New Jersey Camp-Meeting by B. F. Kneeland

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 24, 1908

New Jersey Camp-Meeting

By B. F. Kneeland

This meeting was held at Woodbury, August 20-30. An excellent spirit prevailed. The camp being located near the center of the city, the meeting was well attended by the citizens. A tent-meeting in charge of Elder G. W. Spies had been in progress for several weeks in another part of the city, and this had created a good impression of our work. Over fifty tents were pitched on the grounds, while a number found lodging in neighboring houses. I think I never attended a meeting where the people of the city seemed so friendly to us. The distribution of a large number of the special Temperance number of the Watchman throughout the city, and the excellent temperance rally held on the first Sunday of the meeting, helped to interest the people in our work.

The pastors of the city were either sick or absent at the time of our temperance rally, but we secured the hearty co-operation of the W. C. T. U. Mrs. M. E. Sparks, the county secretary, gave an excellent address at the rally. Among the other speakers were Elders Morris Lukens, of Washington, D. C., and D. E. Lindsey, who was formerly a laborer in the New Jersey Conference. The program was thoroughly enjoyed by the large number of citizens who were present, and served as a good introduction of our meeting to the people, a number of whom attended nearly every service, including early morning meetings.

The time of the meeting was entirely occupied in labor for the spiritual interests of the people, and instruction in the various lines of work. Special days were devoted to home and foreign missionary work, Missionary Volunteer work, educational, religious liberty, medical missionary, and other lines. Studies were conducted for the benefit of church officers, and Elder E. E. Andross gave a series of talks on the spirit of prophecy which were greatly appreciated. At the evening services there were strong presentations of various doctrinal themes, which made a deep impression on the large audiences.

Several laborers from abroad were in attendance, but most of them remained only a few days. However, the short visits of Elders I. H. Evans, K. C. Russell, W. G. Kneeland, O. O. Bernstein, and Prof. H. R. Salisbury were greatly appreciated. Elder W. H. Heckman, of the East Pennsylvania Conference, and Elder L. F. Starr, of the Chesapeake Conference, also rendered efficient aid during the meeting. Profs. S. M. Butler of Mount Vernon College, and M. E. Kern labored for the young people and the educational work. Elder Lukens and Brother I. D. Richardson assisted our own workers in looking after the interests of the book work. A symposium was held on Monday afternoon in which about twenty of our canvassers gave inspiring accounts of their experiences. The services of Dr. W. H. Smith, superintendent of the Philadelphia Sanitarium, were very helpful. He devoted considerable time to medical consultations and public talks on medical missionary topics. After the reading of some special Testimonies on the sale of “Ministry of Healing” as a means of aiding our sanitariums, a resolution pledging our support to this plan was unanimously adopted.

After Elder Evans had outlined the plan for the Thanksgiving week campaign, it was decided by unanimous vote of the congregation that New Jersey would take and use ten thousand copies of the special Mission number of the REVIEW in this campaign. We feel sure that this will bring great blessings to the work in our conference, as well as aid the Foreign Mission Board in carrying the message to foreign fields.

The Sabbath-school donations amounted to $55, and $531.64 was subscribed to the conference tent fund. The previous donation of a new gospel tent from the Paterson church has enabled us to put five tent companies in the field.

The meeting was a great blessing spiritually to our people. More than twenty made a start for the first time, and many backsliders were reclaimed. Seven were baptized in the Delaware River during the meeting. The outside interest increased until the close. The last Sunday night a large audience listened to an inspiring sermon on the change of the Sabbath by Elder Andross.

Elder Geo. W. Spies remains at Woodbury with a tent and a good supply of workers to follow up the interest. We feel sure that this meeting has been a great blessing to all who attended, and trust that all will pray that God will especially bless the work during the fall campaign. The note of advance has sounded; delay is dangerous.

B. F. KNEELAND.