The Western Washington Camp Meeting
By I. H. EVANS
It was my privilege to attend the last week of the Western Washington conference and camp meeting, which closed June 27. The meeting was held in a dense fir forest in Manitou Park, adjacent to the city of Tacoma, Wash. Good street car service connects the park with the city, so the public had opportunity of attending the meetings. The officials of Tacoma were very courteous to the conference officers, and their kindness and sympathy helped to make the stay of the campers pleasant. It has seldom been my privilege to attend a camp meeting every arrangement of which was more ideal than this. The attendance of our own people was good, and the citizens of Tacoma often crowded the new tent (80 x 120 ft) to its fullest capacity. The weather throughout was ideal. There was not a day so warm but the sun was welcome. There was not a storm during the meeting to make it uncomfortable for the campers. Every possible arrangement had been made to guard the health of the campers and to provide for their temporal comfort. The grassy lawn for the tents, the deeply shaded forest for meditation and prayer, helped to make the meeting enjoyable as well as helpful. In addition to the regular conference laborers, who worked faithfully and efficiently for the good of the meeting, there were present, a portion or the whole of the time, Elders Flaiz, Healey, Paap, Harlow, and Olsen, Brethren Beatty and Haskens, and the writer. Elder Healey helped to open the work in this northwest territory, and his presence cheered many of the pioneers who knew him in those days of struggle and growth. His preaching during the meetings contributed much to the encouragement of our people, while his sermons on the doctrinal points of our faith were well received by the public. The writer could not see that time had weakened this veteran of the cause, when he stood speaking to an audience of a thousand people. His labors were blessed of God to the good of the meeting. Most of last year’s officers were re-elected for the coming year. They enter upon their duties with courage and with the confidence of the people generally. The Twenty-cent-a-week Fund received considerable attention, and the conference secured a good many pledges for a weekly offering. Some money was also raised to apply on home indebtedness. This conference has given evidence of vitality and growth during the past year, nearly four hundred being added to the church membership, according to the reports. The conference took action, pledging itself not to run in debt in carrying on its work. It will not be long before this policy will bring increased confidence, and secure the support of the entire membership of the conference. Brethren A. E. Serns and J. W. McNiel were ordained to the gospel ministry. The meeting closed with a large attendance from the outside. On Sabbath there must have been more than one thousand present. The laborers go forth with a determination to win many souls to Christ this year, and we have reason to believe there will be a large ingathering of converts for the year 1915.
I. H. EVANS.