Pennsylvania Camp-Meeting
By Arthur G. Daniells
The Pennsylvania State camp-meeting was held at Kingston, June 4-14. Kingston is a pleasant suburb of Wilkesbarre, with which it is connected by a good electric street-car line. The camp-ground was a large, level, grassy plot of ground, within a block and a half of the car line. The absence of large shade trees was not regretted, owing to the fact that it rained almost daily from the beginning to the close of the meeting. The attendance of our people seemed rather small, but it was as large as usual, I was informed, and about as large as could be reasonably expected, owing to the long distances so many of the believers in Pennsylvania have to travel in order to meet together. On account of the unfavorable weather, we could scarcely look for a large attendance of the citizens. But notwithstanding these conditions, this was a good meeting. It was both pleasant and profitable to me personally. I had never before attended a camp-meeting in that State. I was very glad of the privilege to become acquainted with the laborers of the conference, and the representative members from the various churches. To me these brethren and sisters appear to be warm-hearted, earnest believers in the third angel's message. The laborers seemed as devoted and capable as any I have met in our camp-meetings. Most of them are young, but they are zealous, and united on the question of giving the advent message to the world in this generation. Nowhere in my recent travels have I seen the true keynote of this message touch a more responsive chord than at this meeting. The business proceedings will be reported by the conference officers. For a year or two, there has been talk of having two conferences in the State. That step was taken at this meeting. The following recommendations passed by the conference give the basis of this change:— “Your committee on recommendations respectfully submit the following partial report:— “1. That the Pennsylvania Conference be reorganized, establishing two conferences, to be known as the Eastern and Western Pennsylvania Conferences. “Some of the reasons calling for this reorganization are:— “(a) The large extent of territory. “(b) The fact that the churches of the conference are widely scattered over this territory. “(c) The difficulties and expense involved in rendering the churches the necessary ministerial help, and the impossibility of the conference officers' visiting the churches as frequently as desirable. “(d) The large expense incurred owing to the long distances to be traveled by the brethren and sisters to the annual camp-meetings and conferences. “(e) The undesirable results that have followed the failure of a majority of our people to meet in the annual convocations. “(f) The benefits that have attended the division of other large conferences. “2. That the dividing line of these conferences be along the eastern boundary of the following counties: Potter, Clinton, Center, Mifflin, Huntingdon, and Fulton. “The result of this division as regards area, population, membership, etc., will be as follows:— “(a) The area of the eastern conference will be 21,881 square miles; of the western, 23,104 square miles. “(b) The population of the eastern conference will approximate 3,800,000; and the western 2,500,000. “(c) The eastern conference will have twenty-seven churches, with a membership of about eight hundred. “(d) The annual tithe for the conference year ending May 31, 1902, was $17,500, and is about equally divided between the two conferences. “3. That the assets and liabilities of the Pennsylvania Conference and Tract Society be apportioned to these conferences per capita. “4. That the disposition of the property, and the adjustment of the finances be referred to the executive committees of the two conferences. “5. That this action take effect June 1, 1903.” It will be observed that the division was very nearly equal. The reorganization was fully effected. Of course there were some perplexing matters to deal with, but these have to be faced at every turn in this great movement. This conference has for years struggled with an enormous debt. Brother Underwood has worked hard since taking that conference to free them from the oppressive burden of debt. His efforts have been truly blessed of God. Both conferences as now organized have bright prospects, and I sincerely wish them every blessing from the Lord. A. G. DANIELLS.