The West Pennsylvania Camp Meeting
By B. G. Wilkinson
The beautiful grounds at Homestead, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pa., were selected again this year for the annual session of the West Pennsylvania Conference in connection with its camp meeting. This camp meeting had a larger attendance than any camp meeting held in this conference for a long time. The laborers from the outside who attended this meeting declared it was the best camp meeting they ever attended. The camp was well organized, and every one seemed to be heartily and cheerfully laboring for the blessings of God upon the encampment. Dr. Kress remarked that he had never seen at any camp meeting so much praying. Prayer bands were formed, to go out into the woods and pray together regularly every day, and even in the night seasons one could see groups of two and three pleading with God until a late hour. Very naturally it would be expected that the blessings of God would be on such an encampment. All the laborers spoke the word with power. The labors of Elder Corliss, who was present the first six days of the meeting, were appreciated. Dr. D. H. Kress favored us with his services throughout the entire meeting, and we had also with us Sister Burroway, from India. Elder Prieger, from Haiti, who was visiting friends in the neighborhood of Pittsburgh, dropped in for the last Sabbath and Sunday. There were also present the regular departmental secretaries from the union conference, as well as representatives from the Review and Herald Publishing Association. The report for the year showed a steady gain for the conference in all departments. One hundred and sixteen had been baptized, while about ninety had accepted the truth through tent and hall efforts. The net gain in membership for the year was ninety-three. Already for 1915 the tithes show a gain of nearly $1,000 over last year. On the camp ground the last Sabbath, twenty-five persons were baptized. There was a good attendance from the outside, especially on the Sundays. The last Sunday witnessed a very large crowd from Homestead and some of the other suburbs of Pittsburgh. Every tent on the ground was occupied, and all available renting space used. The revival services were marked with great power and blessing. All present received a new uplift, and certainly left the camp looking forward to better and more fruitful work this coming year. The conference was behind about $1,400 in its mission offerings, but when the matter was presented to the people they returned in offerings to foreign missions about $2,400, or nearly $1,000 more than the deficit. There was also a presentation of the needs of the local work, including a tent fund; and about $600 was subscribed to supply the money needed for these purposes. Elder F. H. Robbins was unanimously reelected president of the conference, with practically the same corps of officers as before. None doubted when they left this camp meeting that the blessing of God had been there, and that the camp meeting would be a real spiritual uplift for the conference this coming year.