The Kansas Camp-Meeting by G. A. Irwin

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

The Kansas Camp-Meeting

By G. A. Irwin

THIS meeting was held in Forest Park, Ottawa, August 13-23. The grounds were very beautiful, being nicely laid out and well kept. The large shade-trees and beautiful green grass made the place both attractive and comfortable in the daytime, and the electric lights made it beautiful at night. A large auditorium for the public meetings, and a number of other buildings suitable for children’s and young people’s meetings, as well as a commodious kitchen and dining-hall, saved the labor and expense of pitching and seating tents for these purposes. One hundred sixty-five dwelling tents were pitched and occupied on the grounds, and a sufficient number of persons occupied rooms near by, to increase the attendance of our people to one thousand. The annual conference was held in connection with the meeting, it being the thirty-fourth annual session. Thirty-four years ago the first missionary —Elder J. N. Andrews—went from the United States to Europe. The Battle Creek College and the International Tract Society were established in the same year. These were some of the beginnings of a mighty missionary movement that has been steadily going toward earth’s remotest bounds, and is destined in this generation to lighten the whole earth with its glory.

The business meetings of the conference passed off pleasantly and harmoniously. As an evidence of the faithful labors of Elder Charles Thompson, and the high esteem with which he is regarded by the brethren, he was unanimously re-elected president of the conference. His annual report was a well-prepared written document from which I cull the following facts and figures for general information:—

Five new churches were added to the conference. Six new church buildings were dedicated, three of which were erected during the year. In addition to the new churches admitted, many have been added to the older churches. During the summer eight tent companies have been in the field, most of whom report a good interest. Success has attended the efforts of the Wichita Sanitarium, its capacity having been taxed to the utmost. Three thousand fifty dollars of the net earnings was paid on the indebtedness, and sixteen hundred dollars expended on repairs. Eight new Sabbath-schools were organized, and added to the family of schools. There was $315.82 increase in donations over the past year. The Missionary Volunteer Societies are doing aggressive work, especially in religious liberty work. Twenty church-schools were successfully operated during the year, and a number of consecrated young people are in training to engage in this work in the near future. Arrangements are all made to open an academy this fall at Oswego to accommodate thirty boarding students, with an outside attendance to increase this number to one hundred twenty-five. This school will be known as the Strode Industrial Academy, and will be in charge of Elder and Mrs. N. W. Kauble. The courses of study will include the twelfth grade. During the year 1907, $15,000 worth of subscription books were sold; and during the first half of 1908, $12,304. The amount raised for missions during the year was $3,477.59, being an increase over the previous year of $851.44. In addition to these offerings to missions the conference paid the salary of a German laborer in New Jersey, an Italian laborer in Greater New York, and one half the salary of Elder Sidney Scott, who is laboring for the colored people in South Carolina. The tithe for the past year was $33,282.16, an increase over the preceding year of $1,440.35.

There was raised during the progress of the meeting the following sums: For foreign missions, $331; Sabbath-school collections, $250; endowed bed at sanitarium, $350; to pay sanitarium note, $490; scholarship for Washington Seminary, $437; Christian Record, $55; Oakwood Industrial School, $1,800; Strode Industrial Academy, $1,400. In addition to these amounts two thousand dollars was donated to the General Conference from the surplus tithe for foreign mission purposes.

An interesting temperance program was rendered the first Sunday afternoon of the meeting, in which four of our people, one of the ministers of the city, and two leading W. C. T. U. workers took part, each delivering short addresses or recitations. The collection which followed amounted to $25.86, which was equally divided between the camp and the local W. C. T. U. organization.

Three public preaching services were held each day during the entire meeting, at which doctrinal questions were ably discussed, and the principles of practical Christianity clearly set forth. Two regular meetings were held each day especially for the children and young people. Regular meetings were also held each day for the German brethren, of whom there were about sixty encamped on the ground.

As a result of this annual convocation, the brethren were greatly benefited and encouraged, and sixty-four persons were baptized and made ready to unite with the churches in the neighborhoods from which they came.

In addition to the regular laborers in the union and local conference the following were present during some portion of the meeting, and took part in the preaching and other meetings of the conference: Elders G. B. Thompson, G. F. Haffner, G. A. Grauer, and Wm. Voth, Prof. H. R. Salisbury, and the writer. All things taken into account, it was the general opinion that this was the best camp-meeting ever held in the conference. Notwithstanding two of the principal laborers were called away during the meeting to take important positions in other fields,—Elder A. R. Ogden to take the presidency of the Northern Missouri Conference and Elder J. W. Lair to take the presidency of the Eastern Colorado Conference,—the remaining laborers desire to consecrate themselves anew to press the battle to the gates, and finish the work in this generation.

G. A. IRWIN.