p. 16 | Camp-Meeting in the Tennessee River Conference

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

Camp-Meeting in the Tennessee River Conference

By K. C. Russell

THIS camp-meeting was held from August 23 to September 2, in Nashville, Tenn. The ground upon which the camp was located was the same ground, and the meetings were conducted in the same pavilion, used by Elders J. S. Washburn and G. I. Butler during a series of tent-meetings which they conducted this season. The ground was of sufficient size for a goodly number of family tents, and also a dining tent. The meeting was quite a typical Northern camp-meeting. It was said to be not only the largest camp-meeting ever held in the Tennessee River Conference, but the largest meeting ever held in the Southern Union Conference.

In the main, the weather was ideal during the meeting. The work of the camp-meeting was well organized, every phase receiving its share of attention. There was perfect freedom in the discussion of the various questions that were brought before the conference. The attendance of the citizens in the vicinity was good, and such subjects were presented as were calculated to make them acquainted with the cardinal features of the third angel's message.

Arrangements had previously been made to report the meetings as fully as possible through the public press of the city, so each day the papers contained a report. Much, I believe, has been lost by failing to make use of this feature in connection with our meetings. The smaller the meeting, the greater the need that truths which are being presented be reported; in this way thousands can be reached when only a few would otherwise hear the precious messages of love which are being proclaimed. By exercising tact and wisdom in interviewing the leading newspaper men in the vicinity of the camp, arrangements can be made that will guarantee

the publication of any reasonable reports that are neatly prepared for them.

Nashville being the headquarters of our work in the Southern Union Conference, quite a large number of workers were present at this meeting. The following is a list of some of those who were in attendance: Elders Geo. I. Butler, R. M. Kilgore, J. S. Washburn, C. P. Bollman, and R. S. Donnell, Profs. J. E. Tenney, E. A. Sutherland, and Thomas D. Rowe, and Drs. Frank Washburn and M. M. Martinson. We also had with us Dr. R. H. Harris, of Battle Creek, Mich.

Elder W. R. Burrow was unanimously elected president of the conference for the ensuing year. Elder Geo. I. Butler spoke several times during the meeting, with power.

Both Sabbaths of the meeting were attended by manifestations of the Holy Spirit's power in the conversion of souls, especially the last Sabbath, when a large number responded to the call to surrender to the Lord, some for the first time. Twenty-two precious souls followed the Lord in the sacred rite of baptism.

A camp-meeting for our colored people in the Tennessee River Conference was in progress at the same time as this one, it being held in another part of the city. This also was a pronounced success. The outside attendance was very large. There were eight persons baptized as the result of this meeting. An impressive ordination service was conducted on the afternoon of the last Sabbath of this meeting, at which Brother M. C. Strachan was set apart for the gospel ministry.

I took occasion to visit our publishing house in Nashville after the meeting, and was gratified to find such an extensive plant, and one so well equipped for all kinds of publishing work. Surely the Lord has been preparing the way for an effective work to be done soon in the Southland.

The Nashville Sanitarium and its location I consider to be ideal, and I bespeak for it an excellent patronage in view of its being located in a place so accessible to the city.

I can report that my first visit to Nashville was a most pleasant and satisfactory one, and I feel sure that it has resulted in deepening my interest in the work in that needy field.

K. C. RUSSELL.