Ontario Camp-Meeting by I. H. Evans

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jul 14, 1904

Ontario Camp-Meeting

By I. H. Evans

It was my privilege to attend the Ontario camp-meeting, held at the fair-grounds, in the city of London, from June 16 to 26. The location was all that could be desired. The owners of the fair-grounds gave the use of the grounds and the buildings for the accommodation of the meeting. About one hundred and fifty of our brethren and sisters were encamped on the grounds, and found ample accommodations in the thirty tents that had been pitched, or lodging in the buildings near by.

Scarcely a discordant note was sounded throughout the entire meeting. The business was done with dispatch, and yet there was free discussion on nearly all propositions. One beautiful feature of the proceedings was the absence of negative arguments. Nearly every speaker spoke in favor of the plan proposed, whatever it might be, and often added much interest to the question by his timely remarks.

Their president, Elder G. B. Thompson, having been called to Washington, D. C., to assist in the General Conference work, it became necessary to select a new president. It was with deep regrets that our brethren in Ontario parted with Brother Thompson, who had so recently come to help them in their work. After much prayer and due consideration, it was thought best to release Brother Thompson, and Elder A. O. Burrill, from the New York Conference, was the unanimous choice of the people to fill this position.

Brother Kirkendall, of Ohio, was with us a few days, as well as Elder Thurston, president of the Canadian Union Conference, and these brethren added much to the interest of the meeting by their ministry and influence.

The meetings were spiritual, and marked with much of God's blessing. Nearly the whole camp covenanted to a renewed consecration to God's work.

At the close of the Sunday night public service our people were asked to remain a little time for prayer. It was a solemn hour. Each minister made a few well-chosen remarks, and all promised to lead a better life. Then came a season of earnest prayer. God was very near and greatly blessed. The influence of the Spirit of God seemed to touch every heart. Truly it was good to be there, and with regrets we bade adieu to those we had learned to love.

To me it seemed one of the very best meetings I ever attended. Nine or ten were baptized Sunday morning. During the meeting the outside interest was not large, but a goodly number were present on Sundays.

Much attention was given to their conference school, known as the Lorne-dale Academy. The conference voted to sell five thousand copies of “Christ’s Object Lessons” to help equip their school with the necessary accommodations. Elder Leland was reappointed as the principal of the school for another year. They intend erecting an addition to the large dwelling-house, for a dormitory, that they may accommodate more students. They have fifty acres of land, thirteen miles from Toronto, with a large stone house and three large barns, together with a nice variety of fruit, most of which is in a bearing condition.

Ontario greatly needs this school. She has no place where she can train her young people for any branch of God's work. For years all her young people have been compelled to come to the States if they attend one of our denominational schools. Often they become Americanized, and do not return to their home field. When this school becomes thoroughly established, we believe they will have many workers trained in their own territory who will enter the ministry and other branches of the work.

We rejoice to see what God has done in establishing his work in Ontario, and hope to see marked prosperity in days to come. I. H. EVANS.