Virginia Camp Meeting by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 26, 1915

Virginia Camp Meeting

By G. B. Thompson

THE annual conference and camp meeting of the Virginia Conference were held at Charlottesville, August 5-15. The camp was centrally located, on the main street, and in a good residential portion of the city. “Monticello,” the home of Thomas Jefferson, is on a hill overlooking the place. Holding the meeting here involved some expense, but it was far better and much more economical, all things considered, than to secure gratis a ground in some out-of-the-way place which would not be accessible to the people. We have a message for the people, and the practice of locating on some remote fairground or Chautauqua park where we do not get access to the people is usually unwise.

The attendance each evening was excellent, and many of the best citizens of the city were in the audience. The stirring doctrinal themes of the message were presented at these services, and many manifested a real interest in the truths of the message. Elder Stewart Kime, with other workers, will remain and conduct services on the same ground where the camp meeting was held, and the outlook seems quite encouraging for the establishment of a church as a result of the meeting.

The business of the conference was carried forward with the utmost unity; not a discordant note was heard during the entire meeting. While the attendance of our people was small, a most earnest spirit to seek God for his blessing pervaded the entire camp. The Lord has been blessing the work of the past year, as was shown by the various reports rendered. During the year, 186 persons have been baptized. The colporteur work has made excellent progress, the sale of books and tracts having been very materially increased during the year.

The tithe for the first eight months of the year amounted to $4,070, as against $5,800 for the entire previous year. For the first six months there was a gain of about $1,100. When a call was presented during the meeting for funds for local conference needs, and to make up the deficit on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund to missions, about $2,000 was received in cash and pledges. This was an encouraging response, when we consider that there was a comparatively small number present.

Elder W. C. Moffett, who has the confidence of his brethren, was reelected president; and F. N. Johnson, secretary and treasurer. A few changes were made in some of the other officers.

Brother W. L. Burgan secured excellent reports of the meeting in the papers of the State.

B. G. Wilkinson, J. L. Shaw, Charles Thompson, I. D. Richardson, I. A. Ford, E. L. Richmond, Dr. H. W. Miller, and the writer were present during some portion of the meeting, and shared with the local workers in its burdens and blessings. A baptism was held near the close of the meeting, but I am not informed as to the number baptized.

Judging from the spirit of this meeting, the cause of God is onward in the Old Dominion, and we feel that the time is not far distant when the work in this conference will not only be self-sustaining, but will furnish strength in workers and funds for the mission fields beyond.

G. B. THOMPSON.