The Mount Vernon Tent Effort by E. K. Slade

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 29, 1914

The Mount Vernon Tent Effort

By E. K. Slade

[IMMEDIATELY following the Ohio Conference held at Mount Vernon, a nicely located lot was secured in the city, where we pitched the large tent and advertised a series of meetings. Elder N. S. Ashton, assisted by Brother Merritt V. Eusey, was given charge of the work. There had been developed some interest during the camp meeting, and we had had some attendance from the city, but it was not especially large. There was some question in our minds as to the probability of an interest at the tent meetings, as our work had been established here for twenty years, and many opportunities had been granted to the public for hearing.

From the first, the meetings were well attended. There was not an interruption during the whole series on account of bad weather, and nearly every night the tent was full. Many times from one hundred to two hundred who could not be seated stood outside. The attendance ranged from about three hundred to five hundred. The Lord’s especial blessing attended the preaching of the message, and it was made evident to all who attended the meetings that there is a special power in the message for this time, when presented in a plain, direct,

and clear-cut manner. No attempts were made at presenting something new and spectacular. The Lord greatly blessed the plain preaching of the word.

During this series of meetings Mount Vernon was stirred from center to circumference. The wonderful things presented at the tent, were the topic of conversation among the people of the city and the surrounding country.

Quite a number of business and professional men attended the meetings. The assistance given by the members of the Mount Vernon church by their presence, by distributing announcements and literature, and in the singing, was a great help to the meeting.

Between twenty-five and thirty have indicated their purpose to keep the Sabbath and unite with us as a people. It is hoped that as a result of the seed sown a number of substantial persons will unite with the Mount Vernon church. This work is being looked after by Brother Merritt Eusey and others in the church. The meetings have proved a great help and encouragement to the church in this place.

Though collections were not taken very often, yet during the meetings over one hundred dollars was donated, which considerably more than met all the expenses of the effort. E. K. SLADE.