Georgia Camp-Meeting by Chas. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 14, 1911

Georgia Camp-Meeting

By Chas. Thompson

THIS meeting was held August 10-20 in a beautiful grove near Forsyth, a town of about two thousand inhabitants, midway between Atlanta and Macon.

The attendance of our people from various churches and companies in the State was good. Three public preaching services were held daily, and the attendance and interest of those not of our faith were most encouraging. Never in all my experience in tent and camp-meeting work have I seen such perfect order as here.

The laborers present from outside the conference were Elders G. W. Wells and V. O. Cole, Dr. O. C. Godsmark, Prof. H. M. Hiatt, and the writer. The Spirit of God was present from the first. How good it seemed not to have to spend the first nine days in working up a revival spirit. The first Sabbath the whole camp moved forward in response to a call for a deeper consecration, and frequent revival services were held during the meeting. I believe this camp-meeting was the most spiritual of any I ever attended.

The conference work passed off quite harmoniously. Elder C. B. Stephenson was reelected president; Mrs. Callie Clark was elected secretary and treasurer; and Mrs. R. O. Terry was chosen Sabbath-school and Missionary Volunteer secretary.

The conference showed a healthy growth the past year. Fifty believers were added, and two churches were admitted to the conference. The tithe was $6,100, an increase of one thousand dollars over that for last year. The increase in gifts to missions was nine hundred dollars. The per-capita tithe for the year was eighteen dollars, and an average of fifteen cents a week for each member was given for missions. It is needless to say that the brethren heartily endorsed the plan of raising the weekly gifts for missions to fifteen cents a week for each member. The book sales for the year amounted to $4,941, which is quite an increase over those for last year.

During the meeting, as the various needs of the cause at home and abroad were presented, the people responded to the amount of $1,265.50.

In the past this conference has been receiving some appropriations from the General Conference. It expects from now on to carry its financial responsibilities alone, and in addition to this, to turn five per cent of its tithe to the General Conference mission treasurer, and five per cent to the Sustentation Fund.

Thus the Georgia Conference becomes an asset to the general work, and no one feels more encouraged in this than the believers in that conference.

A company was left at Forsyth to follow up and develop the interest created by the camp-meeting. At this writing the prospects are favorable that a company of believers will be brought out.

CHAS. THOMPSON.