The Virginia Camp Meeting by GEO. F. ENOCH.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 29, 1916

The Virginia Camp Meeting

By GEO. F. ENOCH.

An interesting camp meeting, which closed with the divine blessing, was held in Richmond, Va., May 25 to June 4. Thunderstorms interfered with the first part of the meeting, but by Wednesday the clouds cleared away. The attendance from the city was very encouraging, and the interest increased right up to the close, so that it was decided to hold a tent effort after the camp meeting.

The conference business was transacted harmoniously. Elder W. C. Moffett was reelected president.

The meeting seemed small, the Sabbath school numbering but 125, and many of these were living in the city of Richmond. The distance from Richmond to that portion of Virginia where many of our churches are, made it seem impossible for many of the brethren and sisters to attend. The inspiration and help that these general meetings give grow in importance as our work develops and the end draws near, and those who missed the blessing of this year’s meeting, missed more than money can ever bring them.

The blessings of the week culminated in the outpouring of the Spirit on the last Sabbath. Almost the entire congregation came forward at the close of an earnest appeal by Elder B. G. Wilkinson, and all received a new experience. In the afternoon Brother L. O. Gordon was ordained to the gospel ministry. He has been working as a licentiate for several years in this conference, and has given full proof of his ministry by the success in soul-winning that the Lord has given him. An interesting item of this ordination service was the large number of young men and women who came forward at the time of the ordination prayer, and consecrated their lives solemnly to the finishing of the work of the Lord in the earth, wherever he may call them.

Dr. D. H. Kress spent several days of earnest labor at the camp, and was joined by Mrs. Kress on Wednesday. Their practical instruction was timely and well received. Elder Wilkinson was present several days, also Elder W. T. Knox. Prof. C. S. Longacre preached to large congregations from the city the first and last Sundays of the meeting. Elder A. E. Serns, of Seattle, Wash., arrived during the meeting, but a serious illness made it impossible for him to preach more than once.

Sunday morning the writer presented the need of the foreign missions. The open doors in the regions beyond, the urgency of the present hour, and the solemnity of the general situation moved the hearts of practically the entire congregation to respond, and $1,325 was pledged for missions, which, with the large Sabbath school offering, made more than $1,500, and but $100 was conditional on the sale of property. This was by far the largest unconditioned offering ever given in Virginia. It was decided to carry the plea of the regions beyond to the individual churches, and also to raise $500 for the Washington College.

The prospects are bright that Virginia will come out ahead on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund this year. One interesting item was that the Sabbath school offering was about $170 the last Sabbath, or more than $100 in excess of the offering on both Sabbaths last year. This offering was a hearty response to an appeal made by Elder Wilkinson. It seems clear that if proper efforts are put forth, our people will meet their quota of the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund largely in the Sabbath school.

Virginia has set the pace for the Columbia Union Conference. We believe that this is evidence that great things are in store for us this camp meeting season if we keep near to the Lord. “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”

GEO. F. ENOCH.