The Ohio Camp Meeting by B. G. Wilkinson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 17, 1914

The Ohio Camp Meeting

By B. G. Wilkinson

THE readers of the REVIEW will be greatly encouraged to know how signally the Lord visited our Ohio camp meeting. In connection with the annual conference session, the camp meeting was held on the beautiful campus of Mount Vernon Academy. The attendance was large, perhaps the largest in the history of Ohio camp meetings, the Sabbath school the last Sabbath numbering 847.

The interest from the outside was good. The first Sunday night the writer spoke upon “The Present European War From the Prophetic Standpoint.” A very large audience of those not of our faith was present. Each succeeding night the truth was presented with clearness and power. So great was the interest in Mount Vernon that the Ohio brethren decided to ask Elder N. S. Ashton, Bible teacher in Mount Vernon Academy, to conduct a series of meetings for two or three weeks in the city before he took up his annual duties as Bible teacher in Mount Vernon Academy.

There were many items of interest in connection with the Ohio camp meeting. It was encouraging the last Sabbath to see all the brethren rally to give a donation amounting to more than one thousand dollars. Also, the revival of that morning was attended by the power of God. Five or six hundred persons took their places in the center tier of seats, confessing their sins and surrendering to God.

The offering to foreign missions was given in a meeting the like of which visiting brethren said they had never seen before; $11,053.86 was given in cash and pledges; three brethren gave $500 gifts; one, a $300 gift; two, $250 gifts, and nineteen, $100 gifts. It was inspiring to see the brethren breaking loose from their worldly holdings and giving to God. One hundred and sixty dollars was pledged by the young people for their China fund. A Bohemian brother who has recently accepted the truth expressed his gratitude by pledging $600, conditioned on the sale of property; another brother pledged $250, on the sale of a lot; one of our ministers pledged $500, on the sale of a tract of land; and two other brethren $500, on the sale of valuable horses.

The baptisms numbered forty-three, of which twenty-two were young persons. Of the latter, fourteen were from churches where our church schools are located.

Elder E. K. Slade was reelected president, with practically the same corps of officers. The Ohio Conference, from every standpoint, shows records of splendid gains for the past year. Truly God is working upon the hearts of his dear people there.

Hand in hand with this advance stands the marked prosperity of Mount Vernon Academy. The last year was the very best in the history of the school. It had the largest enrollment in its history. The balance sheet showed a gain of $10,994. The debt of $33,000 has now been reduced to less than $18,000. The blessings of God upon this institution have overflowed and trickled out to the surrounding region, thus making it a splendid power for the advancement of the work there.

We were greatly helped at this camp meeting by the general labors of Elders F. W. Paap, J. L. Shaw, and C. L. Benson. Brother Paap gave special attention, with splendid results, to the newly organized and working Home Missionary Department of the North American Division. W. L. Burgan was present, and gave valuable help not only in the newspaper work but in other lines. I. A. Ford, of the Review and Herald Office; J. W. Mace, of the Lake Union; and John McConaughey, of the Southern Union, represented the publishing work. Dr. H. W. Miller represented the important interests of the Washington Sanitarium. The union departments were represented by Elders Dowsett, Stone, Horton, and Richardson, and Professor Salisbury of Mount Vernon Academy.

This blessed camp meeting surely will do great things for the advance of the work in Ohio this coming year. B. G. WILKINSON.