p. 18 | Central New England Camp-Meeting by K. C. RUSSELL

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

Central New England Camp-Meeting

By K. C. RUSSELL

This meeting was held June 18-28 at West Newton, Mass., a beautiful suburb of greater Boston, at the Junction of two street-car lines. The location of the camp was ideal, lying next to a beautiful grove of trees on two sides of the encampment; and the street which passed the ground was lined with stately elms. The camp-ground was covered with grass, which enhanced the beauty of the location. We were also pleased with the order and arrangement of the camp, as well as with its sanitary condition; we appreciate the fact that it is not always possible to secure an ideal site for a camp-ground; but the nearer we can come to the ideal, the greater the influence that will be exerted for good upon those who attend the meetings.

There was an excellent attendance of our people at this meeting. It was only a few years ago that the New England Conference was divided; but it appears now that one division of the conference is as large as both were formerly. This meeting was also free from the routine business which has formerly occupied the time and attention of those in attendance. It is encouraging to observe that the plan of conducting the regular business of the conference at another time is being followed by many of our conferences.

One of the leading features of this meeting was the study given to the question of healthful living. Each afternoon at four o'clock, except Sabbath and Sunday, a school of health was conducted. This was well attended by our own people, and by some from the outside. The instruction was chiefly given by the physicians of the Melrose Sanitarium, Drs. W. E. Bliss and Nina Case Baierle, the sanitarium cook, and a number of nurses from the institution.

The various departments of our work received a share of attention during the meeting. On the last Sunday afternoon a temperance rally was held, at which a large audience was in attendance. Those who spoke upon this occasion were a prominent Methodist minister of Auburndale, Mass., the recording secretary of the W. C. T. U. of Massachusetts, and the director of the gospel work of the Y. M. C. A. of Boston, besides a number of our own speakers. We are confident that an excellent influence has gone forth as the result of this meeting. We would recommend, however, in the future, that a temperance rally be held on the first Sunday afternoon of the meeting and that on the last Sunday afternoon a religious liberty rally be conducted. Thus at these important gatherings a warning note could be sounded against the two great evils,—intemperance and religious legislation.

Both Sabbaths of this meeting were characterized by a special manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the converting of souls and the reviving of those who were in a backslidden condition. It was remarkable to observe on the last Sabbath that so large a number of those who came forward had decided for the first time to give their hearts to God.

Elder A. G. Daniells was in attendance during the closing days of the meeting, and gave the people some most valuable and timely instruction concerning different phases of our work for these times. His recital of the wonderful providences in the onward march of the third angel's message proved to be a most encouraging feature of the meeting. All were pleased with the visit of Dr. D. H. Kress, of the Washington Sanitarium, and his talks on the principles of healthful living were much appreciated. Elder E. W. Farnsworth, president of the Atlantic Union Conference, was in attendance during the entire meeting, and rendered valuable help in counsel as well as in speaking. Prof. B. F. Machlan, principal of the South Lancaster Academy, was also in attendance, and gave an interesting report of the work of the

academy during the past year. Certainly the Lord is blessing in this department of the work in the Atlantic Union. Every young man and woman in the territory of the Atlantic Union Conference should take advantage of the opportunity afforded in obtaining an education at this institution.

I was indeed glad to attend this meeting, as it was the first camp-meeting I have attended there since leaving that field several years ago to join with the general work in Washington. It was gratifying to meet those with whom and for whom I had previously labored. Our prayer is that the Lord will continue to bless Elder H. F. Ketring, the president of this conference, and his committee in their efforts to develop the work in that important field.

K. C. RUSSELL.