The Florida Camp-Meeting by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Nov 7, 1907

The Florida Camp-Meeting

By G. B. Thompson

THE annual camp-meeting of the Florida Conference was held in Tampa, October 10-20. In connection with this meeting the fourteenth session of the conference was held, for the election of officers, and the transaction of such other business as was necessary.

The camp was located in the edge of the city, and was accessible to all by means of an excellent street-car service. The fine weather for which Florida is noted at this season of the year, prevailed throughout the meeting, and contributed to its success. Considering the number of Sabbath-keepers in the conference, the attendance of our people was quite good. One hundred seventy-five were present at the Sabbath-school the last Sabbath of the meeting. The evening services were devoted largely to a presentation of the fundamental points of our faith, and a number from the city manifested an interest in the subjects studied.

In addition to the laborers in the conference, all of whom were present to share in the burdens of the meeting, Elders G. I. Butler, Smith Sharp, E. H. Rees, Prof. J. E. Tenney, Brother A. F. Harrison, and the writer were present.

In many ways this was an excellent meeting. Some as marked evidences of the work of the Holy Spirit upon hearts was seen here as we have witnessed in any of our camp-meetings. A spirit of confession came into the camp such as is seldom seen, and a sincere effort was made to correct wrongs.

A liberal spirit was manifested to render financial aid to the various calls for help. About $200 was raised to help in further establishing the conference school at Fort Myers; $414 was raised on the $150,000 fund.

A deep interest was manifested in our foreign mission work. After a talk on the need of supporting this work, a collection was taken, amounting to $50. The Sabbath-school collections amounted to over $27, the largest in the history of the conference. A special feature of the Sabbath-school was a missionary exercise given by the children on the last Sabbath. The Lord very greatly blessed this feature of the school. The conference also voted to give all the Sabbath-school donations to missions.

The tithe of the conference for the past year amounted to $6,059.33. The book sales exceeded those of the previous year by over a thousand dollars.

Revival services were held during the meeting, and a number gave their hearts to God. The last day of the meeting twenty-one were baptized in a beautiful pool at Sulphur Springs. A camp-meeting of the colored Sabbath-keepers in the conference was held in the city during the time of this meeting, and some twelve or fourteen were baptized.

The brethren and sisters left for their homes with revived courage and confidence in the message for this time. If they walk in the light, the Lord will bless them more and more, and add to their numbers other faithful souls.

G. B. THOMPSON.