p. 17 | Eastern Pennsylvania by H. M. J. Richards

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 10, 1914

Eastern Pennsylvania

By H. M. J. Richards

OUR annual camp meeting, held at Allentown, June 18-28, was more largely attended than any previous one, and the spiritual interest was good. The business was dispatched with both carefulness and rapidity. The offerings to foreign missions aggregated four thousand dollars. Reports of work done in new fields during the previous year showed that one hundred and eight had been baptized and one hundred and twenty-five had begun to keep the Sabbath. Four new companies were organized, and one of these companies was organized into a church just before the camp meeting. The tithe has increased from year to year, the tithe for the actual twelve months of 1912 being $19,935.91, while that for the actual twelve months of 1913 was $20,852.60. The tithe for the biennial period of 1910-11 was $36,295.24; that for 1912-13 was $40,788.51. Of this latter amount we sent on for fields outside of the conference $11,138.94.

In addition to this dividing of the tithe with other needy fields and the general work, we have given the following offerings to foreign missions: in 1912, $9,927.51; in 1913, $10,532.50. Thus the total amount of the foreign mission offerings alone for the two years was $20,460.01. Of this amount our Sabbath schools contributed in 1912 the sum of $2,869.88, and in 1913, $3,733.51. For this large increase in our Sabbath school offerings we feel exceedingly grateful, as it indicates a growing interest and life in our Sabbath schools throughout the conference.

We have forty-six Sabbath schools, with an enrollment of 1,214. We have thirty-five organized churches and six companies of believers. The recorded church membership is 1,150. There are fourteen church buildings, and one other is in course of construction.

The book sales for 1913 amounted to $11,665.75.

The young people's department reports twelve local societies and a membership of 171. This is an increase of two societies over the previous year. A strong interest is being awakened in the Standard of Attainment and the Reading Course. Twenty-three of our earnest and consecrated young people attended Mount Vernon College last year, and a goodly number are arranging to go to Washington College next year, while some will return to Mount Vernon.

We have but one church school at present, at Fairhill. Its work has been very successful, and the attendance good. Plans for other schools are being laid.

The help of the workers from the North American and General Conferences was greatly appreciated, as also the assistance from the union conference officers. Elder Spicer, representing the foreign mission work, gave most stirring talks, which did us all good. Elder Wilkinson, our union president, was with us the last half of the meeting, and rendered very efficient help. Both Sabbaths were days marked by the presence of God and by consecration of the people to his service. Twenty-eight were baptized, and a number of others will be baptized at their homes.

On the last Sabbath, Brother F. A. Harter was ordained to the ministry. The Spirit of the Lord witnessed to the sacredness of the occasion. All rejoiced because of the precious truth committed to us, and workers and people consecrated themselves to speedily send this saving truth to the multitudes waiting in darkness in the fields far and near, "to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith which is in" Christ.

The expenses of the camp meeting were all met by the receipts from rent and sales. The former officers were reelected, except C. D. Wolff, the field agent, whose health demands that he take one year of rest. C. V. Leech was elected in his place.

We now have five tent companies in the field. Good interest is reported. We confidently expect many to accept the truth this summer from these efforts. We are of good courage, though, from a human standpoint, we have a problem, to reach the many millions in this conference in so short a time. But when we consider that the work is God's, and that he has promised to cut it short in righteousness in this generation, we take courage, knowing that all the resources of Heaven are pledged for the successful accomplishment of the great task, and we consecrate ourselves anew to assist in carrying out the divine purpose.

H. M. J. RICHARDS.