West Michigan Camp-Meeting by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 12, 1907

West Michigan Camp-Meeting

By G. B. Thompson

This meeting was held at Hastings, August 15-26. The camp was located on the fair-grounds, and was a very pleasant and comfortable one. The attendance of our people was quite good. One hundred and fifteen tents were pitched, and fully eight hundred persons were in attendance.

The meeting was free from business, and a most excellent spirit prevailed throughout, the greatest unity being manifested in the various departments of conference work. A deep interest was also expressed in reference to the extension of the message in the home and foreign fields.

Here, as in all other camp-meetings attended this year, the unswerving loyalty and determination of those present to remain steadfast to the fundamental pillars of this message and triumph with it at last, was very encouraging and refreshing. It is a source of encouragement to know that God's remnant people are in no way being divided, but instead are pressing together, and preparing more effectually than ever before to carry the message to all parts of the earth.

The burden of the preaching during the camp-meeting was to present in a concise manner the field and the message, and the special preparation of heart necessary to meet the Lord when he comes. This was not only enjoyed by our own people, but many of the citizens of Hastings attended the meetings, and expressed their deep appreciation of the Bible truths which they heard each night.

As the progress of our work in the regions beyond, and the needs of the cause for workers and funds to extend and develop the work, were laid before

the conference, the hearts of all were touched; and they showed by their works that the liberal policy of the past in sustaining the work was not only to be maintained, but increased.

Considerable had been done toward raising their share of the $150,000 fund, $4,138 having been raised; and the conference felt that they should raise at least their pro rata share at this meeting. After making a reasonable allowance for the members who had been dropped from the Battle Creek church, there remained an apportionment of $4,185 still to raise. Following the writer's discourse on the needs of our work, a blackboard was placed before the congregation with a number of squares upon it. After a few well-chosen remarks, the president of the conference took the first square at five hundred dollars. Elder Irwin then led out in the meeting, and called for other liberal donations. Three quickly pledged five hundred dollars each, and a sister did the same the day following, thus making twenty-five hundred dollars. Six gave one hundred dollars each. Sixteen others pledged fifty dollars each. Twenty-one followed with pledges of twenty-five dollars each. Twenty-seven gave ten dollars each, and forty gave five dollars each. Six gave three dollars each, and eleven two dollars. This, with the collection which followed, made nearly five thousand dollars in cash and pledges. When all these pledges are paid, it will more than cover their pro rata share. In addition to this the conference committee decided to give sufficient from the tithe fund for missions to bring the sum up to six thousand seven hundred dollars. Two hundred and sixty-one dollars also was given to purchase and equip a printing-plant in China; thirty-five dollars was donated for the work among the blind, and forty-one dollars for a school in the South. In addition to this, the young people pledged over two hundred dollars to send a student to the Foreign Mission Seminary at Washington, D. C. The person has been selected, and expects to be present at the opening of the school. They are hoping to increase this sum sufficiently so that two persons, instead of one, can be sent to the Seminary the coming year. We believe it would be a good step for our Young People's Societies to take to assist in educating some of their consecrated young people for the foreign fields. While this conference has two important schools of its own, the most hearty sympathy, and co-operation was shown by the managers of these schools and by the conference toward the work of the Foreign Mission Seminary. This spirit we believe to be begotten from above, and to be a blessing to the work in many ways.

On the two Sabbaths of the camp-meeting $77.62 was given by the Sabbath-school for missions. A First-day offering of about sixty dollars was taken for foreign missions. This with other gifts makes the total amount raised in cash and pledges for the various branches of our work about seven thousand five hundred dollars.

Excellent work was done for the young people during the meeting, and a number of these gave their hearts to God.

From reports, we gather that encouraging progress is being made in the evangelical work of the conference. One church has been organized as the result of the work the past year, and three companies are ready for organization. Seven tents had been in the field before the camp-meeting, and the same number are planned for following the close of the meeting. One tent has been in Battle Creek during the summer, and the Lord has blessed the efforts put forth. While many are losing their way in the fog and mysticism of the prevailing skepticism there, about seventy have been converted and united with the church during the past few months. There is no more loyal and faithful church anywhere than at Battle Creek. The trials through which this church is passing have served greatly to strengthen the faithful people there.

Three laborers, members of the conference committee, have been called during the year to responsible positions outside the conference: Elder B. F. Kneeland, to act as president of the New Jersey Conference; Elder S. M. Butler, as Bible teacher in Union College, and Elder W. H. Heckman, to act as president of the South England Conference.

Besides the laborers in the conference, Elders G. A. Irwin, Allen Moon, and W. D. Curtis, Dr. H. W. Miller, J. B. Blosser, and the writer attended this meeting to represent the general work. We were glad also to have Elder Luther Warren spend the last two days of the meeting with us. In addition to these, a meeting of the board of trustees of Emmanuel Missionary College held during the meeting, brought to the camp-meeting for a short time presidents of the surrounding conferences, as well as other laborers.

Elder Irwin gave some most interesting studies on the subject of The Spirit of Prophecy, which were greatly enjoyed.

The revival spirit was manifest during the meeting, especially among the youth. Many sought the Lord on the last Sabbath, and found peace. Forty-one were baptized during the meeting. All felt grateful to God for the blessing bestowed at this annual gathering.

G. B. THOMPSON.