The New Jersey Camp Meeting by B. G. Wilkinson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 9, 1915

The New Jersey Camp Meeting

By B. G. Wilkinson

The annual camp meeting, at which was held the annual conference session of the New Jersey Conference, was held this year in a new locality, Burlington, N. J. This place lies on the Delaware River, a short distance north of Camden. The attendance at the camp meeting was very good, the number present being 450, or about one third more than at the camp meeting the previous year.

The Spirit of the Lord was present at all the meetings from the very beginning, and every one went away from the camp ground well satisfied with the meetings, and thankful for what he had seen and heard.

The report of the president of the conference showed a good increase in tithe and offerings. The amount of tithe for 1913 was $18,511; for 1914, $19,557, or an increase of $1,046. The amount given for foreign missions in 1913 was $5,414; for 1914, $7,973, or an increase of about $2,500. The number baptized in 1914 was 143, which gave an increased membership to the conference of 96.

There was also one beautiful new church building dedicated, the worth of which is about $5,000. Thus we see that the cause is progressing in New Jersey, where all the workers are earnestly giving themselves to the work of the message. The number baptized at the camp meeting was eighteen.

One special feature of the camp was the devoting of the eleven-o'clock hour to personal work by the conference laborers among the people of the camp, visiting them in their tents, praying with them, and helping in every way possible. The campers remained in their tents during this hour, and it was a most profitable season for all. They felt this to such an extent that in the closing meeting the conference recommended that this same plan be followed the coming year. The outlook is good for the tent companies in the field, six different tent efforts being carried on throughout the State at the present time.

The year previous witnessed at different times the selling of magazines, books, and different forms of literature from the pulpit. This year, however, the New Jersey committee decided to eliminate that feature, keeping the pulpit as far as possible for the ministry of the word and the labor for souls. Book sales and literature sales did not suffer on account of this, for about $1,000 worth of these was disposed of at the book tent, which was more than had been sold in any year previous.

The call for foreign missions, both in the Sabbath school and in a separate call, was responded to by $1,735. Home work also was not neglected, and $532 was given for the tent and camp meeting fund.

As this camp meeting was held at the same time as that of the Chesapeake Conference, and these two in turn overlapped the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference camp meeting, it was not possible for the laborers of the union to be with the brethren at the New Jersey camp meeting a very long time. However, the meeting was favored with short visits from such missionaries as Brother Prieger, Sister Burroway, and Professor Shaw. The Lord blessed in all the services, and the brethren left rejoicing in the blessings received.

B. G. WILKINSON.