Western Washington Conference and Camp Meeting
By O. A. Olsen
LEAVING the Southern California camp meeting at Alhambra August 15, I spent a few very profitable days with Elder W. C. White and other brethren at St. Helena and Mountain View, Cal., in counsel and study over literature for the many foreign nationalities in our country. Heretofore much study has been given to the production of needed literature in German, Scandinavian, French, and Spanish. Now thought must be given to such nationalities as Russians, Poles, Bohemians, Italians, Roumanians, Hungarians, and Servians. Proper literature in these languages is an urgent necessity. While at St. Helena I had the privilege of several visits with Sister E. G. White. I found her remarkably cheerful and bright, and possessing the same deep interest and solicitude for the work that have been so marked these many years. I esteemed very highly the privilege of this visit. While at St. Helena I made a short visit to the Pacific Union College, near St. Helena. This was my first visit to this interesting place. The situation is certainly a unique one, affording many facilities for developing a real industrial college. And wonderful achievements have already been made both in attendance and in financial success, during the short period of its existence. With good management and God's blessing it is bound to be a real success. Leaving San Francisco the evening of August 22, I arrived in Auburn, Wash., August 24 at noon. The Western Washington camp meeting was located right in the edge of this village, very convenient of access. I found the meeting under full headway. This was the largest camp meeting held in this conference. There were two hundred tents pitched among the trees, and nearly eight hundred campers. On the last Sabbath of the meeting there were fully one thousand of our people in attendance. The laborers from outside the local conference and union were Elders George Enoch, Meade MacGuire, H. S. Shaw, and Luther Warren, and the writer. The conference proceedings were harmonious. The report of the work showed good progress in all departments during the last year. Nine new churches, with a collective membership of 169, had been organized during the year and added to the conference. A very good gain, indeed. Very substantial gains were also shown in the tithe, Sabbath school offerings, mission funds, and book sales, but the conference was a good deal behind on its mission funds. This matter received special attention during the meeting. Elder Enoch presented the situation and the needs of the great India Union Mission field, from which he recently returned, and $10,000 was subscribed in cash and pledges. Many of these pledges were made on condition of sale of property. Besides this the Sabbath contributions to mission funds for the two Sabbaths were $543.73, and $871.76 in cash and pledges for the home work of the conference. Our people in that conference are not among the wealthy ones, and times are not the most favorable, but they showed a real spirit of liberality, which God will bless. The meeting was a good one. A spirit of deep earnestness prevailed throughout. One special feature I shall mention. Wednesday morning was set apart for a special season of prayer for the distressed cause and our afflicted people in Europe, because of the terrible war raging there. The camp omitted breakfast, so as to have more time for the service. At the opening a brief statement was made of the condition existing in Europe as far as we had had information. Then our own condition of unpreparedness for the great crisis was dwelt on. The Spirit of God made a deep impression on all present. The congregation was then divided into six groups, and the service continued with prayer, confession, and testimonies. Altogether, the meeting lasted three hours. It was indeed a very heart-searching and profitable occasion, and had a most excellent effect on the remainder of the camp meeting. I have rarely witnessed a more earnest and heart-searching meeting. We need more such experiences. Personally, I greatly enjoyed the privilege of attending this camp meeting, and of greeting so many that I have known and been associated with in earlier days. I was so glad to find them faithful and true to the work of the Lord. I mention14particularly Elder Decker, Elder Flaiz, the president of the union, and Elder Lewis Johnson. Elder Johnson was reelected president of the conference for the coming year. Regular meetings were conducted every day in the Scandinavian tongue, with a good interest. May the blessing of the Lord continue with the work there till its final triumph!