p. 14 | The West Pennsylvania Camp Meeting

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 9, 1914

The West Pennsylvania Camp Meeting

By B. G. Wilkinson

ON a beautiful and charming spot in Homestead Park, Homestead, Pa., the annual session of the West Pennsylvania Conference was held in connection with its camp meeting, June 11-21. There was a splendid attendance from the conference,—larger than the year before,—especially of the young people. We felt very glad of this, because the reducing of Mount Vernon from a college to an academy, limiting it in its scope of territory, naturally increases its need of a good enrollment from the West Pennsylvania Conference.

On another hill, just a little way from our camp, were the dancing pavilions, confectionery booths, merry-go-rounds, and baseball park. Some attraction was on practically all the time, yet to the

praise of the Lord, we are glad to say that these in no way affected our camp meeting. Quite the contrary. We felt that the spirit of consecration and devotion was increased by the contrast between the emptiness and foolishness of the world and the deep things of God which we were enjoying. Especially was this manifested on the part of the young people. Their workers in attendance from abroad said that they had never seen so thorough consecration and devotion on the part of the youth to God's work.

From the first, the spirit of love and harmony pervaded the assembly. There were about sixty tents pitched on the ground, and almost three hundred of our people in attendance, according to the enrollment of the Sabbath school the last Sabbath. Elder F. H. Robbins, who had just been called from the presidency of the West Virginia Conference to take the presidency of the West Pennsylvania Conference, was unanimously chosen president. The corps of workers elected was practically the same as last year.

We are glad to note the stir that the truth is making among all classes in this section of the country. We are sorry that the call which took Elder Westworth from Pittsburgh to Battle Creek, Mich., left the city of Pittsburgh without an able minister. The recent great revival conducted by Billy Sunday stirred the city. After his departure thirty-six circles were formed for the study of the Bible. Nine of these in the vicinity of our church applied to our workers to take the leadership of them. Thus there are splendid openings on every hand, and many are inquiring for light.

The donations given at this camp meeting, both in the Sabbath school and in the other services, exceeded those of last year. The splendid offering on the part of the brethren for foreign missions practically covered the conference deficit up to date on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund, so that there is every prospect that the West Pennsylvania Conference will fully raise its twenty cents a week this coming year.

We were favored with the presence of Elder W. A. Spicer during the first few days of the meeting. Prof. C. L. Benson was with us throughout the meeting, and gave us most valuable help. Brother I. D. Richardson, Prof. C. L. Stone, and the writer represented the union. Professors Salisbury and Kelly earnestly took care of the interests of Mount Vernon Academy. We were also favored with good help in the book work, by I. A. Ford and a representative from the Southern Publishing Association.

B. G. WILKINSON.