Northfield 1886
From Missiopedia
Northfield 1886 is the common way of referring to a notable Bible camp hosted by D. L. Moody in July 1886 at Mt. Hermon. 251 students from 89 colleges of the United States and Canada came to spend four weeks in Bible study.
The camp was attended by Robert Wilder, who had come with a deep conviction that from the gathering God would call 100 men to dedicate themselves to foreign missions. He called together those attendees who seriously considering a missionary calling. Some 21 students gathered at his invitation. Although several of them had not definitely decided, they began to pray together that missions would pervade the Conference, and that the Lord would separate many men unto this great work. On the evening of July 16th a special mass meeting was held, at which D. L. Moody's friend, the Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, gave a thrilling address on missions. He encouraged the men that "all should go, and go to all." This was the keynote, which set many men to thinking and praying.
Robert Wilder persuaded D. L. Moody and the other camp organizers to permit the students to organize a missions night. He found ten students--some foreigners, and some the children of missionaries (as he himself was)--to give addresses. It became known as the "Meeting of Ten Nations" and was a pivotal moment. Each address was not more than three minutes long, being primarily an appeal for more workers. Near the close, each speaker repeated in the language of his country the words, "God is love." Then came a season of silent and audible prayer. From this night on, the missionary interest became more and more intense. Dr. Ashmore, who had just returned from China, added fuel to the flame by his ringing appeal to Chrisitans to look upon "missions as a way of conquest, and not as a mere wrecking expedition."
Only eight days elapsed between the "meeting of ten nations" and the closing session of the Conference. During that time the number of volunteers increased from twenty-one to exactly one hundred, who signified that they were "willing and desirous, God permitting, to become foreign missionaries." In addition, several of the remaining one hundred and fifty delegates became volunteers later, after months of study and prayer.
- See the list of the Original 100 Student Volunteers.
On the last day of the Conference the volunteers held a meeting, feeling that the missionary spirit which had been manifested with such power at the conference should be shared to some degree with the thousands of students throughout the country who had not been privileged to be there. They believed the reasons which had led the first 100 to decide would influence hundreds of other college men, if those reasons were once presented to them in a faithful, intelligent, and prayerful manner.
Naturally, they thought of the Cambridge Seven and its wonderful influence among the universities of Great Britain; and decided to adopt a similar plan. A deputation of four students was selected to represent the Mt. Hermon Conference, and to visit during the year as many American colleges as possible. Of the four selected, only one was able to undertake the mission--Robert Wilder. Mr. John Forman, who had co-founded the Princeton Foreign Mission Society with Wilder, was persuaded to join the tour as well. Thus the Student Volunteer Movement was born.
