p. 16 | Three Good Camp-Meetings by F. C. Gilbert

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 31, 1911

Three Good Camp-Meetings

By F. C. Gilbert

Allentown (Pa.) Camp-Meeting

As the Allentown camp-meeting has already been reported, I will only say that I greatly enjoyed the privilege of once more meeting the brethren and sisters of this conference at this time. I was glad to see the presence of the Holy Spirit, and to note the willingness on the part of the people to respond to the voice of God.

The two Sabbaths were marked with much of the blessing of the Lord. As sinners and backsliders came forward to give themselves to God, it was evident, by the earnest, contrite, and humble confessions which were made to the Lord and before his people, that his Holy Spirit was present. We hope the good work there begun will continue till every sin is put away.

One Jewish woman was present for several days during the meetings, and we are sure the Spirit of God strove with her heart. She once had been a Christian, and was now in a backslidden state. The workers all did what they could to lead her to Christ, and we hope that she found the peace of God before the meetings closed.

Manitoba Camp-Meeting

I arrived at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, the second day of the meeting. This city, of about six thousand inhabitants, seems a central place for a camp-meeting. The faithfulness on the part of the brethren and sisters present made up for lack of numbers. The Lord has been working for his people here during the past year. Although the conference has passed through some trying experiences, the Holy Spirit came into the meetings, and everything passed off smoothly. All differences were put away, and the presence of the Spirit of God harmonized the hearts of his people. It is indeed blessed to know that if brethren and sisters will only come together with a desire to do the Lord’s will, the Holy Ghost will bring all things into unity.

Elder F. L. Perry was unanimously elected president of the conference, and with one or two changes, the same officers will serve as last year. There was a good attendance of the German brethren, and the Spirit of the Lord worked upon the hearts of his people in the different nationalities.

Elder H. S. Shaw, president of the union conference, was present nearly all the time of the meeting, and helped much by his counsel and instruction as well as by his public labors. The labors of Elder G. F. Haffner among the Germans were also blessed of God. We hope that a good work will be done in the Manitoba Conference during the coming year.

As the meeting following this one was a German meeting in Saskatchewan, it was thought best that I spend a week or so in the city of Winnipeg, doing what I could to help the church there, and at the same time see what could be done for the Jews. We secured the Baptist tabernacle for several nights, and advertised the meetings. The first night we had a fairly good attendance, and would have had a large one the next night but for a hard shower. There seems to be some interest in Winnipeg among both the Jews and others. We believe that if a strong man could work in this important, growing city, many souls would be brought into the truth. May the Lord lay the burden of this city upon some soul, that the third angel’s message may be sounded to the people here.

One Jew told me that he knew a certain brother who was a Sabbath-keeper, and a most remarkable man. He paid a glowing tribute to Seventh-day Adventists; and it is evident that his ideas of Christianity have radically changed since he has known some of our brethren.

Alberta Camp-Meeting

After leaving Winnipeg, I went to the Alberta meeting, which was held at Didsbury. I had studied the geography of the country somewhat before I went to the province; but truly it is a country of “magnificent distances.” One can hardly realize what tremendous distance must be traveled in this western Canadian country to go from one province to another. This makes the field somewhat difficult to work.

The people who live in these provinces have gone there to make money rather than to settle permanently, and establish homes. This being so, it is rather difficult to get them interested in religious matters. Nevertheless, the Lord has blessed the labors of his workers here, and a number have taken their stand for the truth.

A new tent was erected in Didsbury, a town of about one thousand inhabitants. Elder P. P. Adams had been holding a series of meetings here for several weeks prior to this meeting, so there was a good attendance of the people of the town. The one thought of the meeting was to lead the people to see the times

in which we are living, and the necessity of a thorough consecration to the Lord. The blessing of God was with his people, and everything passed off harmoniously. The business meetings of the conference were more like social meetings than meetings for discussions, and a good spirit was present all through the meeting. Elder C. A. Burman, the president of the conference, has the confidence of the people, and all the departments of the work gave encouraging reports.

The meetings held on both Sabbaths were blessed seasons. Backsliders were reclaimed, and many gave their hearts anew to the Lord. Some also found Jesus as their Saviour for the first time, and went away with the consciousness that their sins were forgiven.

Very little change was made in the officials of the conference. Brethren Humann (German) and N. J. Aalborg (English) were ordained to the gospel ministry. The Lord gave freedom in presenting his word, and the last Sunday afternoon and evening the tent was more than filled.

Elder H. Shultz was present all through the meeting to help with the work among the German brethren, and Elder S. Mortensen was there part of the time to assist the work for the Scandinavians. Elder Shaw, president of the union, was also present and rendered valuable aid.

By a unanimous vote this conference decided to raise its quota the coming year to fifteen cents a week for each member, instead of ten cents, as formerly; during the last year almost fifteen cents a week for each member was paid in. The brethren also decided to raise a five-thousand-dollar fund to carry on the work for the coming year, five hundred dollars of this to go to foreign missions, and two hundred dollars to go to the General Conference for the Jewish work.

From this meeting we went to Pense, Saskatchewan, but I was unable to stay more than two days on account of illness at home, and other conditions which had arisen that made it imperative for me to leave. I regretted very much that I could not stay; but it was indeed a privilege to attend these meetings, and gain a better insight into the work in that vast field. Although it is in North America, there are some things about the conditions of the country, its laws, and its people which make it really a foreign field. It is an interesting field, and we believe that erelong, with the blessing of the Lord, encouraging results in the advancement of the message will be seen. We pray for the rich blessing of the Lord upon the labors and laborers of that union conference. May the coming year see many brought to a knowledge of the truth. F. C. GILBERT.