p. 15 | The Maine Camp-Meeting by C. W. Keniston

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 5, 1909

The Maine Camp-Meeting

By C. W. Keniston

THIS year the annual camp-meeting for the State of Maine was held two months earlier than usual. By making this change, it was possible for Sister E. G. White to attend. The meeting was held under Deering's Oaks, Woodford's Station, Portland, Maine, July 2-11.

The General Conference laborers and other ministers and special workers who were present during a part or the whole of the session, were as follows:—Mrs. E. G. White, Elders W. C. White, S. N. Haskell, E. W. Farnsworth, C. H. Edwards, F. C. Gilbert, H. J. Edmed of South Africa, and C. S. Longacre, Prof. B. F. Machlan, Dr. D. H. Kress, and Brethren R. J. Bryant and F. M. Dana.

Among those present from the Maine field were the following: Elders J. B. Goodrich, B. F. Davis, S. J. Hersum, John Wilson, H. C. Giles, A. J. Verrill, and Sister E. H. Morton.

The burden of the preaching seemed to be that there is but little time remaining in which to finish the work; and the special application to our own people was that one and all should enlist in the active work to give the gospel for the last days to the world, working according to the talents or abilities God has given.

There seemed also to be an impelling power working in many hearts, urging them to more active service than in the past, thus responding to the call of the hour. Sister White's five sermons, also Elder Haskell's discourses and early morning Bible studies, were especially filled with calls to service.

Sister White expressed herself as especially burdened over the work in Portland and vicinity, and urged that the camp-meeting be followed by a prolonged tent effort; that a strong company of workers, colporteurs, and evangelistic canvassers be immediately placed in this field; and that this field be worked now. Some response to this appeal for the Portland field appears, inasmuch as the large tent still remains there. Meetings have been kept up daily to the present time, and may continue for a few weeks longer. Elder C. H. Edwards has been conducting the meetings since the camp-meeting proper, holding a Bible study each afternoon at three o'clock, and a preaching service each evening.

Three of the Portland daily papers lent their columns quite liberally to reports prepared by us, and we were given an average of a column and a half each day. It was desired to keep up the work with the Portland dailies; therefore we have continued the reporting till now, about one fourth column a day in each of the morning dailies, the Portland Daily Press and the Daily Eastern Argus, and a column a day in the Portland Evening Express. Besides our own reports, these journals have carried quite an amount of additional matter pertaining to the meetings, and in most cases well put.

Our religious liberty secretary, Brother W. O. Howe, gives the word that our reports have been quite extensively copied over the State.

Under the evangelistic efforts and calls of Sister White and Elders Haskell, Farnsworth, Gilbert, Edwards, and Longacre, quite a large number went forward to a renewed consecration. In the aggregate this must have included nearly all our people who attended the camp-meeting. Quite a good number were of the precious youth and children just beginning to take a public stand under the cross of Jesus.

Some means was raised for the defraying of expenses of the meeting, also a subscription of about two hundred dollars for the encouragement of the brethren in Portland, who have begun the erection of a church building.

After the camp-meeting Elders H. C. Giles and A. J. Verrill, with some assistants, went to conduct a tent effort at Rumford Falls.

The attendance of our own people at this meeting was greater than at any previous camp-meeting in this State for the past four years.

Portland is a field which needs to be worked soon, and needs many workers. Pray for the handful of workers in this old cradle of the message, and that the truth may now find the hearts of those “who are the called according to his purpose.” C. W. KENISTON.