Camp-Meetings in Louisiana and Alabama by H. R. Salisbury

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 8, 1910

_Camp-Meetings in Louisiana and Alabama_

By H. R. Salisbury

By leaving the Texas camp-meeting before its close, I was able to attend the last three days of the Louisiana meeting, held in Alexandria. Here I found our people enjoying much of God's blessing. Both here and at the meeting in Alabama, the Lord blessed Brother Martin as he worked for the unconverted and those who needed a deeper work of grace in their lives. Here also I was glad to be associated with Brother C. F. McVagh, the president of the Southern Union; Prof. M. B. Van Kirk, the educational secretary; and Brother A. F. Harrison, the general canvassing agent.

The camp had been pitched across the river from Alexandria, making it necessary for the people of the town to cross a long bridge, for which toll was charged both ways for those on foot as well as those in carriages. This evidently proved a hindrance; for the attendance from the outside was very small.

Brother E. L. Maxwell was again chosen president, and plans were laid by the conference committee to carry on more aggressive work. The brethren and sisters present also pledged themselves to do more, the coming year, in house-to-house work for their friends and neighbors.

As there were three days between the Louisiana and Alabama meetings, I accepted an invitation from Brother W. H. Saxby to spend that time, with the brethren mentioned above, at our mission in New Orleans. Meetings were arranged for each evening, and attended by those who were unable to go to the camp-meeting, as well as by those returned from the meeting. I was glad to meet our brethren and sisters, and to study with the workers the needs of that great Southern port, with its large foreign population. We have an excellent mission house, situated in a most desirable part of the city. Brother Saxby should have associated with him two or three more trained Bible workers, and above all some one who can work for the thousands of French. I trust the day may soon come when a French church will be organized in New Orleans.

_The Alabama Meeting_

Accompanied by the union workers who had been at Alexandria, I arrived in Celera, Ala., in time for the first meeting. This was not a large camp-meeting, but the evening meetings were well attended by the people from the little town. These visitors seemed very friendly, and manifested a genuine interest in our work. The brethren from the union, uniting with the local workers, gave themselves earnestly to the work by helping those encamped on the grounds and those who came in from the town.

It is true these were small meetings, as doubtless the other camp-meetings will be in the Southland; but when we remember that whereas only a few years ago we had almost nothing in the South, we now have an organized conference in each State, we do indeed thank God and take courage. May the work of the coming year add many members to the churches and companies in the South.

H. R. SALISBURY.