First Fruits of the Washington (D. C.) Tent Effort by M. E. OLSEN

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

First Fruits of the Washington (D. C.) Tent Effort

By M. E. OLSEN

MEMBERS of the REVIEW family will be interested to learn that the tent meetings conducted in the city of Washington by Elder R. E. Harter, president of the District Conference, have attracted general attention, and already some promising fruit has been gathered in. The meetings began on the third Sunday in June, with a stirring sermon on the second coming of Christ. The large tent was well filled. During the week nights following, the attendance was good, and gradually increased. The last three or four Sunday nights the tent has been crowded with attentive listeners, and a large number of people have stood on the outside.

Among the subjects that have been presented with clearness and power are: “The United States in Prophecy,” “Religious Liberty,” “Law and Love,” “The Union of Church and State,” “Church Federation,” and “The Battle of Armageddon.” On Monday evenings Dr. Miller, superintendent of the Washington (D. C.) Sanitarium, has given a lecture on some phase of healthful living, thus giving the people an opportunity to become acquainted with an important part of the message intrusted to us. A goodly number are present every night, and many seem deeply interested.

One very helpful and attractive feature of the meetings is the gospel singing, which is in charge of Brother H. de Fluiter, of Colorado. On most evenings there is a large choir, composed chiefly of members of the Takoma Park and Memorial churches. Brother de Fluiter not only sings the gospel with rare effect, but has the art of evoking the spirit of song in an audience.

The cheerful cooperation of the Takoma Park and Memorial churches, in singing, in circulating the announcements, and in bringing their friends and neighbors to the services, has added much to the success of the meetings. The members of the Review and Herald orchestra and band have taken hold nobly in helping to make the music all that it should be, and their efforts have been appreciated.

Indeed, the spirit of helpfulness has been shown in many ways. Some of the young men in the Review Office discovered that there was a great demand for tracts at the close of the meetings. They passed the word around among themselves, and soon brought in five or six dollars to furnish an increased supply.

More recently, the members of the Memorial, the Takoma Park, and the College-Sanitarium churches united and purchased twenty-seven thousand copies of the War Extra of the REVIEW for circulation in the city of Washington in connection with the tent effort.

The Bible workers, Miss Morris, Miss Kern, and Miss Belmont, as well as Brother Davis, the tent master, are diligently visiting the people throughout the neighborhood, and circulating the weekly Signs and other reading matter, besides giving Bible readings in the homes of interested persons. Mrs. Harter is also busily engaged in the work, and all are earnestly praying that a full harvest of souls may be gathered in. Already thirteen converts have been baptized, and seven other candidates are ready to go forward at the next opportunity. These persons have not only attended the meetings at the tent, but have been the objects of earnest personal labor on the part of the Bible workers.

Best of all, the interest is still a growing one, and many earnest men and women are carefully weighing the evidences. God grant that they may clearly see the path of duty, and have the courage to step out and walk in it. M. E. OLSEN.