The Missouri and Kansas Camp Meetings
By R. A. Underwood
According to previous arrangements the North Missouri and South Missouri Conferences united in a union camp meeting upon the Clinton Seminary grounds, in Clinton, Mo. The meeting was a much larger one than had been held in that State for a number of years. About six hundred were encamped on the grounds. After a careful study of the question, both conferences unanimously voted in favor of uniting, making the State of Missouri one conference rather than two. This brought courage to our brethren, and the Spirit of the Lord came into the meeting in a marked manner. There were some local debts hanging over the North Missouri Conference, and the South Missouri people united with the North Missouri people in lifting these. About $2,000 was raised on the General Conference Association debt that had been oppressing the two conferences for many years, and about $6,000 was contributed in cash and pledges on mission funds. Thirty-one believers were baptized. Elders H. Shultz, G. F. Haffner, and J. H. Schilling labored for the Germans especially. Elders G. B. Thompson and J. W. Christian and other union conference laborers gave efficient help. Elder J. S. Rouse, of the Colorado Conference, was unanimously elected president of the united Missouri Conference, and reached the ground about two days before the camp meeting closed. I am writing this on the closing day of the meeting, the Kansas Conferences (East and West Kansas) having met in a union camp meeting here at Wichita. The question of uniting, as the Missouri Conferences had done, was brought before15these two conferences. At first, considerable opposition seemed to exist in the minds of some toward uniting, but after the matter had been considered very carefully in a whole day's discussion from the floor, and careful study had been given to it on the part of the laborers and delegates, it was voted unanimously to unite. From the moment that this step was taken, great courage came into the camp. The Wichita meeting was the largest camp meeting held in Kansas for many years, about one thousand being encamped upon the grounds. About two hundred of these were Germans. Our German brethren joined heartily in the plan of uniting the two conferences. They contributed during the meeting $7,939.14 to foreign missions, including $2,000 on the old General Conference Association debt; the English-speaking brethren contributed $14,010.86. In all, $21,950 was raised in cash and pledges at the Kansas camp meeting. About $2,400 of this was for meeting the General Conference Association debt. About $3,500 will be applied on local debts in the conference, and $500 on the fund for repairing Union College. The remaining portion, which represents much the larger part of the gift, will go to foreign missions. Fifty-two persons were baptized at the meeting. Sabbath afternoon Brother A. G. Steinert was set apart by ordination to the work of the gospel ministry. Our brethren will go from the Kansas camp meeting with a spirit of courage and unity that they have not enjoyed for years. Elder W. D. MacLay was unanimously elected president of the conference: He reached the ground two days before the meeting closed, and was heartily welcomed. We trust that the coming year will mark great advancement in this grand State, which in many respects is a model to the whole sisterhood of States, especially on the temperance question. That God may richly bless our brethren in Missouri and in Kansas in seeing many souls embrace this truth is the prayer of the united conferences of these two States. The labors of Elders G. B. Thompson, Charles Thompson, and J. W. Christian, as well as other brethren, were greatly appreciated by all our brethren. Owing to my feeble condition, I did very little public work aside from acting as chairman of the conference sessions, and rendering such counsel as I was asked to give at both these meetings. I have never been present in a meeting where we have seen greater victories for God and more of his working among the people than in these two conferences. Especially was this the case after the union of the conferences was brought about. I shall look to see advancement all along the lines in these two good States the coming year. I was entertained at the Kansas Sanitarium during the Wichita camp meeting, and taken back and forth each day in the sanitarium automobile. Dr. L. A. Sutter and the sanitarium family showed me every kindness possible. The institution is much appreciated by the people of Wichita, from whom it receives about sixty per cent of its patronage. Now that the conferences are united, we believe that the institutions will receive stronger support. I was much pleased with the spirit and efforts of the sanitarium family.