCHENBERGER from Pixabay

Our company was seated together in front of the clerk’s office, on the bow of the boat, when we struck up that good tune and hymn “Resting By and By”. This we did for our own diversion and devotion, not expecting to attract attention. But as soon as we had finished two verses, and paused, hands were clapped and feet were tapped, all around us, and as we looked around, our fellow-passengers were all gathered for ward, standing just over our shoulders, calling out “Give us some more!” “Try that again!”

“Resting By and By” refers to the early Advent hymn of that title:

When faint and weary toiling, The sweat-drops on my brow;
I long to rest from labor, To drop the burden now,
There comes a gentle chiding, To quell each mourning sigh:
“Work while the day is shining; There’s resting by and by.”

Chorus:
Resting by and by, There’s resting by and by;
We shall not always labor, We shall not always cry;
The end is drawing nearer, The end for which we sigh;
We’ll lay our heavy burdens down; There’s resting by and by.

This life to toil is given, And he improves it best
Who seeks by patient labor To enter into rest;
Then Pilgrim, worn and weary, Press on, the goal is nigh;
The prize is straight before thee There’s resting by and by.
(Chorus)

Nor ask when, overburdened, You long for friendly aid,
“Why idle stands my brother, No yoke upon him laid?”
The Master bids him tarry, And dare you ask him why?
“Go labor in my vineyard, There’s resting by and by.”
(Chorus)

Wan reaper in the harvest, Let this thy strength sustain,
Each sheaf that fills the garner Brings you eternal gain;
Then bear the cross with patience, To fields of duty hie;
‘Tis sweet to work for Jesus: There’s resting by and by.
(Chorus)

Words by Sydney Dyer, Music by Robert Lowry (1826-1899)
As Published in “Early Advent Singing”, James R. Nix
Review and Herald Publishing

We made an apology for disturbing them with our poor singing. We stated that we made no pretensions to good singing, and at present were hoarse from frequent speaking at camp-meetings the past week. But as they continued to call for more, we gave them two verses of the “Celestial Army”, and begged to be excused.

Passengers on these boats, after viewing the scenery, and chatting, finally desire changes. Some become hungry for intellectual food.

The feeble gentleman from Ohio, at this point, said to us, “It is rumored about this boat, Mr. White, that your wife is a public speaker, and every passenger will unite in a request for her to speak in the ladies’ cabin, if she will consent.” After a moment’s consultation as to the propriety of the thing, and the right subject, we returned an affirmative answer. Soon the seats were arranged, a short prayer offered, and Mrs. W. seized upon the great idea that God – his wisdom, love, and even his love of the beautiful – could be seen through the beauties of nature. The subject was made more interesting by reference to the grand and beautiful scenery of the day’s trip up the old Mississippi.

A more attentive audience we never saw. Nine in the evening came, and a dozen black-faced fellows were standing ready to prepare extra beds in the very room we were using as a chapel, so we closed, and sought rest for the night. Sweet rest, even upon a steamer, to those who are weary and worn of labor, is precious.

But we are towing a heavy barge alongside, and the captain thinks we shall be so retarded by it as not to connect with the train at Winona at 11:80 A. M. This will oblige us to stay in Winona nearly twenty-four hours, and reach the camp-ground in Wasioja too late on sixth-day to get all ready for the Sabbath.

But just now Willie sees the steamer Keokuk, as we draw near La Crosse, waiting for passengers to make her quick trip to meet the cars. In a few moments she must leave. And now we see the captain, and get him to promise to wait till we pick up, change five trunks, and hand baggage enough for ten passengers. To do this all must be carried across barges and boats quite a distance. Willie leads Bro. Littlejohn, and we take charge of the rest. Soon we find ourselves on the Keokuk, bag and baggage, and away steams the boat up the river.

Editor’s note: One might visualize the scene of the transition between the steamship Minnesota and that of Keokuk. Imagine the passengers and baggage being carried across the waters on barges and boats while Willie led Brother Littlejohn through it all – leading him because Littlejohn was blind!

The boat connects, and we are safely on the train, and comfortably situated. This is a fine train of new cars, manufactured at Worcester, Mass. We shall probably reach the camp this afternoon (fifth-day) in season to make preparations, and put up for the night at the Cotton Hotel.

MINNESOTA CAMP-MEETING. Fifth-day, June 22 [sic – it was actually June 23], we reached the Minnesota Camp-ground in season to pitch our tent, and make preparations for the night. Active and willing brethren assisted, and we were liberally furnished with everything to make us comfortable. The turn out is very large for Minnesota. There are nineteen family tents upon the ground, besides the large tent, the boarding tent, and eight or ten covered wagons in which many lodge. We were pained to learn that our much-esteemed Bro. S. Pierce was not expected to be at this meeting on account of sickness. May God bless him in his afflictions at home, and, if it be his will, raise him to health, to be a blessing to the cause in this State.

The first evening we spoke to a good congregation in the large tent. We took the position that the growing, spreading interest in the cause of present truth is a miracle of God’s power. That we are so pleasantly and happily situated on this ground, with sufficient interest in the cause to bring this body from different parts of the State, is a wonderful miracle. It is because God is in the work that his people hold on their way, and grow stronger and stronger.

It is admitted that men of learning and energy may build up a religious interest, provided the sentiments held do not require sacrifice of time, means, and the natural desires of the mind and heart. But let even learned and energetic men take their position on unpopular Bible truth; let them undertake to build up a religious interest which is full of sacrifices and crosses; let them take hold of the work in their strength, without God to help them, however learned and energetic they may be, they will make an utter failure.

The positions of Seventh-day Adventists are unpopular. The world is against us. Popular professors generally are ready to take a decided stand against us. The powers of darkness are ready to make war upon us. We have no ambition to rank among great men. We regard ourselves as small men, engaged, however, in a great work. And the only reason to be assigned why the cause of truth in our hands progresses, is because God’s hand is in it. We therefore conclude that we should have implicit confidence in God and in the message for this time; and should, with courage, press forward in the work to which God has called us.

Sixth-day, Bro. Littlejohn spoke in the morning, Mrs. W. in the afternoon, and we in the evening upon the subject of the kingdom. The social meetings of this day were very interesting. The brethren are settling into the work, and there is a good prospect of a glorious meeting. We find ourselves in the midst of an intelligent, energetic, and enterprising people. They bear much of the New-England stamp in these respects.

Sabbath morning. The weather is fine. The gathering of brethren is large. The morning meeting is deeply interesting. Confessions are being made. A shouting, exalted, self-righteous spirit in a few has been checked in a manner to have a good influence on the cause, and our social meetings are characterized with the sweet spirit of humility and love. The general prayer and conference meeting at 8 A. M., showed that the good work was still deepening in the hearts of the Lord’s people.