Dates: May 27 – June 3, 1890
Location: Pleasant Park, Minneapolis, Hennepin Co., MN
Find it today: Map
At the time of this camp meeting, Pleasant Park was a developing area of Minneapolis bounded by 44th Street on the north, Nicollet Avenue on the east, 46th Street on the south and Pleasant Avenue on the west.
Historical Map: 1892 map of Minneapolis (courtesy University of Minnesota).
The baptisms: Camp meeting baptisms were conducted in Lake Harriet.
MINNESOTA CAMP-MEETING.
THE friends in Minnesota will notice that our meeting will be held this year earlier than usual. One reason for this decision lies in the fact that many, especially in the southern part of the State, have been deprived of the privilege of attending when the meetings were held later, on account of being engaged in raising small fruit, and the strawberry crop being ready to harvest about the middle of June. We hope the early date decided upon will be satisfactory to all. The planting season will be over, and haying season and the time for cultivating crops will not yet have been reached. So let one and all begin at once to make preparation to attend.
We hope that all the brethren and sisters will read carefully Eld. O. A. Olsen’s article in last week’s REVIEW, concerning camp-meetings. Let us not only prepare for the comfort of the outward man, but let us prepare our hearts to receive the seeds of truth that shall be sown, and for the reception of God’s blessing. The meeting will be held on the same grounds occupied last year. We expect to secure the usual railroad reduction. Full particulars in regard to railroads, and how to reach the grounds, etc., will be given in time. Those churches that have not held their quarterly meetings and elected delegates, should do so at once, and send the names of the delegates to Eld. D. P. Curtis, Hutchinson, Minn. Orders for tents should be sent to D. W. Emmerson, Box 989, Minneapolis, Minn. Tents will be furnished at the usual rate. The laborers in the Conference, and all others who can do so, should arrange to attend the workers’ meeting, which will begin May 20.
MINN. CONF. COM. – Review and Herald, April 29, 1890
Photo: Library of Congress cph 3c18094
RAILROAD FARE TO THE MINNESOTA CAMPMEETING.
THE following roads have granted us a rate of one and one-third fare, on the usual certificate plan : B. C. R. & N.; C. & N. W.; C. M. & St. P.; C. St. P. M. & O.; C. St. P. K. C.; M. & St. L.; C. B. & N.; the Nor. Pac.; “Soo” Line; St. P. & D.; Eastern Minnesota, and all lines of the Great Northern or Manitoba.
Please notice that in every case, in order to secure the benefit of reduced rates, it will be necessary to obtain a certificate of the agent or agents where you buy tickets coming to the camp-meeting. This certificate states that you have paid full fare coming, and it must be preserved and handed to Eld. D. P. Curtis, Secretary of the Conference, for his indorsement [sic]. When presented to the agents of the different roads here in Minneapolis, it will entitle you to return tickets for one-third fare. I make this explanation so that all may understand the importance of securing certificates or receipts. When coming over two or more roads, always buy local tickets over each road, and secure certificates from each agent, except in the case of the C. & N. W., and the C. St. P. M. & O. Those coming on those lines by way of Kasota can buy through tickets, as the same certificate will be honored on both roads. The C. & N. W. Road east of Kasota, will honor certificates at the following junction points: Waseca, Owatonna, Dodge Center, Zumbrota, and Rochester. The C. M. & St. Paul Road will honor certificates at Mankato for those living on the Wells Branch, so as to enable them to come the most direct way. We have no arrangement with the Duluth, Redwing, and Southern as yet, for reduced fare over their part of the line from Rochester, but we hope to make such arrangement. Those coming to the workers’ meeting on Monday and after will get the benefit of the reduction.
As stated in a former article, the meeting will be held on the same ground as last year, and will be reached by the steam motor. The cars start from the city at the corner of Washington and First Aves. south. Passengers will have to change cars at 31st St. Junction, where they will take the Washburn Park train and go to 44th St., which is at the corner of the camp-ground. Those who come to the workers’ meeting should bring their baggage checks to the grounds and deliver them to D. W. Emmerson, and the baggage will be delivered by team.
Let all observe these directions carefully.
ALLEN MOON. – Review and Herald, May 13, 1890
MORE ABOUT THE MINNESOTA CAMPMEETING.
TUESDAY, May 27, will be the opening day of the meeting, and we have appointed the first session of the Conference to be held on that day. The delegates should all be present at the first meeting, at 9 A. M.; and in order to do so, they should come on Monday. We are planning to get the business of the Conference all done before the Sabbath. Hence we design to begin earlier in the week than usual. We hope the brethren and sisters will aid us in this, so that we may have the time of the last part of the meeting to devote entirely to other matters of interest that should come before the meeting.
We wish we could say something to encourage all our people to attend the camp-meeting; for we confidently expect the Lord to meet with his people, and that it will be a season of spiritual blessing to all who attend.
MINN. CONF. Com. – Review and Herald, May 20, 1890
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS.
Sabbath Day Exercises at the Camp Ground – Sabbath School Organized.
Yesterday was the great day of the feast at the Adventist camp ground, it being their Sabbath, They begin its observance at sundown Friday evening and close at sunset Saturday. Accordingly all meetings were stopped at 5 o’clock Friday to give the people opportunity to get ready for the Sabbath. For an hour or so there was a perfect rush at the grocery, and its contents fast disappeared. The first important service of the day was the Sabbath school at 9 o’clock. Rev. M. H. Brown, of Wisconsin, superintendent of Sabbath schools in district four, had charge. The school was organized into classes of from six to ten persons each. At the same time the Scandinavians and Germans were holding school in their respective tents. The entire membership of the school was 600.
After the Sunday school exercises missionary services were held, $53.41 was collected towards a missionary ship for use in the islands of the Pacific. Revival services were then held and about 200 responded. At 5 o’clock Elder Farnsworth gave his farewell discourse. It was a review of the history of the cause, covering the origin and development of the Seventh Day Adventists. At the close of his address the elder left for Lincoln, Neb. At its closing meeting the conference elected R. C. Porter, president; C. N. Woodward, treasurer, and D. P. Curtis, secretary. The first two named are from Minneapolis.
The Minneapolis Tribune, June 1, 1890
THE LAST DAY.
The Seventh Day Adventists Held Their Closing Session Yesterday.
Yesterday morning the campus at the Adventist camp at Pleasant Park were awakened about 5 o’clock by the stentorian voice of someone saying, “Brethren get up and help with the staking of the tents, a storm is coming.” A second invitation was not needed and soon everything was bustle and activity. The storm spent its fury, however, in a heavy rain, which did no damage beyond making things disagreeable for the time being.
Yesterday was the last day of the meeting and several meetings were held in rapid succession. The Sabbath school association held a session at 9, and after completing its business adjourned sine die. The Health and Temperance followed with a meeting and elected officers for the coming year as follows: President, C. W. Flary, of Detroit, Minn.; secretary and treasurer, Mrs. A. D. West, Litchfield. Minn. The meeting then adjourned sine die.
Elder E. H. Gates spoke to a large congregation at 10:30 upon the subject of baptism, showing its importance to the entering upon a Christian life. At the close of the meeting 43 candidates presented themselves for baptism and the ordinance was administered to them in the afternoon at Lake Harriet by Elders Hill, Bliss and Martin.
Last evening A. R. Henry, of Battle Creek, spoke and this morning at 5:30 was held the farewell meeting. Then commences the breaking up of camp and the departure of those who have been in attendance. Some will remain to do the unfinished work and in a few days the cotton city, which sprang up almost in a day, will be a thing of the past, and nothing will remain save the influence of the meeting.
The ministers and other laborers have been assigned their different fields of labor and go from this meeting to engage in another year’s work, profited by their being together.
The Minneapolis Tribune, June 3, 1890
MINNESOTA CAMP-MEETING
I reached the camp the second day of the workers’ meeting, and found a goodly number of tents pitched, and most of the laborers of the State on the ground. Elds. E. W. Farnsworth, M. H. Brown, O. A. Johnson, and H. R. Johnson were also present. Bro. F. S. Mead, district canvassing agent, held a canvassers’ class each day of the workers’ meeting, and Eld. R. C. Porter held a meeting in the interests of Religious Liberty.
Interesting health and temperance meetings were conducted by Brn. Flaiz and Phelps. Altogether, the workers’ meeting was a profitable one. There were 138 tents on the ground, and about 600 campers. Although it rained nearly every day or night of the meeting, scarcely a meeting was lost on this account. Two or three times the campers were aroused at night to prepare for an approaching wind, but no serious damage was done.
Minister’s meetings were held nearly every day, and it was here that the key-note of the meeting was struck. The duties of ministers to one another, and the importance of having God’s Spirit to support their efforts, were dwelt upon. God came tenderly near to his servants, and hearts were drawn together as mutual confessions and promises were made. The preaching was largely of a practical nature, and the people seemed hungry for it, which made it a pleasure to break to them the bread of life. At the early morning meetings many testified that precious light had come to them, which had shown them better how to be overcomers. Eld. O. A. Johnson and brother held daily meetings with the Scandinavians, of whom there was a goodly number on the ground; and Elds. Shrock and Leer, with the German brethren. Eld. M. H. Brown had charge of the Sabbath-school work, and held daily meetings with the young people. These were precious meetings, and deep impressions were made on the minds of the youth, a number of whom gave their hearts to the Lord.
The meetings of the Conference and other societies passed off pleasantly and harmoniously. All the members of the Conference committee were retained, and Eld. R. C. Porter was elected president. Bro. A. R. Henry spoke once in the interest of Union College, and quite an amount was pledged to carry forward that enterprise.
As the meeting drew near its close, the spiritual interest grew deeper. On the Sabbath the Lord drew very near to his people. After a discourse by Eld. Farnsworth, on the Laodicean message, an invitation was given to those who wanted to seek God for a new consecration, to come forward to the front seats. Not less than 200 responded without any urging, many of whom were seeking God for the first time. The good work was continued during the afternoon, and many told, with grateful tears, of God’s goodness to them, and of their purpose to be his children. On Sunday there was a fair attendance from the city, to listen to evidences of the present truth, and I trust good impressions were made. On Monday morning, notwithstanding a heavy rain was falling and the pavilion was leaking badly, nearly all in the camp came together, and were instructed concerning their duty to bring in their tithes, and on other features of the Lord’s work. By a rising vote, nearly every one promised, for the coming year, to carry out the Bible requirement to pay tithes.
After a sermon on baptism and the necessity of a death to sin, forty-two dear souls followed their Saviour in that solemn rite. As they rose from the water, many praised God aloud for the tokens of his love. At the parting meeting a large number testified that this was the best meeting ever held in the State.
Thus closed another precious season of refreshment, and the laborers go forth to their fields with renewed courage and, we trust, greater power to push the triumphs of the cross. May the experiences gained here never be forgotten, but may such occasions be more and more frequent till the day of God.
E. H. GATES – Review and Herald, June 17, 1890
MINNESOTA TRACT SOCIETY PROCEEDINGS.
THE eighteenth annual session of the Minnesota Tract Society was held in connection with the annual camp-meeting at Pleasant Park, Minneapolis, Minn., May 27 to June 3, 1890. …
ALLEN MOON, Pres.; C. N. WOODWARD, Sec. – Review and Herald, June 24, 1890