The Cumberland Conference Camp-Meeting at Spring City, Tenn.
By Geo. I. Butler
The Cumberland River Conference, embracing the east half of Kentucky and Tennessee, held its main annual camp-meeting at Spring City, August 31 to September 10, and has just closed. It has been a very excellent and profitable meeting. The writer reached the camp-ground Monday, September 4, and found the meeting in progress. He was the only public laborer present outside of the bounds of the conference. Professor Tenney, Elders Wells, Godsmark, Bird, Woodward, and the president of the conference, Brother W. W. Williams, took a prominent part in the labors of the meeting. The attendance of our brethren was not quite so large as at the Nashville meeting, but nearly so; but the attendance from the outside far exceeded the number who attended at Nashville. In fact, the pavilion was packed quite full every night, and some sat outside in chairs. They gave the best of attention, and seemed deeply interested. Years ago Elder Kilgore lectured at19Spring City, and a few came out. This, we think, is one of the places where a number of our brethren who had been arrested for breaking Sunday, had been worked in the chain-gang. This was referred to by Elder Kilgore, who was present one day, having been summoned there on important business. He gave a remarkably interesting discourse on the restoration of the true Sabbath in the last days, many of the citizens desiring to hear him. The Cumberland Conference does not have its annual election until January, and so there was more time given to religious meetings and spiritual matters. The wants of the Graysville school in the line of repairs and added facilities were considered. Professor Tenney, Elder Kilgore, and the writer, took an earnest part in the presentation of these matters. We do not know the exact amount of money raised, but think upward of two hundred dollars was subscribed. A camp-meeting and tent fund of about the same amount was also raised. The religious and spiritual interests of the meeting were strongly represented. On the last Sabbath a good work was accomplished. Nearly one half of the congregation came forward for prayers, and there was a social meeting of interest. There was freedom of spirit and increased interest manifested quite fully in the latter portion of the meeting. The plan for young people's meetings and work in the cause was presented earnestly by Professor Tenney and others. This is a subject being taken up at all the camp-meetings in this union conference this season. An attempt is being made to have in every church a special interest in encouraging the young people to enter ardently into the labor of circulating the truth among the people and doing good in other ways. It is a work every way worthy of commendation, and we hope it will result in preparing many laborers for work in the cause of Christ. In the writer's judgment, this was the best meeting he ever attended in the Cumberland Conference. There was a greater spirit of union manifested by those present, and a more general interest to dedicate their hearts to the upbuilding of the cause of God. Doubtless there is still a chance for great improvement in this direction, but there are certainly many good omens of increased interest. It was a very pleasant season. The weather was very favorable, and the camp was situated in a fine grove, with plenty of good water. A large portion of the friends of the cause in the Cumberland Conference were present. We greatly hope that enough money will be raised to help in the repairs upon the school buildings, so that a greater degree of power in the work of God will be manifested. To the best of the writer's knowledge, the spiritual condition in this conference, really the strongest in the Southern Union, has encouragingly improved. We shall hope for greater advances in the salvation of souls and the upbuilding of the precious cause we love.—Geo. I. Butler, in the Watchman.