Northern Illinois Conference by G. E. Langdon

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

Northern Illinois Conference

By G. E. Langdon

THE forty-third annual session of the Northern Illinois Conference was held at Downers Grove, twenty miles west of Chicago, in connection with the camp meeting, September 3-13. This place has a population of five thousand. The conference was given free use of the beautiful grounds located in the edge of the town. It was the largest meeting ever held in Illinois by our people. Six hundred and fifty tents were pitched on the ground, and on Sabbaths and Sundays the congregation consisted of about one thousand persons. Each evening there was a good attendance from the town. Several nights large numbers of seats had to be provided outside of the pavilion. H. P. Waldo and wife were stationed in the borough to follow up the interest after the camp meeting.

There was considerable rain during the meeting, which made a few days a little too cool for comfort. The large new tent, 70 x 90 feet, was rain-proof. It was dedicated to the Lord at the first service, Elder William Covert offering the dedicatory prayer. The Spirit of God came into the camp services from the very first. Elder O. A. Olsen took charge of most of the early six o'clock services, and the people pressed forward with earnestness and consecration from the beginning. Brother Olsen spoke the first Sabbath, and nearly the whole congregation responded to the appeal to seek God. Opportunity was then given for those who wished to make their first start in service, and for those who had wandered away. About fifty came forward. Half the congregation remained to the aftermeeting. The last Sabbath service was held by Prof. Frederick Griggs, and another remarkable moving of God's Spirit was manifest. Elder T. F. Hubbard and Prof. C. L. Benson took the principal burden of the young people's meetings during the week, as Prof. C. A. Russell was early called home. Twenty-five were baptized at the close of the camp, and several returned to their home churches for baptism. Brother R. Calderone was ordained to the gospel ministry.

The Sabbath school offering to foreign missions the first Sabbath was $610. On the last Sabbath a special effort was made by Elder L. H. Christian, the union president, and $4,400 was raised in cash and pledges, making a total of more than $5,000; $1,650 was received in cash and pledges for the Fox River Academy debt; $250 was raised on tent and camp meeting fund; $150 for the colored church school in Chicago.

Last year books sold on the camp ground amounted to $775. Special plans were laid this year by Brethren J. W. Mace, H. E. Moon, and J. A. Applegate to reach $1,000. It is gratifying to report that the sales were over that amount. One interesting feature of the meeting was the placing, by the young people, of two different tracts in every home in the town, at the same time inviting the people to the meetings.

During 1913 Elder Calderone brought out a company of 15 Italians in Chicago, which have been organized into a church. Laborers' reports showed 181 baptized and 220 new members added to the churches. During the year nearly 200 old names of long standing were dropped from church records, so that the increase over last year's report amounted to only thirty-five. Three new church buildings were added, making sixteen in all. Book sales amounted to $18,544. Mission offerings increased $1,300. Judging from the present outlook, the conference will reach the twenty-cent-a-week apportionment this year. The first nine months show a gain of $2,122. The tithe last year was $28,800, the increase being $600 above the previous year. This year the increase for nine months is $3,615. We feel to praise the Lord for the good outlook for Northern Illinois.

The following elections were made: President, G. E. Langdon; secretary and treasurer, H. E. Moon; field missionary, J. A. Applegate; Sabbath school secretary, Gladys Seeley; educational and young people's secretary, Edith Shepard; religious liberty secretary, G. E. Langdon. Members of conference committee: G. E. Langdon, H. E. Moon, Wm. Covert, P. E. Broderson, J. W. Cummings, David Voth, W. C. Foreman, J. B. Clymer.

The farewell meeting was held Monday morning. The testimonies were full of good cheer and a determination to live for the Master and to help win others to the blessed hope.

G. E. LANGDON.