p. 17 | Washington by J. F. Piper; S. N. Rittenhouse

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

Washington

By J. F. Piper; S. N. Rittenhouse

SEATTLE.— The Sunday following the close of our camp meeting in Tacoma, Wash., found the large pavilion up and seated, ready to begin our meetings in Seattle. Arrangements had previously been made for a location as near the business section of the city as possible. We feel that the Lord especially blessed in the securing of our location, as it was in a place visible from many car lines; thus our tent stood as a monument of truth before thousands of people.

The attendance was good, it being difficult many times to find seats for all who came. It was encouraging, too, to see night after night the same faces. The very best attention was given, as the results of the meetings have shown.

As usual, the enemy of the work of God was on hand to detract as far as possible from the interest. We had just got started, when he began to bring forth his attractions to divert the minds of the people from the truth that all so much need at this time. First, a big convention erected its headquarters within a block of the tent, and just as it came time for our meeting to begin, the convention would start its musical program. Then just across the street a health lecturer held forth for several weeks. He mingled truth principles that he had received at our sanitariums with unseemly jokes and with errors. It seems the enemy is most successful in his deceptions when he can mingle truth with error. As a result, some of our audience attended these lectures, and soon grew cold toward the truth in its purity.

Besides the convention and the lectures already mentioned, there was a circus, a carnival, and other minor attractions. We hope that some of the thousands who passed the tent in going to these other places, may some day think of the mottoes and signs they saw as they passed, and be constrained to investigate the truth.

Those who attended our meetings regularly seemed to drink in the truth, and were anxious for more light. This was especially manifest in the way they crowded around those who had the literature to distribute. Each night we tried to give out something that would water the seed sown by the sermon. At times one hundred and fifty or two hundred leaflets were insufficient to supply those who desired them.

We secured the names of those that came forward for the literature, and thus compiled a very large list of interested ones. Then each week a workers’ meeting was called in the afternoon, and all who so desired were given names of persons to visit.

The Lord blessed the effort put forth, and a goodly number stepped out into the light of truth. At this writing we have had three baptismal services. The first was in one of the beautiful lakes that are so numerous in and around the city. At this time fifteen were buried in the watery grave, while relatives and friends gathered on the bank to witness the scene. It made our hearts especially glad to see in several instances husband and wife go down into the water together as a token of their united determination to serve the Lord.

The subsequent services were held in the central church, and, in all, over thirty have been baptized. Many others have requested baptism, but have been advised to study more fully that they may be more firmly established before taking this step.

Nearly all the expense of the meeting was met by the donations given. One night, after we told of our financial needs, the audience responded with over sixty dollars. At other times the offering sometimes reached as high as twenty or thirty dollars.

The tent is now down, and we are doing our best to hold the interested ones together by having Sunday night services in the central church. The results are very gratifying, as the house is usually quite well filled, and the attendance is continually increasing.

We especially desire the prayers of God’s people that those who are honest in heart and are now interested may be constrained, by diligent and tactful effort on the part of the workers, to obey the truth. When we look at the great work yet to be done in this city, and the few workers that are here to accomplish it, we are sometimes almost discouraged. But when we read the words, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” we are encouraged to go forward.

J. F. PIPER, S. N. RITTENHOUSE.