Ellen G. White: The Lonely Years: 1876-1891 (vol. 3)

The Kansas Camp Meeting

The camp meeting opened on Thursday, May 22, and was attended by about three hundred believers (Manuscript 5, 1879), some thirty of whom drove two hundred miles in their wagons to attend. That day the wagons in the White caravan also drove onto the grounds. The weather was good, and there was a reasonably good attendance of the citizens of Emporia. Ellen White began her ministry the first day, joining her husband and J. O. Corliss. At the request of the General Conference, G. I. Butler was there, and on Friday reinforcements were present from Battle Creek. W. C. White was there in the interests of the Sabbath school work being developed in the State conferences, and Dr. J. H. Kellogg came, representing the health and temperance work and to assist in organizing a Health and Temperance Society in Kansas. 3BIO 117.4

The American Health and Temperance Association had been formed in Battle Creek in January, with the intention of drawing Seventh-day Adventists together in an effective organization promoting both health and temperance. The Kansas camp meeting offered the first opportunity to launch the program in the field. 3BIO 117.5

In his Review report, Butler noted that “Sister White bore a very plain testimony to the people, especially on the great subject of health reform, which is regarded so lightly by many. Her instruction was excellent.”—The Review and Herald, June 12, 1879. A week later Dr. Kellogg also referred to the start made in Kansas: 3BIO 118.1

At the recent camp meeting in Kansas, the subject of health and temperance reform was presented so forcibly by Brother and Sister White that a great interest was aroused, which resulted in the formation of a State temperance society there, 109 names being taken on the ground.—Ibid., June 19, 1879 3BIO 118.2

For two years or more, Ellen White's addresses to the Sunday afternoon crowds at camp meetings were along temperance lines. What took place in Kansas and then throughout the land in the formation of health and temperance societies through the camp meeting season of 1879 were but a natural development. The camp meeting held in southern Missouri followed immediately the Kansas meeting, with much the same staff of workers leading out. Dr. Kellogg gave this report in the Review: 3BIO 118.3

At the Missouri meeting, the subject was again presented, and with still greater success.... A society of 132 members being organized, including two thirds of all the persons on the ground, and nearly all the adults. 3BIO 118.4

Kellogg added that plans for the formation of State and local organizations were now perfected, and he expected that soon every State would have its health and temperance society, and every church its health and temperance club. 3BIO 118.5

In his report Butler told of the Sunday morning meeting, when a strong effort was made in behalf of the health reform and the temperance cause. He noted: 3BIO 118.6

Sister White had pointed reproofs for us because of our backslidden condition on this subject. She spoke very solemnly, and represented our condition as being grievous in the sight of God, because we have not made better use of the light we have had.—Ibid. 3BIO 118.7

The next morning those attending the camp meeting formed the temperance association. “A precious meeting,” Butler wrote of it, a meeting in which “the Lord's Spirit was present, and many were deeply affected.” 3BIO 118.8

James White had planned that, after spending a few days at the Kansas camp meeting, he and his party would turn west and rejoin the wagon train bound for Colorado. Instead, they were persuaded to press on east and attend the Missouri meeting, and then head for Battle Creek. 3BIO 119.1

James and Ellen White had vowed to avoid camp meetings, but having attended two, they now had the camp meeting fever in their systems. How quickly were forgotten the bold declarations of not attending camp meetings. Their trip to Colorado was postponed. The business of the disposal of the teams of horses and mules and ponies in Colorado was left to others. To James White it was an easy and quick switch, and to Ellen White the end of a perplexing experience. 3BIO 119.2

Wednesday afternoon, June 4, 1879, James and Ellen White lighted from the train in Battle Creek, having made the trip overnight from Missouri. The note in the Review announcing their arrival remarked on the good degree of health and strength James White evidenced. He spoke in the Tabernacle at the commencement of the Sabbath, June 6, and again Sabbath morning and afternoon. 3BIO 119.3

Sunday evening both James and Ellen White spoke in the Tabernacle to a large congregation at a temperance rally, and the “teetotal pledge” was circulated and signed. On Wednesday evening another temperance meeting was held. The next morning they were off for camp meetings in the West (Ibid.). These included meetings in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Dakota. The latter, their sixth camp meeting of the season, was followed with the long-looked-forward-to break, a quick visit to the nearby mountains of Colorado, which gave opportunity for nearly four weeks’ change. Letters written from there bear such datelines as Boulder, White's Ranch, and Rollinsville, and report evangelistic work in these places. 3BIO 119.4