The Upper Columbia Camp-Meeting by George A. Irwin

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 14, 1906

The Upper Columbia Camp-Meeting

By George A. Irwin

THIS meeting was held at Milton, Ore., May 17-27. The camp was located in a beautiful cotton-wood grove belonging to Brother Nichols. The Walla Walla River, a beautiful mountain stream, flows along the east side of the grove. There is a large irrigating ditch on the west and a smaller one runs diagonally through the grounds. These supplied the camp with an abundance of fresh water. A camp-meeting was held on this same ground, twenty-seven years ago, at which time the Upper Columbia Conference was organized with three churches and a membership of one hundred and fifty. Elder G. W. Colcord was elected president. Elder I. D. Van Horn, the pioneer of the work in this field, and Sister White were the principal laborers at this meeting. This was the second conference organized in this great northwest territory, which now has five organized conferences, with an aggregate membership of something over five thousand.

At the meeting just closed there were one hundred and forty family tents pitched upon the ground, containing a population in the aggregate of seven hundred people. Quite a number of people drove a long distance, some in farm wagons and others in spring wagons or in covered carriages, to attend this their first camp-meeting, who, although they made a great sacrifice to attend expressed themselves as being doubly repaid for the effort. It was the plan of the conference officers to have had a workers’ meeting composed of the delegates precede the camp-meeting, at which meeting the business of the conference would all be transacted. But there were not sufficient delegates present at this meeting to justify the officers in going ahead with the business; hence some of the time of the camp-meeting proper was devoted to this work.

The report of the president and other officers of the conference showed a healthy growth and advancement in all departments of the work. Six new churches with an aggregate membership of one hundred and forty were added to the conference; in addition to this one hundred and sixty persons have been baptized and added to the older churches, making a total increase for the year of three hundred members. About twenty-three thousand dollars in tithe was paid into the conference treasury during the year. From this amount, Elder W. W. Steward has been supported while laboring in the Southern field, and Elder Geo. W. Casebeer, who went from this conference as a laborer to South America. After paying these laborers, in addition to the regular laborers of the conference, there is still remaining in the conference treasury between eight and nine thousand dollars. A motion was unanimously passed in open conference donating three thousand dollars of this surplus to the General Conference to assist in supporting its missionaries and missions in foreign lands. In addition to this donation, the conference voted to give one of its German laborers to the work in the East and support him for one year from their tithe. Such liberality toward the general work brought the blessing of God into the meeting, and the whole congregation arose and joined in singing, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”

The local laborers of the conference were assisted during the meeting by Elders Haffner, Tait, W. B. White, and the writer. Elder White could remain only two days on his way to the meeting in British Columbia. Elder Haffner spent most of his time preaching to the German brethren, over fifty of whom were encamped on the ground. Dr. Holden spent the greater portion of one day at the meeting, during which time he gave a very interesting and instructive public lecture, and at its conclusion held a special meeting for men. The evening and Sunday sermons were all based upon some one of the cardinal points of our faith; the other services consisted of Bible studies and practical talks upon subjects involving faith, growth in Christian experience, and the importance of individual missionary effort. Special meetings were held each morning and evening for the young people, of whom there was a large number in proportion to the whole number of families encamped on the ground. Two meetings were held in the interest of church-school work, and there was on public exhibition samples not only of the literary but practical work done in these schools, which indicated a high degree of interest and application upon the part of the pupils, and an especial adaptability and proficiency upon the part of the teachers.

Professor Cady, president of Walla Walla College, was present a portion of the time, and gave three public talks upon the subject of Christian education and the importance of parents’ taking a deeper interest in the education and training of their children. The prospects now are, that the coming school year will see the fullest attendance and most prosperous year the Walla Walla College has yet seen. A deep interest is manifested in this conference in the subject of education, which at no distant day will be of practical value to the cause of God in general, in the form of consecrated young men and women for service in mission fields both at home and abroad. The canvassing work has been receiving special attention. An institute for this class of workers was recently held at the college, with an attendance of sixty people, most of whom are already out in the work.

The last two days of the meeting were especially interesting and helpful to the brethren. The Lord especially blessed in the services on Sabbath forenoon, and scores of souls were set free, who will go away rejoicing not only in God’s forgiving grace, but in his promise of keeping power. At the conclusion, thirty souls presented themselves for baptism. At the close of the afternoon service, Brethren F. D. Wagner, O. K. Butler, and C. F. Knott were solemnly set apart to the gospel ministry by prayer and the laying on of hands. Over three hours Sunday forenoon were devoted to the consideration of the statements made in the leaflet entitled, “Some History, Some Experiences, and Some Facts.” When the real facts (as brought out in the reply of the General Conference Committee) was read, the brethren seemed quick to discern the fallacy and animus of the leaflet, and by a unanimous rising vote expressed their confidence in the Testimonies and the present administration and form of organization in the following resolution:—

“Resolved, That we reaffirm our confidence in the Testimonies of the Spirit of God, and approve of our present form of organization; and furthermore, that we extend to our General Conference officers our hearty sympathy and unqualified support.”

Owing to his having been called to take up general work in the Union Conference, Elder Breed was relieved from the presidency of the conference and Elder G. E. Langdon was elected to the position. Elder Levi Gibson was elected vice-president, and T. L. Copeland secretary and treasurer. Ministerial credentials were granted to seventeen persons; two received ministerial license, and fourteen missionary credentials.

With this large list of consecrated workers, supplemented by the missionary efforts of the laity who have received a new inspiration and sense of individual responsibility at the meeting, may we not hope for increased activity and consequent results in the Upper Columbia Conference in the year to come?

G. A. IRWIN.