p. 16 | District of Columbia Conference by R. E. HARTER

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 28, 1915

District of Columbia Conference

By R. E. HARTER

REPORTS are coming in from all parts of the field of the success which has attended evangelistic campaigns in the large cities during the past summer, indicating that the Lord has signally blessed in this phase of the work. Our people, being especially interested in Washington, where our headquarters are located, will be glad to learn of the progress of the work in this important center.

A large tent was pitched near Lincoln Park, in Southeast Washington, the latter part of June. Elder S. B. Horton and the writer, assisted by an able corps of workers, were in charge. A chorus numbering fifty voices, under the direction of Prof. Irving A. Steinel and accompanied by the Review and Herald Orchestra, added much to the interest and success of the meetings. The faithful efforts of our Bible workers, covering the territory thoroughly as they went from house to house, giving personal invitations to attend the services, and disposing of a club of one hundred Signs a week, resulted in bringing many honest seekers after truth to the tent, and in interesting them in the vital message there presented. A goodly number of these left their names and addresses on the cards provided, requesting literature, and Bible instruction in their homes. The effort closed Sunday evening, October 3, bringing out a company of about forty new believers.

Realizing the necessity of having a building where the interest could be followed up during the winter, a desirable location was secured three squares from the Capitol and the Congressional Library. This building affords commodious quarters for our services, with adjoining office rooms, where we now have our conference and tract society offices established.

In behalf of the colored work in the city a successful tent campaign was conducted by Elder J. M. Campbell in the large colored section in Northwest Washington. This effort closed Sunday evening, October 10. The meetings were well attended throughout, and at last report, fifty had taken their stand for the truth. A large hall at 1628 L St., Northwest, has been leased for the winter. Here the new company will be organized, and an aggressive follow-up work be carried on among the many who have manifested an interest in the message

during the summer. Two Bible workers are associated with this company, and will employ their time and influence in this work.

In addition to our city work, two prosperous country tent efforts have been conducted in the conference,—one at Newland, Va., with Brother W. A. Nelson in charge, and one in Rollins Fork, Va., with Elder F. E. Gibson in charge. At the latter place a substantial interest was developed, and at the close of the season the people joined in erecting a place of worship where meetings will be held and the work continued throughout the winter.

In securing these halls we have seen the hand of Providence, and in the encouraging results of the summer's work we have seen a manifest token of the power of the Holy Spirit to transform the human heart and bring it into captivity to the will and mind of Christ.

R. E. HARTER.