p. 17 | Western New York Camp-Meeting

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 31, 1907

Western New York Camp-Meeting

By Eugene W. Farnsworth

THE city of Rochester was chosen as the place to hold this conference and camp-meeting. The camp was located in the highest, best part of the city, near the reservoir that furnishes the water-supply. This had the appearance of a small lake with a beautiful fountain in its center.

There were about fifty tents on the ground, and nearly three hundred campers. The weather was favorable, and a spirit of courage and progress pervaded the entire meeting. I did not reach the ground until the fifth day. Elders Eugene Leland and C. F. McVagh, Profs. W. W. Prescott and B. F. Machlan, and the writer united with the laborers in the conference to make the meeting a success. This proved to be one of the busiest camp-meetings of the season.

The conference reports showed a good financial condition, and advancement in all departments of work. During the past nine months the book sales amounted to twice the value of the sales of the previous year by the whole State before the conference division was made. The canvassers are certainly having an encouraging experience. Quite a number of students have been working for scholarships with good success. As they now return to school, others stand ready to enter this department of work, so we look for it to grow in efficiency and power.

The same officers, with few exceptions, were chosen to bear responsibilities in the conference the coming year. We were glad to see the confidence of the people in their laborers, and the harmony and love existing among all the brethren.

There was some outside interest, but not so much as in other meetings we have attended. Some are accepting the truth in Rochester as the result of the labors of Elder J. W. Raymond and those connected with him.

Considerable attention was given to the matter of changing the location of the Buffalo Sanitarium. It was decided to purchase property at Gowanda, a small town about thirty miles from the city, which seems very desirable, and can be secured at a reasonable figure. There are buildings already erected, about thirty acres of land, and from the description given it would seem that all the advantages desired are to be found in this locality. The brethren and sisters will give the new institution their hearty support.

At one of the meetings Professor Prescott related some of his experiences while visiting China and other Eastern countries, and also told us of some of the needs of these great fields. Though no call was made, yet two hundred dollars was given at the close of his address. The Sabbath-school offerings amounted to sixty-four dollars, which was all given to missions. On Sunday, the last day of the meeting, the conference voted to give one thousand dollars of its surplus tithe to the Mission Board. We feel sure that God will bless the liberal spirit manifested by the brethren in lifting up their eyes to see the needs abroad as well as those at home.

Quite a number of young people from western New York will enter our schools this year to prepare themselves as laborers, and we hope soon to see an army of youthful workers developed who will give

the message not only in their own conference, but also in other lands.

About five hundred dollars was given to the Tunesassa School in cash and pledges, and it starts on its second year with good prospects of success. Three hundred dollars was given the tent fund, and this will enable the conference to purchase a more complete camp-meeting outfit. It was truly encouraging to see the ready response to the calls made for different needy enterprises, and the spirit of freedom and good cheer that pervaded the entire meeting. On the Sabbath many started in the Christian life for the first time, and some who had backslidden consecrated their lives anew to God. The outlook before this conference is a hopeful one, if all will unite humbly and earnestly to push forward the work till it is done.

E. W. FARNSWORTH.