New South Wales Camp-Meeting
By E. H. Gates
THE annual camp-meeting of New South Wales, Australia, was held December 29 to January 8, at Mosman, one of the suburbs of Sydney. In some respects this was the best camp-meeting ever held in this State. From fifty to sixty tents were pitched on the ground, but I can not report the exact number of persons in attendance. Besides the regular conference ministers, there were only two or three general workers present. Profitable youth’s and children’s meetings were held daily. There was a nice class of young people in attendance, many of whom seemed to realize the importance of the present time. In our future work in the mission fields, we build great hopes on these devoted youth. At the beginning of the first Sabbath, a large company gathered in the commodious, clean, and well-arranged tabernacle, to welcome the holy day. To me this was one of the sweetest occasions of the kind in my experience. The peace of heaven brooded over the scene. The services of the Sabbath were principally conducted by Elders Starr and Cobb. The words spoken at the dictation of the Spirit were responded to by many hearts, and about eighty came forward to renew their consecration, some to seek God for the first time. At the evening meetings there was a fair attendance and increasing interest to hear the reasons of our peculiar faith, as set forth by the different conference workers. Dr. Kress spoke three or four times on health subjects. The second Sabbath was the crowning day of the meeting. After a discourse by Elder Cobb, practically the whole congregation made a forward move to seek God for a new consecration. In the afternoon the writer spoke to a large congregation, on our foreign missions, after which Brother McGowan was ordained to the gospel ministry. On Sunday Brother Salisbury, manager of the Echo Publishing Company, and Brother Johansen, general canvassing agent, set before the people the matter of the transfer of the Echo printing-office from the city of Melbourne to a country place, and asked the brethren to make pledges to support this move. (Our union conference committee had16previously recommended this transfer.) In about thirty minutes, 638 pounds ($3,190) was pledged. This is a move which we are certain will result in great blessings to the cause in Australasia and its mission fields, as well as to those who have given so liberally. Before the meeting closed, thirteen repentant souls were baptized. Several have begun the observance of the Sabbath as the result of the meeting, and services are being continued on the same grounds each evening.