A New Conference in the South by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 3, 1907

A New Conference in the South

By William Ambrose Spicer

THE camp-meeting for South Carolina was held at Spartanburg, the center of the cotton industry in the State, and an educational center also. Here it was that Elder R. T. Nash and others were arrested last year for Sunday work.

The meetings were well attended by the public. Nowhere are more interested audiences found than in the Southern field. It is this fact that keeps one longing to see more laborers, more evangelists with experience in tent and public effort coming into these States, where growing and thriving cities are to be found on every side unentered.

About eighty believers were in attendance. They voted to organize their mission field as a conference. Elder Butler presided in the meetings, and the conference was organized and took up its work in a thoroughly businesslike way. It was interesting to note how the organization of the conference stimulated all the members, leading them to pledge themselves to greater earnestness and faithfulness. Elder R. T. Nash was elected president, and Mrs. Eva Champlin secretary and treasurer.

This field has shown vigorous growth since it was set apart by itself as a mission field. Last year its tithe was $1,646, an increase of $552 over the previous year. The book sales by their twelve canvassers were $6,235, nearly double the previous year's record. The canvassers present were full of zeal and courage in their work, and they plead earnestly for others to come and join them. Out of forty counties only about four have been entered, and that with one book mainly.

The membership of the new conference is one hundred, in four churches. Fifty-four others are keeping the Sabbath, and a new church is soon to be formed. The gain in Sabbath-keepers has been thirty-seven per cent the last year, the highest percentage of gain among all the fields in the South.

Elder Butler took up every day a study of the fundamentals of the message and the experiences of the advent people. Elder E. W. Parmele, while representing the publishing and missionary interests of this union, carried, as usual, a leading

burden in the evening services. Elder W. J. Blake, of the Huntsville school, was also present, and Professor Van Kirk, of Graysville. Hearts were converted, and we look to see additions to the church in Spartanburg as the interest is followed up. Brethren Nash and Crothers are to continue the meetings.

At the same time a tent-meeting for colored people was conducted in another part of the city by Brother D. E. Blake, a West Indian brother, who received his training at the South Lancaster Academy.

This new conference represents an aggressive agency in the field.

W. A. SPICER.