Maine Camp-Meeting by C. H. EDWARDS.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 1, 1908

Maine Camp-Meeting

By C. H. EDWARDS.

THE Maine camp-meeting was held at Brownville, Maine, in a beautiful village near the center of the city, August 20-30. The camp itself was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen, comprising about forty tents, and about one hundred fifty persons were encamped on the ground. The encampment was so located as to be easy of access to the people. The outside interest from the beginning was good, there being at times from two to three hundred strangers attending the services.

Elder E. W. Farnsworth, president of the Atlantic Union Conference, was present during nearly the entire meeting. The instruction which he gave was timely, and was highly appreciated by the brethren and sisters. Prof. B. F. Machlan, of South Lancaster, Mass., represented the academy and its work, and also spoke several times to the young people in their meetings. His instruction was received with deep gratitude by the young people. Brethren R. J. Bryant and L. W. Graham represented the publishing work. It was a cause of gratitude to all to know that even in the State of Maine, where it has been said that the canvassing work was dead and merely needed a burial, the book sales during the last year had been three times greater than the year before, and four times greater than the year previous to that. Plans were laid at this meeting for the carrying forward of the periodical and subscription-book work, and a State agent was elected. All were convinced that the coming year would be one of the best in the history of the canvassing work in Maine.

Brother F. M. Dana, who represented the work for the young people, attended the latter part of the meeting, and gave some very timely instruction to both young people and parents.

Elder J. B. Goodrich, one of the pioneers of the message in Maine, was elected president of the conference. He has associated with him four younger men, who will assist him in carrying forward the work in the conference. We were glad to note that the canvassing agent was elected as a member of the conference committee. This is as it should be, because it unites the canvassing work with other branches of the conference as nothing else can do.

It was voted at this meeting that a training-school for workers should be established in one of the cities. This we are certain was a wise move, which will prove a great blessing to the conference. The report of the secretary of the Missionary Volunteer work showed that there are over one hundred twenty-five Seventh-day Adventist young people in Maine who are over twenty-one years of age. Some step should be taken to encourage these young men and women to engage in the Lord's work; hence the training-school was proposed, and the brethren responded promptly, believing that it would be one means of solving the problem of securing workers for the State, and at the same time be the means of saving many young people. Prof. H. C. Giles will have charge of the school. Having successfully conducted a Bible Training-school in New York State, we believe he will be able to take hold of this work in a way which will make it a success.

We feel deeply interested in this part of the work, and believe that the blessing of God will rest upon this effort. It was distinctly understood that this school is not in any way to compete with our other institutions of learning. Those who ought to attend South Lancaster Academy will not be admitted into this training-school, but only those who have mastered the ordinary branches of learning, and who bid fair to become successful laborers in the cause. It is proposed that one half of each day be devoted to school work, and the other half to practical house-to-house work. Thus the workers are to be taught to be self-supporting, and the school will at the same time be practically self-supporting. We bespeak for this school the hearty support of all our people in the State.

A religious liberty secretary was appointed, and steps were taken to carry forward a vigorous campaign in religious liberty work during the coming winter.

At the close of the camp-meeting it was decided that some of the workers should remain in the town, and conduct a series of meetings. We trust that a church may soon be established in Brownville as a monument of the work and cause of God.

Taken altogether, we believe that this camp-meeting will prove to be a great blessing to our brethren and sisters in Maine. C. H. EDWARDS.