The Kentucky Camp Meeting by Chas. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Sep 14, 1916

The Kentucky Camp Meeting

By Chas. Thompson

This meeting was held August 17-27, in a beautiful grove in the city of Bowling Green. About one hundred and twenty-five believers from the various churches were in regular attendance, and a large number of intelligent people from the city were present at the evening services.

In connection with this camp meeting, the business meetings of the ninth annual session of the conference were held. All departments of the work showed a remarkable and encouraging gain over the previous year. From the president's address I quote the following:—

“A brief sketch of the work done in the conference during the year 1915 will no doubt be of interest to each believer here.

“Ten series of meetings, varying in length, have been held in different parts of the conference. In each of these meetings some persons have accepted the truth. Seven churches have been organized, with a membership of 133. There were 178 persons baptized, and 32 were received into the church on former baptism, making an addition of 210 to the conference. Since our last camp meeting 124 believers have been baptized and added to the church. During the year 1915 five churches were erected, and others were secured by the conference. During the present year one church of colored believers has been organized in Lexington, with a membership of 28. Thus far in 1916 we have secured two church buildings. Our workers, both white and colored, have worked faithfully to bring about these results. We thank God for what has been accomplished.

“The tithe for the conference amounted to $4,924.86 for the past year, a gain over the previous year of $803.25. The tithe of the Kentucky Mission amounted to $1,897.71, a gain over the previous year of $317.71, making the total gain in tithe $1,120.96. During the past year we gave $3,684.76 to support the work in foreign lands. This is more than was given the previous year, yet we were unable to reach the goal of twenty cents a week per member. I hope that during this meeting plans may be laid so that our missions will receive the full amount due them for 1916. We can raise this amount if we will do our best.

“During the past year we have conducted six church schools, with an enrolment of 82. Plans are being laid to conduct seven church schools and one rural school this coming school year.

“The Missionary Volunteer work has been a source of real encouragement the past year. By the blessing of the Lord our young people were able to meet the goal set by the General Conference in winning souls and in raising money for missions. I hope the older people throughout the conference will encourage our young people to labor untiringly for souls.

“The Sabbath school work is a strong factor in our conference. We are glad to report a good increase in both the interest in, and the offerings for, missions. There has been a spirit of study manifested by our people throughout the conference, and a number are receiving cards for perfect attendance. Our offerings for the past year were $1,775.50, which is a good increase over the previous year.

“Our field secretary, Brother James Hickman, and his band of faithful workers, during the past year have sold $18,765.77 worth of our literature, which is an increase over the previous year of $4,441.56; and nearly every canvasser in the field has reported men and women accepting the truth from reading the books sold to them. This should encourage others to be soul-winners.

“We are also glad to see growth in the home missionary work. One church in the conference has been making a

thorough campaign with our literature, and as a result several persons are keeping the Sabbath. I wish each church in the conference would take hold of the work to warn those in its neighborhood. The home missionary work has been greatly strengthened the past year; yet we trust there will be still greater zeal manifested in this work.”

One of the most encouraging reports of the conference was given by the secretary of the Missionary Volunteer department. She reported five societies, with a membership of 134; forty conversions during the past year; and $250 raised for missions. Four hundred and forty-one persons are reading the Bible through at the present time.

Elder B. W. Brown, who has been president of the conference the past five years, has the confidence and esteem of the constituency, and was unanimously chosen to serve the coming term. The same executive committee was retained, except that Brother E. A. Williams, the secretary and treasurer of the conference, was added to the executive committee, making a committee of six.

The laborers present from outside of the conference were Elder Meade MacGuire, of the North American Division Conference, Brethren J. W. Davis, L. H. Wood, and G. H. Curtis, of the Southern Union Conference, and the writer.

Subjects of a practical nature were dwelt upon during the day, and a regular series of doctrinal sermons was presented to the large congregation that assembled from evening to evening.

The interests of the young people were looked after by Professor Wood and Elder MacGuire, and the missionary department by Brethren Hickman and Davis. The total offerings received for missions during the meeting amounted to nearly $500.

One most helpful and inspiring feature of the closing days of the meeting was the music contributed by the Watchman Quartet from Nashville. The spiritual selections, and the soul and enthusiasm put into them were thoroughly enjoyed by all.

We feel that the Kentucky camp meeting was a success, and we believe the laborers go to their fields, and the laity to their homes, with an enlarged vision and a renewed determination to win souls for the kingdom. This bespeaks for the conference a larger growth and a greater increase the coming year than ever before.

CHAS. THOMPSON.