North Texas Camp Meeting by J. L. SHAW

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 7, 1916

North Texas Camp Meeting

By J. L. SHAW

THE camp meeting of the North Texas Conference was held on the Chautauqua grounds at Waxahachie, a town of some nine thousand inhabitants, about thirty miles from Keene, and also from Dallas and Ft. Worth. Camp meetings were held at Waxahachie in the early days of the message in Texas, the last one being about seventeen years ago.

The grounds were well suited for the meetings, a stream of water and many shade trees adding to the comfort of the campers. A large pavilion in which the meetings were held provided good protection from the heat. About three hundred people were encamped on the ground. This was a smaller number than attended the meeting last year, but the fruit harvest and other farm duties kept some away.

A harmonious and earnest spirit was manifest from the beginning. Elder J. W. Christian, the president of the Southwestern Union Conference, entered heartily into the interests of the meeting. His labors were much appreciated by all. Prof. C. M. Sorenson was warmly welcomed by his many friends in Texas who knew him formerly as Bible teacher at Keene Academy and as ministerial laborer in this part of the field. The writer enjoyed meeting with our brethren and sisters of the North Texas Conference and placing before them our foreign mission interests. We were thankful for the response made to the appeals for help. Several fathers and mothers spoke with deep feeling, of their sons and daughters who are laboring for the Master in far-off lands. These gray-haired supporters of our mission work are not sorry for the sacrifices they have made.

One father who said good-by on the camp ground to his second son, bound for the mission field, said: “I have a third son who is willing and ready to go. He is my last. I have given him to God, and I shall not say No when the call comes for him to go.”

An effort was made toward raising the debt on Keene Academy. Arrangements were made for the sale of about a thousand copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” the proceeds to be applied on the debt of the academy, or rather of the Junior College; for the name of the institution has now been changed from Keene Academy to Southwestern Junior College, and it is planned as soon as possible to offer full fourteen grades of school work.

A good supply of various denominational books had been brought to the camp meeting, and fully a thousand dollars’ worth were sold. Donations to foreign missions amounted to about $1,500.

Elder J. I. Taylor, who has labored in Texas for many years, and has served the conference as president for the past three years, felt very strongly that a change of president should be made. Brother Taylor’s labors have made for him a large place in the hearts of the brethren and sisters of the conference. Elder David Voth, of the Colorado Conference, was chosen president. He is well known to many in the conference, and he enters upon his work with the loyal support of all.

Many, both young and old, consecrated themselves to God. The outlook for the work in the North Texas Conference is encouraging. As ministers and people make the winning of souls their determined and constant aim, many souls will be won to the truth. J. L. SHAW.