The Eastern Pennsylvania Camp Meeting by B. G. Wilkinson

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

The Eastern Pennsylvania Camp Meeting

By B. G. Wilkinson

THE Eastern Pennsylvania Conference held its annual session in connection with its camp meeting, at Allentown, June 17-27. This is the fifth year in succession that the camp meeting has been held on these grounds. Nevertheless the attendance of our brethren was good, a little larger than in previous years. The camp ground in Allentown is an ideal one, yet it is probably not to the best advantage of the conference as a whole to have the camp meeting there each year.

From the first, the Spirit of God was present in the meetings. Elder S. N. Haskell was in attendance throughout, and his labors, especially his early morning talks, were greatly appreciated. The writer arrived about the middle of the camp meeting, with the helpers who came from the West Pennsylvania camp ground. Dr. D. H. Kress was with us, and rendered valuable service; also Elder A. F. Prieger, of Haiti, and Sister Della Burroway, of India. Other union laborers were present, and the labors of all were greatly blessed.

The annual address of the president, Elder H. M. J. Richards, declared an increase of growth in all departments of the conference during the year 1914. This year noted the increase of the liberality of those who held notes against the conference, and this, together with the liberal donations of others, made possible the wiping out of obligations against the conference, in the form of direct debts, notes, annuities, etc., to the amount of $4,000. There was a splendid financial report, the conference showing all, too, a good increase in both tithes and offerings.

Especially was the influence of the Spirit of God seen in the surrender and consecration of the young people. On the last Sabbath nearly two hundred of them took their places on the rostrum, signifying their intention to surrender their hearts and lives definitely to the service of the Lord. Donations for foreign missions to the amount of $3,500 were taken, practically wiping out the deficit of this conference on the twenty-cent-a-week plan.

Elder H. M. J. Richards was again unanimously elected president of the conference. Practically the same corps of officers as last year was also elected to serve again.

This is a splendid conference. In 1914 three new companies of Sabbath keepers were organized. These are at Lehighton, Blossburg, and Tunkhannock, and will soon be formed into churches. The laborers in this conference baptized 163 persons, 117 of whom accepted the message during the year. Three church buildings were dedicated, one each at Williamsport, Stroudsburg, and Sayre. The Covington church has purchased, at a very reasonable figure, the Presbyterian church of that village; and a new church building is under construction at Blossburg. The Wade church has secured a lot, and made arrangements, whereby they can erect a neat little church. Our brethren at Wilkes-Barre, by a remarkable providence, manifesting itself largely through the kindness of those who are not yet members of the church, find themselves able to contemplate the early building of a house of worship.

The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, which formerly received an appropriation from the North American Division Conference mission fund to help it in its large city work, is able to report that for 1914 it was self-supporting.

Altogether, the camp meeting was a great blessing to the people of God in this conference. It marked an advance step for this field, and will be a great blessing to the churches throughout this conference for the coming year. B. G. WILKINSON.