p. 16 | Maine and Eastern Pennsylvania Camp-Meetings

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 26, 1907

Maine and Eastern Pennsylvania Camp-Meetings

By E. W. Farnsworth

It was my privilege to attend part of the camp-meeting held at Milo, Maine. A tent effort had been carried on in that city during the summer by Brethren Giles, Brown, and other workers. A genuine interest had been created in the community to hear the truth, and there was a good attendance at the meetings. The large tent was filled to its utmost capacity. The discourses given during the camp-meeting were calculated to confirm the people in the truths of the message. When I was there, twelve or fifteen had decided to keep the Sabbath.

The camp-meeting was preceded by a workers' meeting, in which the business of the conference was conducted. The officers were re-elected, and the reports showed that a good work had been done during the past year in the circulation of literature, thousands of pages having been placed in the homes of the people. The sale of books has been small, as they have no State canvassing agent to look after this department of work.

Elder W. A. Westworth and Brother E. R. Palmer assisted in the meetings, and rendered valuable help. So far as I attended it, the camp-meeting was a good one, and no doubt others will furnish a more complete report, as I was obliged to leave before the meeting closed.

The eastern Pennsylvania camp-meeting was held in Philadelphia, August 26 to September 2. This was an occasion of great blessing to those who were present. The camp was located in a populous part of the city, near where Elder Bernstein and a company of workers held a tent-meeting during the summer. There was a good attendance of people from the city as well as of our own brethren and sisters.

I did not arrive till the meeting had been in progress several days. Elder C. H. Edwards, of Greater New York, and Prof. H. R. Salisbury, of Washington, D. C., were present part of the time, and rendered valuable assistance. Prof. B. F. Machlan, of South Lancaster, labored earnestly for the young people.

The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference has carried on quite a number of tent efforts during the summer, employing several young men in connection with its older workers, and these efforts have been greatly blessed. About one hundred have accepted the truth during the summer, and there is still good interest in several localities. The reports of the laborers were a source of great encouragement to the brethren and sisters, and they took hold heartily in raising a tent- and camp-meeting fund with which to purchase other tents and a camp-meeting outfit. About five hundred dollars was pledged for this purpose.

There was no conference business connected with this camp-meeting, so there was more time for Bible instruction and spiritual labor for the people. The outside interest was such that we see no reason why a good company should not be brought out in this place, especially since the interest will be followed up with faithful effort.

We were greatly pleased to greet a number of brethren and sisters from the New Jersey Conference at this meeting, and share with them its blessings.

Nineteen were baptized before the meeting closed at the church on Fifty-second Street. The outlook is bright before the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. Quite a number of young people expect to enter our schools to fit themselves as laborers. It is very encouraging to see our youth devoting their lives to the service of God.

E. W. FARNSWORTH.