MEETINGS IN EASTERN UNION CONFERENCE
By H. W. Cottrell
A GENERAL meeting was held in Harbor Grace, Newfoundland, at the time appointed, which I attended. Elders H. J. Farman and C. A. Hansen were engaged in holding a tent-meeting at this place. Several of the believers from the St. John’s church were in attendance. The day services were devoted to the special interest of the various branches of our denominational work, and the evenings to the general public. The church at St. John’s is the only organized body of our people on the island. The mission field is practically unentered territory. The inhabitants are, generally speaking, an intelligent, pious class of people; making the Dominion an excellent missionary field. There are but three Conference employees in the field. Elder Hansen and his wife were sent from Iowa by that Conference, and are supported by them. I herein take the liberty to publicly express our gratitude for their interest and liberality in furnishing these laborers for this island. I am sure the Lord will add His blessing. The workers are of good courage. The church at St. John’s is very urgent that the health department of our work be established in their metropolis, even if it be done in treatment rooms for the present, and I heartily concur. St. John’s would be a good place for the proper persons to establish this work. A local camp-meeting was held at Culpeper, August 15-25. The meeting being local in its nature, the attendance of our people was not large. The outside interest was fair. The ministers and workers of the Conference were present, and took part in bearing the responsibilities of the services. Prof. Frederick Griggs, from the Eastern Union Conference Academy, and the writer were present. The Spirit of the Lord was present, and took the lead of the services. Of course no Conference business was transacted, because of the nature of the meeting. About five hundred copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons” were purchased by those present; thus a good spirit was manifested to have a part in every good work to the glory of God. Their Conference will be held later. One of the best camp-meetings I ever attended was held at Barre, Vermont, Aug. 22 to Sept. 2, 1901. The attendance of our people was unusually large, and the outside attendance was good most of the time. The weather was favorable for camping and for open-air services. The laborers from abroad were Elders Place, Bicknell, and Miles, Professor Griggs, Dr. Nicola, and the writer. All their Conference laborers were present. The spirit of freedom prevailed, so that the message of truth was declared with the power of the Spirit of the Lord. The health work, educational work, canvassing and sale of denominational literature, were each considered in its place, to acceptance and profit. In a business meeting, when a resolution concerning the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons” was being discussed, to make the business practical in the assembly, nine hundred and forty-eight books were sold prior to the vote. A similar work was done at all the camp-meetings in this Union Conference. The revival work was entered upon at the beginning of the meeting, and continued throughout the entire period, but both Sabbaths were special seasons of refreshing. Backsliders were caused to again rejoice in a personal Saviour, and sinners were converted to the Lord. The services were characterized by a solemn awe rather than by outward physical demonstration, and the effects were appreciated by all present. Seventeen were baptized, one being a re-baptism, and I understand a goodly number will be baptized at their home churches. This Conference is numerically small, having a membership of about five hundred. They have had a debt of three thousand dollars hanging over them for several years, but now they rejoice that they have cancelled the debt, the last of it being provided for at the camp-meeting. They have planned to enlarge the work in their own Conference, and have taken upon them the responsibility of paying a teacher in the Eastern Union Conference Academy. They also contributed to mission fields as well as to their home interests. I rejoice to see the spirit of Christian expansion coming into our Eastern Conferences. Just a little way from this and the whole world will be controlled by Christ and His own. Glad day! Elder Watt has the co-operation of his brethren, and was re-elected to the office of president. The Sabbath-school Association and the tract society were received into the Conference as departments. In several of our Conferences the tract and missionary societies were accepted as departments years ago, and such as were not, were accepted this year. All are of good courage in the Lord.
H. W. COTTRELL.