New Zealand Camp-Meeting
By A. L. Hindson
In Mount Eden, one of Auckland's prettiest and best residential suburbs, the annual camp-meeting of the New Zealand Conference, which is one of the six organized conferences in the Australasian Union, was held, January 14-26. Although the grounds were somewhat small, the place chosen was well situated and proved a most desirable location. The Dominion Road tram from the heart of the city passed the grounds, and made them easy of access to a large number of the people. Finer weather could not have been desired during the entire time of the meeting. There was no rain to speak of, no wind, and the sun's rays were not too warm for comfort. On the twenty-seventh, however, the morning on which the farewell service was held, the encampment was visited with both wind and rain, as though an overruling Providence had been holding the elements in check until the close of the holy convocation. The encampment consisted of sixty-three tents, and about two hundred fifty persons were in attendance at the meeting, or about the same number as last year. The camp-meeting proper was preceded by a workers' institute, which proved full of interest and profit to those in attendance. Excellent papers on the various phases of our conference and tract society work were presented and freely discussed, and this season proved a fitting introduction to the regular meeting that opened on Tuesday evening, January 14, by a welcome from Pastor J. E. Fulton. The first few days were devoted to the conference business, which passed off very harmoniously. Encouraging progress had been made during the year. The membership in the New Zealand Conference now stands at just 700, 65 having been baptized during the year. The tithe paid reached the amount of $15,788, and was $2,269 in advance of that for 1911. There was also a good increase in the value of book sales, which totaled $27,296. The tract society department had made a clear gain of $1,295. The Sabbath-school enrolment is now 803, thus showing a gain of 64 members; and the Sabbath-school offerings to missions were $2,405, which is $190 in excess of the previous year. The Christchurch Sanitarium and the Wellington and Auckland cafés have had a prosperous year. Thus it is seen that the work in New Zealand has been signally blessed. One of the most interesting features of the camp-meeting was the large attendance and the deep interest manifested by the public in the preaching services. Not only were there large audiences from the city and the surrounding neighborhood on the two Sundays of the encampment, but at every evening meeting the tent was full of attentive listeners. It was an impressive sight to see the excellent class of people coming night after night from all directions, well before the time appointed for the service to commence, and to notice the apparent preference for front seats on the part of many of the strangers. This, with the close attention given, seemed to indicate that there were many honest seekers after truth gathered in the tent at every preaching service. The public speaking was done by Pastors M. Lukens and A. W. Anderson, and the discourses on the various doctrines of our faith, especially on the fast-fulfilling prophecy, made a profound impression upon many hearts. The Eastern question, with its latest developments, the general unrest of the nations, the extensive preparations for war, and the conflict between capital and labor were subjects that appealed to many intelligent minds and awakened a spirit of inquiry. Not only were revival services held on the two Sabbaths of the meeting, when large numbers of our own people came forward in response to the earnest appeals made and the deep working of the Spirit of God upon their hearts, but during the week-night meetings, at the close of the discourses, frequent appeals were made to those unconverted, and invitations were given to them and also to all those who were seeking for light and divine leading, to repair, at the close of the meeting, to an inquiry tent where ministers and other workers were prepared to enter into personal conversation with them. This proved a very effective means of getting into touch with some who felt their need of help. A number of remarkable conversions were reported, and some took a definite stand on the side of truth. Literature was also given out at the close of the meetings, on the subjects presented, and addresses obtained, in order that more reading-matter might be supplied. In this way quite a large number of names were secured and left with those who are following up this interest. The first Sabbath afternoon of the meeting, Brethren C. K. Meyers and W. J. Westerman were ordained to the gospel ministry. The ordained ministers taking part in this impressive service were Pastors Fulton, Lukens, Cole, Anderson, Pascoe, and White. The medical department of our work was represented by Dr. Eulalia Richards. Her nine health lectures were well attended by appreciative audiences composed not only of our own people but also many not of our faith, and many were the expressions of genuine appreciation of what was presented. The doctor also held a large number of medical consultations with individuals during the meeting. On Wednesday afternoon, January 22, the Hon. Geo. Fowlds, the New Zealand minister for education, spoke to a large audience on “The Danger of Denominationalism in Education,” and was followed by the Rev. Howard Elliott, of the Mount Eden Baptist Church, on “Religious Reasons for Keeping the Bible and the Priest Out of the Schools.” Pastor Anderson continued in the evening on “Is It Legitimate for the State to Take a Referendum on Religious Questions?” As a strong effort is being made at the present time in New Zealand to introduce the Bible into the schools, this question is a live one in the dominion, and it is hoped that the sound principles set forth in these able addresses enlightened many who heard them presented. The young people's meetings were well attended by a large number of intelligent and earnest youth who entered heartily into the spirit of the meeting and responded readily in prayer and testimony as opportunity offered. The children's meetings were in charge of Sister Ella Paap, who was assisted by Sister White and a faithful band of teachers. These services were greatly appreciated by about sixty of the little ones of the encampment who gathered twice a day for instruction. It was good to see the live interest they manifested, and to note the good deportment in their meetings. Pastor Lukens and Brother Johanson rendered valuable assistance in the missionary17campaign and canvassing meetings held on the ground. During the meeting considerable literature was sold, both to our own people and to those who attended from the outside. The New Zealand Conference has undertaken to circulate at least 10,000 copies of the Outlook. Several thousand copies of these were ordered by individual members during the meetings. A plan of the new school building in course of erection at Longburn was presented by Brother Joseph Mills, the principal, and the educational work, including the church-school interests, received its due share of attention. At one of the early morning meetings opportunity was given for those present to make an offering for various interests in the New Zealand field. A ready response was made, and before the close of the camp-meeting the total amount given reached about $1,500. On the last Sunday of the meeting Pastor White baptized twenty-four in the Ponsonby Church baptistery. On the whole, the camp-meeting was a very successful one, and the outlook for the work in New Zealand is promising. Pastor Cole was unanimously reelected president of the conference. The workers are of good courage and united in their determination to push the work forward during the coming year.