Dates: June 16 – 21, 1880
Location: Pierce’s Grove, Lake Calhoun (Bde Maka Ska),
Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN
Find it today: Map
Historical map: 1892 map of Lake Calhoun area – see upper left section with property marked as “T. W. Pierce” near the number “46” (map courtesy of the University of Minnesota).
The camp: Pierce’s Grove was on the northwest side of Lake Calhoun, just south west of North Beach – about where the Lake Calhoun Center and soccer field are today.
The Depot: Cedar Lake Station. See a photo of the station.
The baptisms: Camp meeting baptisms were conducted in Lake Calhoun.
HOW TO GET TO THE MINNESOTA CAMP-MEETING BY RAILROAD.
TICKETS to the Minnesota camp-meeting and return, good from the 10th to the 25th of June, inclusive, will be sold for one full fare and one fifth, or sixty per cent of the full fare both ways, at the stations named, on the several railroads, as follows: The West Wisconsin, at Menomonee, Wilson, New Richmond. Those coming on this road will change at St. Paul, to the St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Manitoba, and come to Minneapolis. On the northern branch of this road, at West Union, Sauk Center, and St. Cloud, and on the southern branch, at Benson, Litchfield, Dassel, and Howard. On the St. Paul and Sioux City, at Luverne, Madelia, Mankato, Ottawa, and Le Sueur. On the Minneapolis and St. Louis, at Albert Lea, and all stations from there to Minneapolis. Those who come on this road, and the southern line of the St. P., M. & M. Road, can get off at Cedar Lake, close by the campground, by speaking to the conductors on the trains.
Those who come into the city from other directions, will find a steam motor starting from the post-office, on Hennepin Avenue, and running out to Calhoun Lake every hour, and there connecting with a boat crossing the lake to the camp-ground. By special arrangement, the fare on this road will be 20 cts. each way, in companies of five. Single tickets, 25 cents. Those having baggage, can come up to the grounds, and get teams to convey it from the depot to the camp.
H. GRANT, Pres. – Review and Herald, May 27, 1880
MINNESOTA CAMP-MEETING.
THIS meeting will be held at Calhoun Lake, three miles from the city of Minneapolis, on the grounds occupied last year, and will commence on Wednesday evening, June 16. The location is a pleasant one, and easy of access from all parts of the Conference, and we earnestly request the brethren of all the churches, and the, scattered brethren throughout the Conference, to make a vigorous effort to come to the meeting. We hope that our Scandinavian brethren will make a special effort to attend, as there will be able brethren present to give them instruction in their own languages. Brethren, come in season to be all ready to commence work at the first meeting, and come prepared to stay till the meeting closes. Come with a full determination to seek the Lord earnestly, and devote the time of the meeting to the work of drawing near to the Lord, that he may draw near to us, and grant us a refreshing.
Hay and grain will be furnished on the ground at as reasonable rates as they can be afforded, and the stand will be stocked with necessary provisions.
Arrangements have been completed with the following named railroads, to carry those coming to the camp-meeting at reduced fare; viz., West Wisconsin, St. P., M. & M., St P. & S. C., & S. C. & St. P., M. St. L.; and negotiations are pending with the C. M. & St. P. Co.,which, it is hoped will result in securing the same over its lines. If successful, notice will be given next week. For particulars, see notice given in last week’s paper.. We hope for competent help from the General Conference. – CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
THE Minnesota S. D. A. Conference will hold its next annual session on the camp-ground at Calhoun Lake, near Minneapolis. All the ministers, and officers of the Conference, and the delegates from the churches, are earnestly requested, to be upon the ground, if possible, on Friday, the 11th of June, that the business of the Conference may be so arranged and forwarded as not to interfere with the religious interests of the camp-meeting. The delegates are requested to pass in their credentials to the Secretary, Eld. D. P. Curtis, immediately on their arrival on the ground. – H. GRANT, Pres.
THE Minnesota T. and M. Society will hold its annual session on the camp-ground, near Minneapolis, in connection with the camp-meeting, June 16- 21. The directors and secretaries are requested, as far as possible, to be on the ground as early as the 11th, to arrange business, and prepare for the religious exercises of the camp-meeting. – H. GRANT, Pres.
THE Minnesota Health and Temperance Association will hold its first annual session on the camp-ground, in connection with the other general meetings of the Minnesota Conference, June 16-21. – H. GRANT, Pres.
Review and Herald, May 27, 1880; June 3, 1880; June 10, 1880
MINNESOTA CAMP-MEETING. THOSE who come on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad will pay full fare from the stations where they get on, to Minneapolis, and will receive from the Secretary of the Conference certificates on which they can return for one-fifth fare, the same as on the other roads.
H. GRANT. – Review and Herald, June 10, 1880
The Adventist camp meeting, commencing at Lake Calhoun on Wednesday last, and continuing for ten days, will prove a big bonanza for Col. McCrory and his Lyndale road.
Minneapolis Tribune, Sunday, June 13, 1880
MODES OF WORSHIP
And the Seventh-Day Adventist’s Campmeeting the Center of Gravitation.
THE CAMP MEETING. – The crowds yesterday gravitated towards the Seventh Day Advent Camp meeting in Pierce’s grove on the shores of Lake Calhoun. They went by the Lyndale railroad, and crowded the steamer Hattie to the gaurds, and in every imaginable kind of a vehicle and from every direction. They were of all classes, sex and ages, with a preponderance perhaps of the number who find daily labor in mills, factories, workshops and kitchens, their relentless task master. There were men and maidens alone, in groups and couples; whole families from grand parents down to children in arms; lovers in countless numbers and in all degrees of spooniness. As a whole it must be said that the company was orderly. No disturbance occurred anywhere, and the perfect order and respect on the camp meeting grounds was particularly noticeable.
Under the PECULIAR TENANTS of the belief of the Seventh Day Adventists, there [sic] refreshment stand and book store were in full blast and did a thriving business.
The extent of the crowd was quite beyond anticipation. Though the number of tents on the ground was less by nearly one half than last year fully 500 people by actual count occupied them during the night proceeding Sunday. The crowd that visited the grounds during the day must have reached well nigh 10,000, and came and went in endless procession.
The Adventists seized, upon the opportunity and Elders Butler and Corliss piled sermon upon sermon, in which the faith that is in them, and their peculiar and especial beliefs, were the principal themes. They were earnest, and did not fail of holding the interest of a considerable number of the outsiders. The day’s events are more fully detailed by THE TRIBUNE’S correspondent on the grounds, as follows:
THE DAY IN CAMP. – A quiet night: another morning lovely beyond description. All things unite to make a delightful time. Light and air and lovliness [sic], peace, joy and love. The birds still sing in the branches, and do not seem to be afraid of new comers – the birds were here first and mean to stay last. Very pleasant weather: no rain, no oppressive heat, no dust as yet. No disturbing element. The mosquitoes made a desperate assault one night, but were repelled by fire, and although they still send out skirmishers, and keep up their picket guards, they do not molest us much. A whipperwill [sic] visited the camp last night, the only disturbing sound that broke the silence of the night. Your correspondent thinks,
“Why whip poor Will? What has he done
And who is Will, I pray?
If all should meet their just deserts
Who would ‘scape whipping? None.”
and then falls into peaceful sleep again but rises at four and enjoys to the full for a few seconds the exceeding peace and beauty of the scene. Then falls to work as in duty bound to let your readers know what is going on in their immediate vicinity.
THE MORNING SERV1CE. – At 5:30 the meeting was largely devoted to explaining the state and wants of their various large and flourishing institutions. The college, publishing houses, sanitarium, etc., and interesting, or endeavoring to interest all in growth and prosperity of the same. Breakfast comes next, and social worship comes at 8 and meeting at the stand at 9, and committee meetings nearly all the spare minutes.
Some of the citizens of Minneapolis have been here every day and have by their order, quietness and respectful bearing fully sustained the reputation of the “City of the Falls,” as being the Boston of the west, the center of western courtesy and culture.
THE CHARITIES. – A social meeting occurred at 8 A. M. in the section tents, and at 9 A. M. a continuation of the subject of the institutions. The Sanitarium was dwelt on. It is a large well-appointed building of five stories, for the care and cure of the sick. It has 225 rooms pays $1,200 interest, the same in insurance bills employs constantly five first-class hygenic physicians, and seventy-five helpers, and has given $5,000 in treatment to the poor. Elder Corliss appeals to our people to help keep up this institution in its best possible condition, as a place where their poor and sick people and preachers may find a place where they may secure the best of care and treatment when they are sick. Also many persons of moral worth and culture are brought into the faith of this people while attending this institution.
THE SERMON. – At 10:30 a sermon was delivered by Elder J. O. Corliss, from Revelations, 2d chapter, 20th verse: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” It was listened to with great attention. “Behold a stranger at the door,” was sung at the close of the meeting, and with the benediction, the people dispersed to their one o’clock lunch. I saw no fires made for cooking dinner, all seemed satisfied with a plentiful lunch prepared the day before. At 2:30 P. M. another sermon was delivered by Elder Butler, from Luke, chapter 9, verse 23: “If any man will come after me let him take up his cross and follow me.” He dwelt at some length on the theme that we must preach self denial, must expect trials and persecutions. They were God’s appointment. We must learn the lesson that the “only way to heaven was through self denial.” And after all how little we have done for the cause of Christ. He spoke of our sacrifices seeming large in our own eyes, but at the last it would not seem so. And of what Christ had done for us, ”I gave, I gave my life for thee what hast thou given to me?” He closed with an earnest appeal to those who had never made a profession, and to all who were not satisfied with their present cold and backslidden condition, to come forward for prayers. A large number responded, and they had an impressive season of prayer. The general meeting was then dismissed.
AN EXTRA SERVICE. – So large and unexpected was the assemblage, after the close of the 2:30 P.M. service, that although Elders Butler and Corliss, who have preached alternately three times a day since Wednesday, determined to have another sermon, and in about half an hour the bell rings again and Elder Corliss, after having preached the long and able sermon this forenoon, comes to the stand to deliver a discourse on “Who changed the Sabbath?” Echo answers who? He tells the people that Christ never changed the Sabbath. The Saviour told the disciples that one jot or one tittle shall not pass from the law till all be fulfilled. What be fulfilled? The prophecies of course. Have the prophecies all been fulfilled yet? No. Then if the Bible is true – and one jot or tittle has not passed from the laws – of course the Sabbath has never been changed by the Savior or his apostles. But the Bible tells us of a power that was to come to change times and laws. That power was the papal power – the pope of Rome changed the Sabbath. He is the one who exalted himself above all that is called God – and the Catholics claim that their church changed the Sabbath and charge Protestants, and justly too, of inconsistency in accepting their change of the Sabbath, for which they do not even claim to have Bible authority. And then rejecting various other doctrines of equal authority with the Sunday Sabbath. Time and space would fail to give an idea of this sermon, which was delivered with a fervor and energy, which would have gained universal attention if the beauty of the outside surroundings had not tempted many merry-hearted and careless ones to wander around to see and be, seen.
At 7:30 Elder Corliss speaks from John 15, 8: “That ye bear much fruit.” Some do not believe in making much sacrifice for their religion. The true spirit of Christ is in bearing fruit. Luke l0th chapter 26th verse shows that a man must sacrifice everything that stands between us and our duty to Him. The original means if a man does not love all else less than Me, he cannot be my disciple. We must love the service of the Lord Jesus Christ more than all these – yea, and His own life even.
“Whatever passes as a veil between
The mental eye of faith and things unseen:
Causing that brighter world to disappear
And seem less lovely or its hope less dear:
This is our God, our idol, though it were
Affliction’s impress, or devotion’s air.”
If we do not bear the cross, we are not Christ’s disciple – disciple means a learner; if we love anything more than God – we are not learning of Christ; for he showed his love by keeping all his Father’s commandments and sacrificing all the glory of heaven, for sinners; so we must do – whosoever cometh to me must forsake all and follow me. It costs something to be a Christian. Some sing, “Jesus died and paid it all – all the debt I owe; nothing either great or small remains for me to do,” with great delight, and seem to think that Christ was the only one who was to sacrifice, while we do nothing.
THE END. – A large attendance was at the evening session which was not less interesting than its predecessors, the lamps sharing the lighting obligation with a full moon. To-day will practically be the last day of the meeting though camp will not be broken until Tuesday morning. Though the number of campers has not been so large as last year, the meetings have attracted a larger crowd from the city, thanks to the TRIBUNE, which has almost exclusively presented the doings of the meeting.
The Minneapolis Tribune, Monday, June 21, 1880
THE MINNESOTA CAMP-MEETING.
Courtesy of the
Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.
By Eld. Geo. I. Butler. This meeting, like the one in Wisconsin, was not nearly as large as it would have been but for the heavy rains in the Northwest, which have made the upper Mississippi the highest known for twenty years, and destroyed much property. The number encamped on the ground was upwards of four hundred and fifty. The place of meeting was very pleasant – the same as last year – and the weather most beautiful.
Most of those present were strangers to me, though a few years ago I was well acquainted with most of the brethren in the State. This is because of the large increase in numbers of the Sabbath-keepers in this Conference. Perhaps in no other has there been such a rapid growth.
The preaching was plain, and well received. A spirit of solemnity and seriousness succeeded the somewhat light and frivolous spirit manifested by some at the beginning of our meeting. An effort was made to impress upon all the nearness and certainty of the Judgment, and the importance of the religion of Jesus Christ, plain and simple as he taught it himself. If we as a people are backslidden and far from God, it is simply because we have failed to live out the principles Jesus our Saviour taught and practiced. There is no other way by which we can climb up and succeed in entering into the desired haven. There is no new patent which will bring us to the end victorious. The self-denying, cross-bearing way alone leads to the pearly gates.
On the Sabbath nearly two-thirds of the congregation came forward for prayers, between two and three hundred, at least. The meetings in the tents were most interesting and profitable, and real good was accomplished. On Monday, also, nearly as many came forward, and a good work was done. Eighteen were baptized.
Sunday there was a smaller attendance, I think, than at any meeting I have attended this year. We did the best we could, however, to interest those who came. The camp being several miles from the city, and few who lived there having teams, it was difficult to get to the meeting.
At this camp-meeting about $1,300 in pledges and money was raised for our institutions, and good was accomplished by presenting before the people the importance of these institutions. The Spirit of the Lord witnessed to the work, and all seemed cheerful and happy while pledging liberally for the cause. This effect is always seen when our people take hold to support our institutions. Being so closely connected with the cause, their prosperity is identical with the prosperity of the cause. One of the first things to be done as prosperous times return is to free our College and Tabernacle from debt, and to relieve the Office and Sanitarium from the pressure under which they have labored during the hard times. Our people have given liberally to stablish these institutions, and God has made them a great blessing to the cause, and has blessed the donors. And he still blesses those who labor for their prosperity. So we have found wherever we have tried it this season. Many of those who pledged for the support of these enterprises had never before taken stock in them. Such persons will love these institutions more, now that they have something invested in them. We also raised about $200 on a tent and camp-meeting fund.
It did not require special urging to secure these pledges. They were obtained simply by showing the relation these institutions sustain to the cause, and by appealing to the reason and consciences of the brethren. The means flowed freely from the heart, and was cheerfully given. God will bless the cheerful giver.
Our meeting closed with the best of feeling. Many said it was the best camp-meeting they had attended for years. At the last, the business matters dragged so as to somewhat injure the interest; but on the whole we had an excellent meeting which I trust will be of profit to the cause.
June 25, 1880 (date of letter) – Reported Review and Herald, July 1, 1880