The Maine Camp-Meeting by W. B. White

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 19, 1911

The Maine Camp-Meeting

By W. B. White

THIS meeting was held at Norridgewock, September 1-10, and was one of the best and most successful camp-meetings held in this conference for many years.

Years ago, in the early days of the message, Elder M. E. Cornell and other workers went to Norridgewock, and began to proclaim the truths of the third angel's message. As a result, the whole country was stirred, a large number accepted the truth, a commodious house of worship was built, and for many years there was a strong, flourishing church at this place. But years went by, and the company, by removals and deaths, was reduced in numbers, till a few years ago the church became so small that the house of worship was closed, the remaining few meeting in a private home for worship. The sessions of the conference were held in this church. Some tents were pitched near it, but most of the people in attendance lived in rooms in the city.

At the time of this meeting the great temperance campaign was in progress in the State of Maine, or rather was drawing to its close. In this great movement, which was to decide whether Maine should retain its constitutional prohibition against the manufacture and sale of intoxicants, our people took an active part, distributing throughout the State over fifty thousand copies of the Temperance number of the Youth's Instructor. This literature was gladly received everywhere, was endorsed by the leading temperance people, and no doubt did much good in the great campaign. At this writing (September 29) the official count has not yet been made public, so the results of the campaign are in doubt. The vote was very close, and it is a question which side gained the victory. Many of our conferences, institutions, and individual church-members assisted in providing copies of the Instructor for Maine, and the conference passed a resolution of thanks for all the assistance thus given. That this great amount of literature which has been scattered will do much good in this State is beyond a doubt; it has been a great blessing to our cause already.

A few weeks before the conference, Elder J. F. Piper, the conference president, with his wife, went to Norridgewock and began a series of meetings in the house of worship. There was a fair hearing, and, as a result, five or six began to keep the Sabbath, and later received baptism. It is hoped that the interest in this place may be revived, and the house of worship again opened.

During the conference sessions a liberal spirit was manifested, and quite a goodly sum was pledged for different departments of the work. To assist in operating the conference there was raised $905, $399.50 of this being paid at the meeting. To help small church-schools to carry on their work, there was provided an educational fund of $328, $112.75 of which was immediately paid in. The brethren and sisters also raised a tent fund of $329. There was given for foreign missions $102.05; $13 was raised to provide legislators with copies of Liberty, and $6.35 to send the REVIEW AND HERALD to the poor; and there were also miscellaneous offerings to the amount of $89.58. Our people at this meeting paid in $171 tithe, and made $1,564 worth of pledges, which in part were redeemed at once to assist the cause.

The conference was fortunate in having at this meeting Elder and Mrs. S. N. Haskell, who are now conducting a small Bible training-school in the city of Portland. The conference appreciates the labors of these tried workers, and is cooperating with them in their work. Brother and Sister Haskell led our people in Maine in the temperance campaign, and God certainly blessed their labors. They were assisted by Elder and Mrs. Geo. B. Starr, and a nurse from the Melrose Sanitarium; and by Brethren C. J. Tolf and M. M. Hare, of the Atlantic Union Conference, and Brother Thurber, of the Northern New England Conference.

During the conference two temperance rallies were held, which were largely attended by the citizens of the place.

A deep spiritual interest existed throughout the conference, and new life and power were received by the people. We believe there are better days for the great cause in Maine, and trust our people in that conference will take courage, and work and pray as never before for the advancement of the work in that State.

Elder Piper was elected president of the conference, and Brethren M. B. Butterfield and E. E. Osborne were ordained to the gospel ministry. All the conference sessions were graced by the good Spirit of God, and all went to their homes with a feeling that better days are ahead for the cause in Maine.

W. B. WHITE.