The West Australian Camp-Meeting by J. E. Fulton

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 15, 1911

The West Australian Camp-Meeting

By J. E. Fulton

OUR West Australian camp-meeting was held March 9-19, at Fremantle, near Perth. The West Australian Conference is quite far removed from our other conferences in the union, there being a large stretch of country, which is mostly desert and uninhabited, between the eastern states and this section. West Australia is a state of immense size, comprising almost one third of the area of the entire continent. The United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and a few other countries could be neatly tucked within the borders of West Australia, so far as area is concerned; yet the population is only about three hundred thousand. But considering that about ten years ago there were only forty-six thousand people, it will be readily seen that the population of the state is growing. Perth, the chief city, contains a population of about sixty thousand, and is in every sense an up-to-date city. The gold-fields, some three hundred miles or more in the interior, have attracted a great many people; and Kalgoorlie, which has grown up quickly, is an up-to-date town of about thirty thousand people.

If it had not been for the great water-scheme, whereby the people are supplied with water, few would be able to live in the district. When the sparsely settled conditions of the country are considered, such a water-scheme seems all the more wonderful. A thirty-one-inch pipe has been laid for a distance of about four hundred miles, carrying water from the coast into this dry, sandy country. There are some twenty-six other towns off the track of this pipe, which also draw their water from the same supply, the pipe being tapped, so that the entire mileage of water-pipe is said to be about eight hundred miles; 2,607,000 gallons of water are used daily. Some of the towns supplied are fifty miles distant from the main.

West Australia has been much maligned by travelers who have simply skirted the coast, and have seen little more than the dry, barren appearance near the ports of call. They have become used to the proverbial alliteration applied to West Australia,—“Sun, sin, sand, sorrow, and sore eyes.” But, notwithstanding the bad name which the state has received, there is much to attract; and the fact that it is steadily going ahead proves the untruthfulness of these reports. While there is much land that is worthless, there is still much that is very valuable, and in many sections the rainfall is quite abundant. Gold is not the only product; there are some excellent farming districts, and the fruit grown is as fine as any that is found elsewhere on the continent.

We had an excellent camp-meeting. All the business moved off harmoniously. God's presence was realized by all, and at the close of the meeting there were many testimonies of praise to him for blessings received.

Each department of the conference showed God's prospering hand, and substantial gains were made. Some new Sabbath-keepers were present at the meeting, and these thoroughly enjoyed the instruction given. The attendance was quite good. Plans were laid for aggressive work in the different departments.

The West Australian intermediate school at Darling Range has had a prosperous year, having made a gain of about $3,500. An excellent class of students has been in attendance, and our people are counting much on the school to supply future laborers for the harvest-field.

The foreign field came in for its share of consideration. The conference voted a second tithe to the union conference on behalf of the island field, and besides this a donation of about $575 was given in cash and pledges at the close of the meeting. A large sum was also raised at the same time for the tent fund and the students' aid fund.

Pastors W. L. H. Baker and E. Hilliard are president and vice-president of the West Australian Conference.

Twenty-four hundred miles from Sydney seems a long distance to go to attend a camp-meeting; but after meeting our brethren and sisters in West Australia, and sharing with them in such a good feast, it does not now seem too great a distance. The immense distances to be covered in these sparsely settled states certainly present a difficulty to our general workers. The long and tiresome sea trips, which seem to become more and more monotonous as the years go by, make us long for the time spoken of by the prophet, when “there shall be no more sea.” Then all these great desert lands will blossom as the rose. May the Lord hasten that day, and may a goodly number of souls be gathered out for his coming from the West Australian Conference. J. E. FULTON.