Camp-Meeting Tour in the Central West
By K. C. RUSSELL.
SUNDAY, June 11, I left Washington, D. C., to attend camp-meetings in the Central West. Tuesday, June 13, I reached Woonsocket, S. D., where the South Dakota Conference was holding its annual camp-meeting and conference. I met Elder R. A. Underwood, president of the Northern Union Conference, on my arrival at the station. The camp-ground was located in the city park, only a few steps from the depot, right in the city, and, to add to the beauty of the location, was a beautiful lake which is supplied by water from an artesian well, for which that section of South Dakota is noted. The use of the beautiful ground on which the camp was located was donated by the city, also the water, lights, and two hundred and fifty dollars, as a result of a successful series of meetings which had been held in Woonsocket by Elders Harter and Clark. The meetings were well attended by both our people and the citizens of the place, and the power of God was manifested in the services. Sixty-eight souls were baptized. The last night of the meeting, the Methodist and Presbyterian pastors, with their congregations, were present when we spoke on the subject “Why Seventh-day Adventists Oppose Sunday Laws.” Among other prominent persons of the city who were in attendance at this last service was a judge, the mayor, and an attorney, besides members of the city council. It was voted to hold the camp-meeting there again next year. Elder C. A. Burman was re-elected president. Maple Plain (Minn.) Camp-Meeting This meeting was located in a beautiful grove about twenty-five miles from the city of Minneapolis. The outside attendance was small, but there was an excellent attendance of our people. Notwithstanding the conference had heavy local responsibilities, the meeting was characterized by much of the Holy Spirit’s presence. One of the special features which engaged the attention of the conference was the question of constructing a suitable building in which to continue their industrial school, which has been so nicely started on their farm at Maple Grove. The school will be known as the Maple Grove Academy. There was an unusually heavy fall of rain during the meeting, so much so that the ground was wet and muddy, but even through it all the Lord preserved his people from any unusual sickness, as there were only one or two who were afflicted, and, too, there was no murmuring concerning the weather. Elder J. N. Anderson, of China; Elder J. W. Westphal, of South America; Elder Smith Sharp, of Tennessee; and Dr. W. A. George, of College View, Neb., were present, and were all given an opportunity to present their respective lines of work. Elder H. S. Shaw was unanimously re-elected president of the Minnesota Conference for the ensuing year. A commendable missionary spirit was shown by the conference in pledging to support a worker in another field, notwithstanding its increasing local financial burden. I am informed that in some instances whole churches have left Minnesota for California in order to enjoy a warmer climate, etc. Thus it will be seen that with such a decrease in her membership, the resources would correspondingly decrease. The conference is planning for aggressive work during the summer’s campaign. Monday, June 26, I had the pleasure of spending a few hours at the pleasant home of Elder R. A. Underwood in Minneapolis, Minn. Escanaba (Northern Mich.) Camp-Meeting Escanaba, where this meeting was held, is a city of some twelve thousand inhabitants. This was a local meeting, and consequently there was not a large attendance of our people. The president of the conference, Elder S. E. Wight, and the local conference laborers, were present. Laborers in attendance from outside the conference were Brethren J. B. Blosser and F. C. Gilbert, and the writer. There was a good attendance from the city at most of the evening services. The daily paper of the city gave us over a column of space nearly every day. Special revival services were held, and nearly all present gave their hearts anew to the Lord. At all of these camp-meetings there was a spirit of loyalty shown toward the third angel’s message, and we feel assured that new life and power will be seen. I shall return to Washington via Buffalo, N. Y.