p. 737 | The Saskatchewan Conference and Camp-Meeting

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

The Saskatchewan Conference and Camp-Meeting

By Ole Andres Olsen

This meeting was held at Bulyea, June 30 to July 6, 1913. This is a new field, the conference having been organized one year ago; hence this was its first annual meeting. The camp was composed of fifty-four tents including the meeting-tents, and three hundred and twenty-three of our people were in attendance at the meeting. As the tent capacity was altogether too limited, many found rooms in the village till all available rooms were taken, and at last some had to apply to the jail and found shelter there. The large attendance was a happy surprise to all, and gave evidence of the rapid growth of the work.

Meetings were conducted every day in the English, German, Servian, and Roumanian languages. This is the first time the writer has attended services in the Servian and Roumanian tongues in connection with our camp-meetings. It gives evidence of the advance of the message among the foreigners in this country.

The laborers in attendance aside from those of the conference and the union, were Elders G. F. Haffner, Valentine Leer, B. J. Cady, and the writer; these united with the laborers of the conference and the union, and the blessing of the Lord attended the services in all the various departments.

The business of the conference was very harmonious and cordial, and the various reports showed a substantial growth and gain in all branches of the work. Three new churches were added to the conference, and two or three companies are ready to be organized at the first opportunity. The outlook for the work in this field is promising indeed.

Elder A. C. Gilbert was reelected president for the coming year, and but little change was made in the other conference officers. A resolution was passed by the conference looking toward the establishment of a conference school, the conference committee to report on location, plans, and funds at next year's conference. In this connection it was strongly emphasized that no debt should be created, but that the funds necessary be raised in advance for purchase of site and building operations.

This young conference has stood among the foremost in supplying missionary funds, last year contributing more than twenty cents per capita. During the meeting $2,887.30 in cash and pledges was raised for missions and the home work. The growing work in the conference calls for larger equipment in the way of tents and other necessities. The camp-meeting Sabbath-school numbered two hundred and fifty, and the contribution was $97.35.

An interesting feature of this meeting was the ordination of Brother Milan Ostics, a Servian, to the gospel ministry. I believe Brother Ostics is the first one of the Servian nationality to be ordained by our people; thus another advanced step in the message can be recorded.

The province of Saskatchewan presents a very promising field for labor both among the English and among the many foreign nationalities now settling in that new country. The colporteurs presented some marvelous experiences, and the average sales per hour were the highest on record. This favorable condition should be improved to the fullest extent possible, for now is the time to gather a large harvest of souls for the Lord.

While the conference is still in its infancy, and the attendance not so large as in some of our older conferences, still it was a most satisfactory meeting. The last Sabbath was a good day. Many sought the Lord for an advanced experience, a goodly number taking their stand for the first time, and the whole congregation renewed their consecration to more whole-hearted service. Twenty persons followed their Lord in baptism.

May the next year show still larger growth both in advanced Christian experience and in the number of believers added to the ranks of the church.

O. A. OLSEN.