Western Washington Camp-Meeting by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 30, 1910

Western Washington Camp-Meeting

By G. B. Thompson

THE annual conference and camp-meeting of the Western Washington Conference was held May 26 to June 5, at Vancouver, a town of ten thousand inhabitants, just across the Columbia River from the city of Portland, Ore. Though the meeting was not very centrally located in the conference, the attendance of our people was quite good. Most of the churches were represented by delegates. The business of the conference was characterized by the utmost unity, and a good spirit of freedom was seen in the consideration of plans for the extension of the work both at home and abroad. Elder S. W. Nellis was re-elected as president. A revival spirit was carried through the meeting; a number gave their hearts to God, and over twenty were baptized in the Columbia River the last day of the meeting.

This conference, like others in this union, is blessed with many mature, consecrated young people who have been educated in our schools, and are available for workers; encouragement was given to a number of these to enter the work. Several young men were granted a license to preach, and Brother W. J. Boynton was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry.

The conference had been giving the $300,000 Fund consideration in the local churches before the meeting, and a large part of their share had been arranged for. About one thousand dollars was raised at this meeting, and it is planned by the conference to have the whole amount raised this year, if possible.

I enjoyed meeting the Sabbath-keepers in this conference. The outlook is encouraging. The field is filled with a thrifty, enterprising class of citizens, many of whom are waiting for the message. The reports of the various departments indicated progress. A vote was passed appropriating $1,500 from their surplus tithe to the work in foreign fields. Elders E. W. Farnsworth, C. W. Flaiz, president of the North Pacific Union Conference, other union conference laborers, and the writer, attended the meeting, and, with the local workers, shared the blessing and burdens of the meeting.

The outlook for the work of God is very encouraging. There are men and money sufficient to man and operate the work in the world. What we all need is more consecration, and spiritual discernment to perceive the available resources within our reach.

G. B. Thompson.