Western Washington by W. F. Martin

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Oct 1, 1903

Western Washington

By W. F. Martin

At the last General Conference the Pacific Union Conference Committee asked me to labor in the Western Washington Conference. At the close of the Pendleton camp-meeting I accompanied Elders Knox and Snyder to the Centralia camp-meeting, and after that meeting I came to my district where I am to labor during the year. First, I made a short visit to Ilwaco, to attend to some business regarding a church building at that place. At one time there was a good company at Ilwaco, but most of the members have moved away. Sometime during the year I hope to hold a series of meetings there.

From Ilwaco I returned to Kelso. Here I was joined by Brother and Sister Albert Beck and Sister Belle Shryock. We pitched a tent and began our meetings. A supply of tracts was ordered, and each family was provided with reading-matter on the envelope plan. From the first, the attendance at the meetings was good. In the midst of our meetings a scourge of smallpox struck the town, and the authorities closed all public gatherings. This of course stopped our meetings. We remained, however, till the quarantine was raised, and then held a week's meeting. As a direct result, five were baptized. There is a good-sized congregation at Kelso now, and their Sabbath-school is thriving.

From Kelso we came to Kalama, and began work on the same plan that was followed at Kelso. The people seem willing to hear, and are remarkably free from prejudice. Rains have interfered with our work, yet the attendance has been fair. Already, three have taken a stand for the truth, and a number are interested. We hope to see a good-sized company raised up here to be a witness for the truth of God. My courage and confidence in the Lord's work are good. W. F. MARTIN.