The West Virginia Camp-Meeting by J. M. REES.

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

The West Virginia Camp-Meeting

By J. M. REES.

The West Virginia camp-meeting and conference will be held at Charleston, West Va., August 27 to September 6. Charleston is the capital and the most important city of our State. We have been very anxious that a good foothold for the truth might be obtained there, so that the work in that part of the State could be carried on, working out in all directions from Charleston. A series of tent-meetings was held there last summer, and another series will continue this season up to the time of the camp-meeting; then we hope to turn them into the camp-meeting, and gather out a strong company there.

We have purchased a new pavilion (35 x 50 feet), and seated it with comfortable canvass seats, and also a new middle strip for the fifty-foot round tent; this will give us a pavilion 50 x 100 feet. We have a good forty-foot round tent, and we expect to repair all old small tents; these, with some new 14 x 14 foot tents which we have purchased, will make us a beautiful camp, with tents that will turn water. We expect the camp to be pitched in a grove within two squares of a street-car line, and that everything will be made comfortable for those who attend.

Now, brethren and sisters, after we have gone to all this expense and trouble, what effect will it have on our conference, and those who attend from the city, if they should see part of the tents unoccupied? It must not be so. West Virginia must arise and shine as she never has before. We must make the effort of our lives to attend this camp-meeting. No trivial thing must be allowed to come in between us and this meeting. The signs of the times demand our every effort. You may say that times are close, and money is scarce; but if we stay away for that, we shall in all probability never attend another camp-meeting. Neither should any say they must stay at home and take care of the farm and its effects. The Lord said, to his ancient people, ‘Neither shall any man desire thy lands when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in the year.’ Ex. 34: 24.

If you have decided not to go to Charleston, change your mind, and remember there is time after reading this article to get ready and be present for the first meeting, Thursday morning, August 27. The cloud is rising in West Virginia. Let us follow its leading.

J. M. REES.