A Country Camp-Meeting by William Ambrose Spicer

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

A Country Camp-Meeting

By William Ambrose Spicer

The Tennessee River Conference, embracing western Tennessee and Kentucky, held its annual camp-meeting August 2-10. It was an interesting experiment in one way, in that it was held in a country farming village, six miles from the railway station of Denver. Elder Lowry had been holding a tent effort there. Some had just begun to keep the Sabbath, and the neighborhood was so interested that the farmers pleaded to be allowed the privilege of having the camp-meeting in their neighborhood, and promised to transport the people and equipment free of charge. Most generously they fulfilled every promise.

Every night the people came in from all directions, and there was a large audience. One evening, when a call was made for those to rise who had decided to keep the Sabbath, seventeen adults responded.

The conference has made encouraging growth in its finances, and faces the new year with bright prospects. Two men were ordained to the ministry, Brethren Rowe and Ballsbaugh. Brother Rowe has charge of the conference intermediate school at Hazel, Ky., which is prospering and doing good work for the young people. There was a good representation of the union interests at the meeting. Elder Butler attending throughout, while I. A. Ford and R. W. Parmele represented the publishing interests; Professors Tenney, Van Kirk, and Sutherland the educational work; and Dr. Lydia Parmele and L. A. Hansen the medical department. Elders J. S. Washburn and C. P. Bollman were also present.

When Elders Butler and Sharp led out in behalf of the $150,000 fund, the small company present quickly raised over four hundred dollars in cash and pledges. The brethren in these conferences mean to make earnest effort to raise the six thousand dollars assumed by them by the end of the year. Then they desire to go on lifting till the whole is made up. But surely the whole sum coming from northern and western conferences will have been raised by that time. At any rate, the South, which gets the first fifty thousand dollars, is heart and soul devoted to the purpose of raising its proportion, and more if possible.

The converting and reconverting grace of God was in the meetings. Seven or eight were baptized, and the development of the local interest must lead a number to join our ranks by baptism.

W. A. SPICER.