The premiere issue of The Barley Cake (Jan. 1881), the first North American assembly magazine, announced the fifth Hamilton, ON, conference. By inference the first was held in 1877.
Assessment of the conference, in the direct style of the editor, Donald Ross, followed in the February issue:
“A considerable number of Christians from the province were gathered together, including a few from the States, and, on the whole the meetings were larger than on any previous occasion. Many came with great expectations, and were not disappointed. They returned home saying: ‘This is the best Conference we have ever been at.’ Others who were away in heart from the Lord and knew it not, but imperfectly, if at all; have discovered where they were, and returned to Him from whom they wandered. Others, again, who were neither simple, nor humble, but nursing and cherishing something or other, that could not bear the searching Word of God, instead of being blessed and refreshed, have been fighting every inch of their ground, and have suffered an incalculable loss for the present, and possibly far-reaching into the future. It is an awful thing to be in a condition where God cannot bless His own.
“Sometimes the Word of God was in great power, searching and trying, but at the same time leading forth into the life and liberty of God. The cleansing and the feeding were going on together. ‘How good is the God we adore.’
Following this pointed review, the editor discusses the merits of an open platform over the arranged form, suggesting that unless ministry is prepared the day of the conference, like the manna, it will breed worms and stink! He then continues:
“The Saturday afternoon meeting was directed to reports about the work of God, and exceedingly interesting. Conversions all over, and there were calls for laborers in the Gospel from many quarters, as the country is opening up for the truth. There are, however, but few laborers to enter on the field. Some are not in a condition of soul for the work, and some are enamored with the fair prospect of money-making, and go in for that, while the largest number seem never to rise higher than their surroundings, and of course, some have no special gift for the work, for God did not mean that the whole body should be a mouth, though generally the lack of laborers is the result of low Spirituality…
“The last Gospel Meeting was held in the ‘Grand Opera House,’ a newly erected building, which holds 1500, but that evening between extra seats and standing, there would be, no doubt, between 1800 and 2000 people. The rush was such, the doors had to be closed up twenty minutes before the time. Hundreds on hundreds returned home, and many remained on the street in the frost and snow, and were addressed under the canopy of heaven. Several have professed to receive Christ in that last meeting. An intimation was given that a similar meeting would be held on the following Lord’s day evening in the same place, which also was crowded.
Mr. Ross concludes: “These Hamilton Conferences have been a very great blessing to the Lord’s people, and doubtless they shall continue so, as long as there is liberty to preach all God’s truth unreservedly, but should there ever be an effort made to select truth, and speak only such things as may suit ‘ears polite’ or half-hearted, or crooked Christians, then at once the power is gone. The Lord keep His saints feet; and encourage the downcast, raise the fallen, etc., through His own sent servants.”