p. 17 | West Pennsylvania Camp-Meeting by B. G. WILKINSON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Jul 23, 1908

West Pennsylvania Camp-Meeting

By B. G. WILKINSON

FAVORED by beautiful weather, the West Pennsylvania Conference held its session in connection with the annual camp-meeting at Oil City, June 18-28. The attendance was not so large as that of the previous year, but what was lacking in numbers was more than compensated for by the quality of the meeting. It marked a decided advance forward for the work in this field, many of the brethren declaring the services to have been the most spiritual they had ever attended.

Foreign missions received good attention, the whole camp not only voting heartily in favor of the ten-cent-a-week plan, but also testifying individually of their purpose to carry it out. About one hundred fifty dollars was raised to help the Hazel Academy, at Hazel, Ky. This was done although the State had been heavily affected by the financial depression, as shown in a slight decrease in the total amount of the tithes for this year as against the previous year. The conference also voted to raise two cents a week per capita to assist in the educational work.

The closing Sabbath and Sunday were good days for the camp. The blessing of God upon the revival service of Sabbath morning was followed in the afternoon by the setting apart of Brother E. N. Dirkee to the gospel ministry. Sunday morning, contrary to the general expectation, the camp enthusiastically raised $443.50 for the tent- and camp-meeting fund.

On the closing Sunday afternoon a grand temperance rally was held. The pastors had invited their congregations to be present, and a large crowd came out to the meeting. Addresses were given by the writer, who acted as chairman, by three pastors of leading city churches, by three lady officials of the W. C. T. U., and by the Y. M. C. A. secretary. We believe this meeting did splendid work in behalf of the temperance cause. The speakers on the program who were not of our faith, repeatedly expressed their thanks for the holding of such a meeting. The audience gave a liberal donation which was divided between the W. C. T. U. and the camp expenses. A large part of the congregation stayed over to the evening meeting and responded heartily to the presentation of the subject, “The Change of the Sabbath.”

The officers elected for the coming year were: F. D. Wagner, president; I. N. Williams, vice-president; A. V. Williams, secretary and treasurer; Miss Fannie Fondersmith, Sabbath-school secretary; F. H. Robbins, educational secretary.

The visiting brethren present at all or a part of the meeting were: Elder E. E. Andross; Brethren I. D. Richardson and Morris Lukens, representing the book work; in the interests of educational work, S. M. Butler, of Mt. Vernon College; C. S. Longacre, of South Lancaster Academy; and Brother Thomas D. Rowe, of Hazel Academy; also Elders H. W. Carr, J. M. Rees, and the writer. Fourteen precious souls followed their Lord in baptism at the close of the meeting.

B. G. WILKINSON.