Nebraska and Wyoming Camp Meetings
By R. A. UNDERWOOD
THE first two camp meetings in the Central Union Conference are now in the past. The first of the series of camp meetings for this union was held at Seward, Nebr., June 4-14. The location was ideal for a small attendance, the camp being one and one-half blocks from the center of the town, in a beautiful park belonging to the city. About five hundred of our brethren were present. The regular attendance of those not of our faith was not large; however, during the meeting a goodly number from the city attended the services. During the meeting, about $2,000 was contributed to the various branches of the work, a large part being for foreign missions. Twenty-two persons were baptized. Elders I. H. Evans and F. W. Paap and Prof. G. W. Caviness were present, representing the North American Division. The usual laborers from the union were present, and labored along various lines,—Professor Van Kirk for the young people, Brother McEachern in the interests of the book work; while Drs. J. D. and Eva Shively and O. H. Hahn represented the sanitariums. Elder Evans's talks emphasized the need of living holy lives, and his studies were much appreciated by the people. Those in attendance felt well paid for all the sacrifice they had made in attending the meeting. During the coming year the laborers of this conference are determined to make a better record in soul winning than they have in the past. But little change was made in the officers, Elder John Christian being re-elected president of the conference. The second meeting of the union was held at Edgemont, S. Dak., in the Wyoming Conference territory, June 11-21. Elder Evans, Professor Caviness, Dr. H. A. Green (of Boulder, Colo.), Professor Van Kirk, Brother McEachern, and the writer were all present to assist the local laborers in making the meeting a spiritual feast and blessing. Eight were baptized during the meeting, and a number will be baptized on their return home. The Wyoming Conference stands rather in the lead at the present time on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund, and the brethren feel confident that they will be able to meet their quota. The Nebraska Conference also feels confident of reaching its quota on this fund, although the records show the conference to be somewhat behind at present. The prospects for a large harvest of wheat in Nebraska and in this Central Union perhaps were never better than at the present time, and in a number of the States the wheat is already being gathered. Our brethren in Wyoming appreciated very much the presence and assistance of Elder Evans, this being the first year that a General Conference man has attended one of their camp meetings. Elder Hale was reelected president. The brethren in that field much appreciate his labors. The writer enjoyed the privilege of meeting and becoming acquainted with the laborers and brethren of these two conferences, and noted with pleasure their earnest efforts to make advancement in the various branches of missionary work. Brother McEachern felt that the book work showed signs of progress in both Nebraska and Wyoming. If the resolutions and solemn vows made at these two meetings are carried out, the coming year will mark great advancement among the believers, as well as show a rapid growth, in the fields represented by the camp meetings already held.