The New York Camp-Meeting by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 11, 1906

The New York Camp-Meeting

By G. B. Thompson

The forty-fifth annual session of the New York Conference was held in connection with the camp-meeting at Phelps, September 6-16. The camp was located in a small park in the village. The attendance of our people was quite good, most of the churches being represented by delegates. Besides the conference laborers present, Elders A. G. Daniells, W. A. Spicer, E. W. Farnsworth, O. E. Reinke, Prof. F. Griggs, Brother F. E. Painter, and the writer were present during some part of the meeting.

The death of Elder S. H. Lane, president of the conference, having occurred but a short time before the opening of the meeting, the conference was left without a presiding officer. The committee, however, made all the necessary arrangements for the meeting; and Elder E. W. Farnsworth, president of the Atlantic Union Conference, was invited to act as chairman during the session.

Expressive of the sorrow and loss occasioned by the death of Elder S. H. Lane, who for many years has been an active laborer in the work of the denomination and for a number of years president of the conference; also for the death of Elder D. A. Ball, who for many years was a devoted and highly esteemed laborer, the following resolution was passed:—

“Whereas, Death has removed from our midst, during the last conference year, two of our esteemed laborers, Elder S. H. Lane, who for many years served as president in our conference, also filling leading official positions in the cause elsewhere; and Elder D. A. Ball, for many years a laborer in our midst, therefore,—

“Resolved, That while we humbly bow in submission to the will of our Heavenly Father, we desire, hereby, to express our appreciation of the long and faithful labors of these brethren, and our sorrow occasioned by their removal; and further, that we extend to the bereaved companions and relatives of the deceased our Christian sympathy and love in this hour of their sorrow and great loss.”

The chief item of business was the division of the conference territory. After mature and prayerful deliberation, the delegates voted that the territory of the New York Conference be divided into two conferences on a line running along the eastern borders of Cayuga, Tompkins, and Tioga Counties, the territory thus divided to be known as the New York Conference. As soon as arrangements can be made concerning the name of the legal association, it will be known as the Eastern New York Conference, and the Western New York Conference. This makes almost an exact division as to population, number of churches, and amount of tithe paid, and each of the conferences is sufficiently strong to do aggressive work. As far as we were able to discern, all the arrangements were perfectly satisfactory.

The business of the session was carried on with the utmost dispatch, and the greatest unity possible was seen in all the deliberations. The special blessing of the Lord was manifest in the meeting from beginning to end, and it was evident to all that the Holy Spirit was present, directing in a most marked manner in all the proceedings. We have never attended a meeting where this was more evident. The Lord blessed in presenting the truths of the message, and the last day of the meeting twenty-nine were baptized. Many said it was the best camp-meeting they have attended for a long time. Most of the laborers have been working in new fields during the past year, and three churches were admitted to the conference at this meeting.

Elder F. H. De Vinney was chosen president of the eastern conference, and Elder H. W. Carr of the western. A strong committee was elected in each conference, and such departmental secretaries as are necessary to fully organize and carry forward the work. There is no doubt but the step taken in the organization of two conferences will place a new mold upon the work of God in this field, and mark a new era in its progress.

The third angel’s message was forcibly and clearly presented from the desk. Special studies were given regarding the subject of the spirit of prophecy. The following resolution, which was passed unanimously, expresses the attitude of the delegates present regarding the apostasy which has developed among us:—

“Whereas, The prospering hand of the Lord has been over us for good during the past year in preserving and extending our work, and,—

“Whereas, This care has been the more manifest in view of the fact that by means of leaflets sent out from Battle Creek, an effort has been made, the tendency of which has been to discredit the work of the spirit of prophecy, and the General Conference management, therefore,—

“Resolved, That we hereby express our deepest gratitude to God for his loving watch-care over us, and further, that we anew express our confidence in the integrity and reliability of the spirit of prophecy which has been manifested among us from the rise of the message, and that we pledge greater faithfulness to the instruction which comes thus to us from the Lord, and that we further express our confidence in our General Conference organization and management, and that we extend to them our hearty support in the work of advancing the third angel’s message throughout the world.”

Steps were taken at the meeting to strengthen and develop the industrial school which has been started at Tunesassa. A local board of management was elected, and about nine hundred dollars was raised to complete the building which has been in course of construction during the summer. It was also voted to move the Buffalo Sanitarium to some favorable location in the country, in harmony with the instruction of the Testimonies that our health institutions should be located in the country. About seven hundred dollars was raised for this purpose.

Much interest was manifested in the progress of the message in the regions beyond. The stirring talks of Elders A. G. Daniells and W. A. Spicer regarding the rapid advancement of the message in foreign fields brought cheer and courage to every heart. A large number of young people were present at the meeting, and from these we trust many capable workers will be raised up to help spread the message in these needy fields.

I enjoyed, personally, the privilege of attending this meeting and once more seeing those whose association I was permitted to enjoy during the years I was laboring in the conference. I was also glad to meet some who have recently embraced the truth. The spirit which characterized this meeting was certainly encouraging, and I believe it is a token that the power of God is to be especially manifested in his work in this field in the future. We are in a crisis in the work; we have reached the shaking time to which we have looked forward. But the days of final victory are just ahead, and while the enemy may enter our ranks and cut down our laborers, and otherwise seek to hinder our work, our duty is to fill up the ranks and march on to victory.

G. B. THOMPSON.