The Florida Camp Meeting by J. O. CORLISS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 18, 1915

The Florida Camp Meeting

By J. O. CORLISS

ONE encouraging feature of the Florida camp meeting lay in the fact that the evening services were well attended by citizens of St. Petersburg, where the camp was located. The discourses, too, were of a character to impress favorably candid minds.

Elder G. B. Thompson was present, and labored earnestly in behalf of the spiritual welfare of all. Personally, I greatly enjoyed his association in the work. I was also more than glad to meet my old-time coworker in camp meetings, Elder Geo. I. Butler. Although well along in years, his earnest appeals were as his earlier efforts, in behalf of more and stronger devotion to the message of preparation for the Master's return. Elders Montgomery and Heckman also labored untiringly for the success of the meetings. Something of the influence of the services on the people in general is shown by the fact that after an inspiring talk of thirty minutes by Elder Butler, more than one hundred testimonies of praise were given in about twelve minutes. It was good to be present.

All the workers on the ground were kept very busy looking after the tasks assigned them. Elder Martin kept the daily papers well supplied with the interesting features of the meetings, Elder Heald led the music, while Professor Thiel and Mrs. Gregory kept the young people's meetings alive with fresh, stirring matter. Then there were meetings

for instruction in canvassing, home missionary work, and on health subjects.

The statistics of the conference as reported were very encouraging. There had been one hundred and thirty-four members added to the churches by baptism, and two new churches added to the conference. Three new houses of worship had been dedicated, giving each church in the conference, with a single exception, its own place for meetings.

The tithe advanced for the year to nearly $1,000 more than any previous year, while the excess of the weekly twenty-cent offerings ran above $1,600. In addition, the offerings in the camp Sabbath school, and in response to foreign mission appeals, amounted to nearly $4,000. On the whole, the Florida people proved themselves to have generous hearts, and we may well believe that God will reward them according to his rich promises.

J. O. CORLISS.