Iowa by A. R. Ogden

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 12, 1915

Iowa

By A. R. Ogden

The first six months of the year have passed, and we are glad to send in a few items relative to the work in the Iowa Conference. Our annual conference and camp meeting are now in the past; and while the weather conditions prevented as large an attendance as usual, yet we had a most excellent and sweet-spirited meeting.

Following the camp meeting, we arranged for nine tent companies in the field, which are located as follows: Davenport, Elder J. W. McComas in charge; Burlington, Elder W. K. Smith; Ottumwa, Elder V. B. Watts; Des Moines, Elder J. J. Westrup (Swedish effort); Estherville, Elder P. E. Broderson and Brother J. M. Olsen (Danish effort); Cresco, Elder E. W. Wolfe; Kellerton, Elder J. W. Beams; Rinard, Mrs. Minnie Sype; and Dike, Brethren H. P. Gray and W. A. Gilbert. With each of these tent companies, especially those in large cities, there are several assistants, all of whom are taking hold of the work enthusiastically, and we confidently expect a large ingathering of souls as a result of the summer’s campaign.

It is probable that a local camp meeting will be held later in the season in the southwestern part of the State, as our State meeting was held in the northeastern part of the conference. Our workers are all of good courage and are pressing forward vigorously in their work, united in purpose, for the one great object of saving souls, and we believe that their efforts will be crowned with success.

Brother A. R. Smouse, our treasurer, reports that for the first six months of the year there has been an increase of $2,146.48 in tithe over the same period of 1914, and an increase of $2,678.63 in mission funds, making the total increase of tithe and mission funds for the first six months of 1915 over the corresponding part of 1914 nearly $5,000. We confidently believe that the increase for the last six months of the year will be proportionate to that of the first six months, in which case we shall easily pass our goal of $50,000 tithe and the full twenty cents a week for missions.

Our departmental workers are busily engaged in their various callings, and we are glad to see success attending the efforts put forth. We are especially encouraged with the increase of literature sales in our conference thus far this year. In 1914 our total book and tract sales amounted to $2,072.20 for the first six months of the year, while for 1915 a statement just received from the publishers shows our sales to be $7,016.25, an increase of nearly $5,000. We have a good strong corps of canvassers in the field, quite a number of whom are working for scholarships, and success is attending the efforts of these faithful workers.

If any of the Review readers have friends or relatives in the places where tent meetings are being held, they would do well to write to the workers in charge of the meetings, giving the names and addresses of those whom they would like to have these workers visit.

A. R. OGDEN.