The Ohio Camp-Meeting by K. C. Russell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 10, 1908

The Ohio Camp-Meeting

By K. C. Russell

This meeting was held at Mansfield, a city of some eighteen thousand inhabitants. The camp was located on the fairgrounds, within a few minutes' ride on the street-cars from the city. The weather was ideal during the entire time of the meeting. Those in charge of the camp sought to give each department of the work its share of attention. The medical work was in charge of Elder H. M. Jump. Dr. D. H. Kress was present for a few days, and gave some valuable instruction on the subject of health. Elder S. M. Butler, the president of the Mt. Vernon College, was in attendance during the greater part of this meeting, and gave special attention to the educational work. The Young People's work in the Ohio Conference presents a most encouraging outlook. There were some two hundred promising young people in attendance, and the meetings for them were in charge of Elder J. E. Shultz. Prof. M. E. Kern, chairman of the Young People's Department of the General Conference was in attendance, and his labors were greatly appreciated.

The subject of missions was discussed, which resulted in the adopting of the ten-cent-a-week plan by those in attendance. There were also donations and pledges taken for the foreign mission work. The plans for the missionary campaign were thoroughly discussed, and met the hearty approval of all. There was also much enthusiasm manifested in behalf of the religious liberty work.

The temperance rally was not held until the last Sunday of the meeting, owing to the fact that the speakers who were not of our people were out of the city on their summer vacation, and could not be secured earlier. The secretary of the Y. M. C. A. and two prominent attorneys of the city, one a Methodist and one a Presbyterian, were the speakers from the outside. Those who spoke as our representatives were Elders E. E. Andross, H. H. Burkholder, and the writer. We believe that the effort in behalf of temperance will have a far-reaching influence in the State.

Opportunities were given at different times during the meeting for those who desired to give their hearts to God, and backsliders who desired to be reclaimed, to seek the Lord. Thirty-eight willing souls followed their Lord in baptism.

Elder J. M. Rees, president of the West Virginia Conference, was present over the first Sabbath and Sunday of the meeting. Elder E. E. Andross and the writer remained until the last day.

The Lord greatly blessed in the services of the last Sabbath, despite the efforts of the enemy to interrupt the work of the Spirit on this important day of the meeting. Just as the last Sabbath of the meeting was beginning, a company of persons who had formerly been connected with our people, but who had been deceived into the idea that Seventh-day Adventists are Babylon because of our belief in organization, felt it their duty to call us out of Babylon. Their demonstrations on the ground were such that it became necessary to have them restrained in order to carry on our meeting undisturbed. Such is a specimen of the fruit that comes from a rejection of the truths that God has committed to this people.

Our people returned to their homes with renewed courage to live out the truths of the third angel's message, and to do the work that he has committed to us in these closing days of earth's history.

K. C. RUSSELL.