West Pennsylvania Conference
By W. F. SCHWARTZ
FOLLOWING the camp-meeting, I met with the Altoona church in quarterly meeting, after an absence of fourteen weeks. There was a large attendance, and a good spirit was manifested in bringing in the tithe, which amounted to $69.85. One thousand Signs were also spoken for, to be used to help raise our portion for foreign missions. In this place a few are keeping the Sabbath who have not united with us. The following week, I met with the Johnstown church, and was associated in labor with the president of the conference. The meetings were well attended, and the ordinances of the Lord’s house were celebrated. The tithe and contributions of the church for this last quarter amounted to $217.90, an increase over that of each of the two preceding quarters. Four new members have been added to this church, and a few others are keeping the Sabbath. The public interest in attending the evening gatherings was good. Six hundred fifty Signs were ordered for use in the foreign mission campaign. From Johnstown I went to Clearfield to17hold a quarterly meeting, which was well attended. None of our ministers have visited this district for five months. The members of this company are of good courage, and are doing all they can to uphold the light and carry the burdens that are placed upon them. This last quarter their tithe and contributions amounted to $63.63, and they paid on the church mortgage and interest $42.92. In view of the faithfulness of these few, what ought to be done by large companies and by those enjoying greater blessing! From this place, I went to Dubois, in answer to a call, and found one who had accepted the truth at Hillsdale, and a brother and sister who had moved from Philipsburg, and had let the light shine forth by giving Bible readings in their own home. These had been the means of leading a few families into the truth. While there, I organized a Sabbath-school of twelve members, seven of whom are adults. This field is ripe for a good tent effort, and two portions of this city could be worked to good advantage with a tent, which was not taken into consideration when the camp-meeting and tent effort were held here seven years ago. I held a few public meetings, and a good interest was manifested. A further effort will be made here soon. On my way to Coudersport, I spent a day at Philipsburg, finding two who are still faithful in tithes and offerings. The Coudersport company is wide awake in the things of God; and if more churches would make an effort to go to camp-meeting, they would get the same zeal and spirit for the work of God. The quarterly meeting was well attended; and at the evening service some were present who had never been in the church before. On Monday, Brother Shaw assisted me in a baptismal service, when an aged man was baptized. A few others are expecting to go forward in the same ordinance. In all these places, there are some who are interested in the message, and there is a great work to be done.