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The Alberta Camp-Meeting

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 13, 1908

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 85, No. 33.

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The Alberta Camp-Meeting

By W. A. SPICER

It was a meeting of remarkable blessings, especially in the matter of gifts to the cause.
A few years have brought great changes in the new Canadian Northwest. Towns are growing up over the fertile prairies, and settlers are spreading out to occupy the land. It is a beautiful country, truly, and best of all, the advent message is getting a firm foothold in these regions.
The camp-meeting of the Alberta Conference was held in Lacombe, a clean little town about midway between Calgary and Edmonton. The membership of the conference is small, but last year it increased from one hundred sixty-eight to two hundred fifty-five. Some brethren have moved in from the States, and this helps to swell the numbers; but during the year about fifty began to observe the Sabbath in the province as the result of efforts made.
Their tithe increased from $2,858 to $4,569, and the year's offering to missions was over eleven dollars a member. The number of Sabbath-schools had doubled during the year, all donations had gone to missions, and three new churches had been organized. Twelve canvassers from their school had gone into the field. In fact, the report of Elder C. A. Burman, the president, showed a thriving little conference in this vast province.
The first laborer in Alberta was Elder Henry Block, a German worker, who told us of his experiences eight years ago as he came to Alberta not knowing of a Sabbath-keeper in all the land. The changes and developments now seen cause all hearts to rejoice. By the last Sabbath of the meeting, about two hundred persons were in the camp.
When the committee on plans presented a report calling for resolute effort to raise a fund for putting up school and sanitarium buildings, the matter was discussed a few minutes, and then the people began to give. Farms were given, and cattle and horses, and cash pledges were made, until twenty thousand dollars had been given, and all were rejoicing. About two thousand dollars of this was conditional, however. Next day, in further discussing details of plans, something over three thousand dollars more was given.
The pledges are largely in the form of property, which must be turned into cash; but the values set were according to current prices. These brethren are not wealthy. They are just getting started in a new country, and have not gathered much about them. But the believers know that the end is drawing near, and were glad to devote to the cause of God all that they could. And they were richer in experience for it, and rejoiced to do it.
Alberta is practically a mission field, and these gifts for their work are as mission gifts for a new field. But it is evident it will soon be lifting vigorously with the older conferences for the regions beyond. In fact, after giving this sum for school and sanitarium work, offerings for missions were taken in both the German and English tents, and something over six hundred dollars was given.
Needless to say, the meeting was a spiritual one. Twenty-eight were baptized. Elders G. F. Haffner and Henry Block labored for the German brethren, Elders A. C. Anderson and J. C. Christensen gave special attention to the Scandinavian work, though there were not so many of these who were not familiar with the English. All these brethren helped in the English services. Elder E. L. Stewart, president of the union, joined the local laborers in work and counsel throughout.
A committee was appointed to arrange the permanent location of the school and sanitarium enterprises. Brother F. L. Hommel and a few associates have been conducting a sanitarium in the city of Edmonton. By self-sacrificing effort and holding on they have paid a rent of two hundred dollars a month for an unsuitable building. It is proposed to move the sanitarium work into the country; and by rallying the conference to take over this department of the work, better prospects are in store for the sanitarium and the interests of the health work.
C. A. Burman was re-elected president of the conference, with J. W. Boynton as vice-president, and Miss Stella B. Lowry as secretary.
W. A. SPICER