Western Pennsylvania by E. W. Farnsworth

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Feb 15, 1906

Western Pennsylvania

By E. W. Farnsworth

A MEETING for the workers of the Western Pennsylvania Conference was held at Pittsburg, beginning January 11, and lasting ten days. The meetings were held in a church which the brethren in Pittsburg have secured. It is in a good locality, and after having been repaired and renovated, makes a convenient and the comfortable house of worship for the church in that city. The cost is considerable, as property is rated at a high value, but the brethren have succeeded thus far in meeting their payments, and we hope that they will soon be free from debt.

I was greatly pleased with the spirit of brotherly love and union which prevailed among the workers during this meeting. It was manifest that they had come for one purpose,—to be better fitted to go into the field and carry the truth to all parts of the conference. There is much territory yet unentered in western Pennsylvania, many large cities need to be warned, some whole counties have had no labor bestowed upon them, and it is well that the workers are considering how to quickly carry the truth to all parts of the conference.

Three meetings were held each day. Some time was given to the discussion of plans for conducting camp-meetings, that they may result in the greatest good. It was voted to hold the camp-meeting next summer at Dubois if suitable grounds can be secured. This town is centrally located, and can be reached conveniently by the brethren from all parts of the conference.

The advisability of publishing a daily paper during the camp-meeting was discussed, and it was decided to issue such a paper containing reports of sermons and other matter calculated to interest the people. The brethren in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference intend to adopt the same plan.

The canvassing work received considerable attention during the meeting. The new book, “Ministry of Healing,” was introduced, and, while there is no sanitarium in western Pennsylvania that would be benefited at present by the sale of the book, yet the brethren generously said, “Let us sell all the books we can, the proceeds to go wherever they will do good.” Quite a number of orders were taken for the book during the meeting.

The plan for selling “Christ’s Object Lessons” adopted by the Atlantic Union Conference, will receive hearty support in western Pennsylvania. All the laborers will become canvassers for two weeks, and they say, “We are going to have the most enthusiastic campaign selling ‘Christ’s Object Lessons’ the coming spring that we have ever had.” With such a disposition manifested, we are looking forward to a record sale of the book, and the brethren contemplate a general revival of the canvassing work throughout the conference.

Quite a number of colored people have accepted the truth in Pittsburg, and the last Sunday of the meeting a church for the colored brethren and sisters was organized, to be known as the Second

Seventh-day Adventist church of Pittsburg. Brother Green, of Washington, has been laboring acceptably for his people, and we shall hope to hear of rapid growth and progress in this church.

It is well known that western Pennsylvania is the stronghold of the National Reform movement. The religious liberty work was considered at this meeting, and Elder C. S. Longacre gave an interesting report of his work. Strenuous efforts will be made to scatter literature for the enlightenment of the people, and the brethren seem to be awake to the situation.

Many who attended this general meeting testified that they had gained a new spiritual experience, and that they had been greatly benefited by the Bible studies which were held each afternoon and evening. The experiences of Ezra and Nehemiah in connection with the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah, when compared with our own time and work, presented an interesting parallel, and the Holy Spirit witnessed to the word spoken. Elder W. J. Fitzgerald and the writer enjoyed great liberty in speaking to the people.

The meeting in Pittsburg was a profitable one. We feel grateful as we remember its blessings and opportunities. We left the brethren and sisters of good courage, and we feel sure this meeting will be the beginning of a forward movement all over the conference.

E. W. FARNSWORTH.