West Virginia Camp-Meeting by E. W. FARNSWORTH

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 14, 1907

West Virginia Camp-Meeting

By E. W. FARNSWORTH

This meeting was held in Pennsboro, September 12–22. Pennsboro is a place of about two thousand inhabitants, situated on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, in a narrow valley about thirty-five miles east of Parkersburg. The West Virginia Conference is small, having only about two hundred twenty members. Over one half of the membership of the conference was in attendance. This was really a good average when we consider the nature of the country and the difficulties in getting to the meeting.

Elder E. J. Dryer, the president of the conference, became ill last spring, and was forced to retire from the field. This left the work of the president on Brother L. E. Sufficool, the vice-president. Brother Sufficool, with his associates on the committee, and others took hold with vigor to prepare the camp, and to get as many there as possible. The camp was well pitched in a narrow valley about one-half mile from the town.

CHURCH (NEARING COMPLETION) AT MT. HOPE, CANAL ZONE.

The weather during the meeting was unfavorable. It rained almost every day, and nearly every night; and when it rained, it poured. The ground was wet and spongy, the large tent leaked like a sieve, and soon the ground under the tent, as well as outside of it, was little else than mud. Notwithstanding these untoward circumstances, the people from the town attended the meeting well when they could. There was a good interest, and on several occasions the large tent, fifty by seventy feet, was well filled.

The meetings for our own people were very good. A revival spirit prevailed from the first, and a goodly number made a start in the Christian life. Several were baptized.

Elder C. F. McVagh, from western Pennsylvania, was with us, and rendered most acceptable service all through the meeting. Brother R. J. Bryant, our general canvassing agent for this union conference, was there, and labored hard in the interests of the book work. The canvassers in West Virginia have done good work the past year. There has been no general agent to help them, yet the few canvassers in the field have kept at the work nearly all the time, and have made quite good records. We are sure that the labor of Brother Bryant will prove very helpful to them in the future. West Virginia is a good field, and if they can have a good general agent, they will soon be among the first in the sale of books.

In the business meetings the utmost harmony prevailed. The brethren came to see eye to eye on almost everything that came before them. All branches of the work received their share of attention. The work in the State is in an encouraging condition. The tithe is increasing, and the offerings are multiplying. The field is large; the laborers are few. They need more help from God and man. But the people are of good courage, and we believe the work will prosper. E. W. FARNSWORTH.