Western Oregon Camp-Meeting by H. W. Cottrell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 31, 1913

Western Oregon Camp-Meeting

By H. W. Cottrell

THIS conference and camp-meeting was held, according to appointment, June 19-29, 1913. Although it rained almost continuously, the meetings were well attended both by our own people and by the citizens. The camp was easy of access, being located on the electric car line, in a residence section of the city.

There were two hundred and twenty-five tents erected, including seven large ones. Services were held daily in the English, German, and Scandinavian languages.

Ministers from outside our conference, who were present all or a part of the time, were Elders W. A. Spicer, Luther Warren, H. Shultz, C. W. Flaiz, F. H. Westphal, A. O. Tait, L. Johnson, M. S. Reppe, E. C. Kellogg, L. V. Finster, C. L. Butterfield, Meade MacGuire, and W. F. Martin, all of whom rendered their best services for the Master.

The following important resolutions were passed with much enthusiasm, thus manifesting the good will of the people to carry them into effect:—

“Resolved, That we heartily indorse the recommendation of the General Conference to the effect that the fund known as the Fifteen-cent-a-week Fund be increased to twenty cents a week per member , the first fifteen cents being devoted to mission work, the remainder to meeting obligations on our institutions; and that we pledge our earnest endeavor to the raising of this fund.

“Whereas, Under God’s providence our leading periodicals have been brought into existence for the education of the people, and the perusal of these periodicals has proved an invaluable aid to many in the preparation to intelligently meet the eternal issues of this generation, and to properly appreciate our responsibility in answering the urgent demands made upon us from all parts of the world, therefore we—

“Recommend, That earnest, immediate and continued effort be put forth that the REVIEW AND HERALD, the Signs of the Times, and other of our leading periodicals be placed in the home of every believer in this conference.

“Whereas, Conference records have been for many years encumbered with many resolutions, a large number having been added yearly, some of which at least did not accomplish what was desired because they were not put into action, therefore—

“Resolved, That for the coming conference year we put forth earnest endeavors to hasten forward the work of God by our deeds rather than by our resolutions.”

There were about thirteen hundred persons encamped upon the ground. The large new pavilion, eighty by one hundred and twenty feet, erected at this meeting for the first time, was entirely too small to provide seating accommodations for the large number in attendance.

There were ninety-four persons baptized. The larger number of them were converted through divine grace at this meeting. A few of the number came to the meeting expecting to receive baptism. Four or five were rebaptized.

Book and tract sales during the meeting amounted to $1,294.68; Sabbath-school offerings, $690.31; cash and pledges to foreign missions, $3,450.04. Nineteen hundred dollars of this amount is conditioned upon the sale of property. Three hundred and eighty-eight dollars was received in evening offering for camp expenses. The total amount of cash and pledges received in the interest of the general union and local conference

s, exclusive of the tithe, was $5,377.

The writer was chosen to serve the conference another year, together with J. J. Nethery, vice-president; H. G. Thurston, secretary; and C. E. Wolcott, treasurer. The following-named persons complete the personnel of the executive: T. H. Starbuck, W. C. Emerson, J. H. Hanson, and D. J. Chitwood.

I never attended a meeting where the Lord gave greater evidence of the mighty working of his Spirit in the conversion of souls from the very first meeting of the series than at this gathering. The Spirit of the Lord wrought mightily upon the hearts of sinners and backsliders, bringing them to repentance, but the meetings were void of sentiment.

A vigorous campaign is planned for the forthcoming year. H. W. COTTRELL.