p. 16 | The Kentucky Camp-Meeting by E. G. Hayes

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

The Kentucky Camp-Meeting

By E. G. Hayes

The first camp-meeting of the Kentucky Conference was held in a beautiful beach grove in the edge of Moreland, Ky., September 24 to October 4.

At the meeting of the Southern Union Conference held last January, all that portion of the Cumberland and Tennessee River conferences lying in the State of Kentucky and east of the Tennessee River, was formed into a temporary organization as a conference awaiting the opportunity of adopting a constitution and by-laws at its fall camp-meeting. Hence at this meeting the Kentucky Conference was fully organized, and a constitution and by-laws, providing for present conditions and future development, were adopted.

In the opening session of the conference,

the president, Elder A. O. Burrill, gave an interesting account of the progress of the work in this field during the past eight months. At the beginning of that period the recorded membership was two hundred sixty-two—two hundred seventeen of whom were white, and forty-five colored. This list needs revising, as many have moved from the State. Twenty others have been added during the past season.

This new conference is of good courage, and greatly appreciates the help which it has received,—three large field tents, one from the California, one from the South Dakota, and one from the West Michigan Conference; also two laborers with their support for two years from the West Michigan Conference, and two hundred dollars for other expenses; and one minister with his support for two years from the South Dakota Conference. The Lord is blessing the efforts of these brethren as they unite earnestly in the work in this field.

We were also glad to see a good interest in all departments of the work. Brother C. F. Dart has put in faithful work in arousing an interest in the circulation of our literature, and thousands are being reached by the printed page. All showed an intense interest in all departments of the work, not only in the home field, but also in the work abroad, as the field is one.

Elder A. O. Burrill was re-elected president of the conference. The other officers elected are as follows: Secretary and treasurer, Mrs. Clara Russell; educational and religious liberty secretary, E. G. Hayes; Sabbath-school and Missionary Volunteer secretary, Miss Dollie Callender; field missionary agent and secretary, C. F. Dart; corresponding secretary, Mrs. A. O. Burrill. Conference committee: A. O. Burrill, E. G. Hayes, Walter Jones, C. F. Dart, and R. W. Harris.

A legal association, to be known as the Seventh-day Adventist Association of Kentucky, was formed. The members of the conference committee were elected as the board of the legal association, with A. O. Burrill as chairman; E. G. Hayes, secretary; and R. W. Harris, treasurer.

Ministerial credentials were given to A. O. Burrill, E. G. Hayes, J. M. Irving, and Walter Jones; ministerial licenses to Lon Russell and H. M. Jacobs; and missionary licenses to Mrs. Clara Russell, Miss Anna Horning, C. F. Dart, Miss Dollie Callender.

Elder G. A. Irwin, president of the Southern Union Conference, and Elder C. F. McVagh, vice-president, also A. F. Harrison and Dr. W. A. George, were with us during a large part of the camp-meeting, and their labors were much appreciated by all. Elder Irwin conducted a number of special studies upon the subject of the spirit of prophecy, which were as meat in due season, and all felt that their faith was greatly strengthened, and rejoiced that the Lord had thus manifested himself to this people.

There was a fair attendance at the evening meetings from the town and its vicinity by those not of our faith; also several who had lately embraced the message as the result of the tent-meetings conducted on the same grounds during the summer, were in attendance.

Although our work as a conference is new, and our numbers are few, all are of good courage, and know that this message will soon triumph; and as we separated for our homes and various fields of labor, it was with the desire to have our lives ever dedicated to God, and by his help push the battle to the gates, that we may be able to do our part in finishing the work he has given us to do.

E. G. HAYES.