The Saskatchewan Camp-Meeting by G. B. Thompson

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

The Saskatchewan Camp-Meeting

By G. B. Thompson

A CAMP-MEETING for the believers in the Saskatchewan mission field was held at Lumsden, twenty miles north of Regina, July 1-5. The camp was conveniently located in the village on a nice plat of ground, protected by foliage from wind and storm,—a provision which is essential to the success of a camp-meeting in this field. There were about seventy persons encamped. This was a good attendance, when we remember that there are only about one hundred Sabbath-keepers in the field.

Services were held daily in both English and German. Though the meeting was short, it did much to strengthen and build up the work in this field. Those who attended were greatly blessed. A good work was done for the young. At the Sabbath services nearly all on the ground, both old and young, gave their hearts to God. Six were baptized, and others will be at their homes.

The interest shown in missions was an encouraging feature of the meeting. Though this of itself is a mission field, we were anxious to have a part in building up the work as a whole. And as God has blessed this field with great material resources, they purpose, if possible, to do more than raise a sum for missions equal to ten cents a week per capita. The last day of the meeting, after the needs of the world-wide field and in view of the rapid progress of the work had been considered, a collection was taken for the work at home and abroad, and more than twenty-three hundred dollars was received in cash and pledges. All but about two hundred dollars of this, which will be used to purchase needed tents, will be given to missions as fast as received.

The presentation of the plain truths of the message awakened an interest in the village, and some are carefully considering the truth. Opposition was also aroused. The last evening of the meeting, after a sermon on the Sabbath question to a full tent, the pastor of the Presbyterian church, who was present, reassembled the congregation in the street, and delivered a tirade against us as a people. He gave vent to many assertions calculated to stir up prejudice, from the ascension-robe falsehood to intimating that those who came across the line with this heresy might be properly classed with outlaws. But man can do nothing against the truth. His diatribe helped to awaken an interest, and it was thought best to leave a strong tent company to develop the interest awakened. There is a good prospect that a company of believers will be raised up here.

The reports given indicated progress in all lines of work. Those selling our publications are having splendid success. While this field presents some real difficulties not found in other places, the workers are loyally standing by the work, and are of good courage. They were all present at the meeting. Elders E. L. Stewart, president of the Union Conference, W. A. Colcord, G. F. Haffner, and the writer were also present, and shared with the local laborers in the burdens and blessings of the meeting.

I was greatly impressed with the resources of this field, and the progress seen everywhere in the development of the country. Saskatchewan alone contains two hundred forty thousand square miles, being larger than several of the union conferences in the States, and is rapidly being filled up with a thrifty, enterprising class of citizens. Immense fields of grain are to be seen on every side, as far as the eye can reach. Great plows, drawn by an engine, and capable of plowing forty acres of prairie in a day, are seen at work. The whole country is one vast granary. Great trunk lines of railroad cross the country to carry the products of the land to market.

We are glad that the last message of God to sinful man has a secure foothold in this field, and we are encouraged to believe that a strong conference will soon be organized here.

G. B. THOMPSON.