p. 14 | The North Dakota Camp Meeting by Arthur G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 28, 1916

The North Dakota Camp Meeting

By Arthur G. Daniells

THERE was a time when we found some difficulty in securing choice locations for our camp meetings; but now it is common, especially in the Western towns, for us to have offers of fine city parks, Chautauqua grounds, and other desirable locations.

The North Dakota Conference office is in Jamestown. Inducements were given our people by the city to locate the headquarters there. For a number of years the annual camp meeting has been held at Jamestown, the city commercial body offering substantial considerations to secure the meeting. The fairgrounds have been used in recent years, and make a very desirable place of encampment.

This conference is of good size, and its membership was well represented at the camp meeting this year. There were 240 tents pitched on the grounds, with about 1,400 people encamped. At this meeting the large tent was the German tent, the Germans far outnumbering the others. There was also a Russian tent, and one of the Scandinavians, besides an English tent. Some of the general services were held in the large tent in English, translations going on simultaneously in the three foreign languages.

The report of the conference president, Elder S. E. Jackson, was most encouraging. The persons receiving baptism in 1915 numbered 175. The increase in tithe for the year was almost $10,000, while the book sales were more than double the amount of the previous year. The Sabbath school work did well in general, and showed a good gain in offerings. A conference indebtedness of about $8,000 was paid last year, so that now the conference is free from debt.

An interesting feature in connection with the meeting was the graduation exercises of the conference school, the Sheyenne River Academy. The class of graduates occupied the platform of the large tent, and the addresses were translated. The school had an enrolment last year of 125, and cleared about $1,000 above expenses.

The response to the calls for mission offerings was liberal. The donations to

the general work amounted to $8,577 in cash and pledges. The Sabbath school offerings at the camp meeting amounted to $1,323, and the book sales reached $1,766. Sixty-four persons were baptized.

The outlook for the work in North Dakota is most encouraging. The administration has the support of a fast growing membership. The financial situation is very favorable, with no indebtedness and with a good income. The corps of workers is ample for doing a strong work.

With this meeting closed the series of camp meetings in the Northern Union Conference. They were all good. The following Union Conference workers rendered good service at all the meetings: Chas. Thompson, president; W. H. Edwards, secretary and treasurer; M. B. Van Kirk, educational secretary; and E. M. Oberg, field missionary secretary.

S. A. Ruskjer, the Union Conference home missionary secretary, also attended all the camp meetings in the Union, and did good work, both in the public services and in local missionary efforts. By his coöperation many were encouraged and instructed in visiting homes to distribute literature and give out invitations. He helped to secure the Jamestown Opera House for a Sunday night lecture and looked after many details connected with holding the meeting.

W. H. Edwards was successful in securing liberal newspaper reports of the conference proceedings and discourses. Thus thousands of people who did not attend the meetings were given some information regarding them.

We were glad to have Prof. C. L. Benson back among our working force. He attended all the meetings in the Northern Union, and rendered most excellent service in behalf of the young people.

Elder B. E. Miller attended the South and North Dakota meetings in the interests of the German work. He brought a good message, and cheered the people. Elder G. F. Haffner was present a part of the time, also in behalf of the German work.

A. G. DANIELLS.