South Dakota Camp-Meeting by K. C. Russell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 12, 1906

South Dakota Camp-Meeting

By K. C. Russell

THIS meeting was held at Woonsocket, S. D., June 7–18, on the same ground on which the camp-meeting was held last year. The citizens of Woonsocket made our people a liberal donation both seasons as an inducement to have the meeting held in their city. The high winds which prevailed during the first few days of the meeting hindered the pitching of the large tent, but meetings were held in the small tents until the storm abated.

The attendance of our people was good to begin with, and it increased until the last Sabbath, at which time it was thought to be the largest they had had for years. The outside attendance and interest were not so good as last year.

Besides the local laborers, there were on the ground Elder R. A. Underwood, president of the Northern Union Conference; Elder S. Mortenson, chairman of the Swedish Department of the General Conference; Elder Lewis Christian, chairman of the Norwegian Department of the General Conference; Prof. P. T. Magan, in the interests of the work in the South; Prof. Otto Graf, the educational secretary of the Northern Union Conference; and Brother T. Valentiner, in the interests of the German work. Elder H. S. Shaw, president of the Minnesota Conference, and C. L. Emmerson, the editor of the Northern Union Reaper, were also in attendance a portion of the time.

The spiritual interest of this meeting was excellent from the first. Opportunity was given early in the meeting for all to give their hearts to God and to reconsecrate their lives to his work. Services of this nature were held in the English, Scandinavian, young people's and children's meetings. The last Sabbath was a meeting long to be remembered by those in attendance, on account of the deep movings of the Spirit of God in convicting and delivering souls. Forty-one persons followed their Lord in the sacred rite of baptism in the afternoon of the closing day of the meeting.

One feature of special interest at this meeting was the liberal response to the various and numerous calls which were made in behalf of the work. The estimated aggregate amount voted to be paid toward the support of laborers outside the conference was $2,782. These laborers are to be sustained in Peru, Korea, and Alberta, and a German laborer will be supported in Pittsburg, Pa. There was donated and pledged for the work in India, $517.17, and a collection amounting to $114.31 was taken for the work of the blind. There was $500 tithe donated to the General Conference, and a donation of $230 was given for the work in the South. A collection (cash and pledges) amounting to $577 was taken for the Elk Point school. On the last day of the meeting, a special collection, amounting to $650, was taken for the work in Peru, to be used in sustaining other laborers. There was also a donation of $75 toward the work of reaching the foreigners in our large cities in the East. Thus it will be observed from the foregoing amounts that these donations aggregate $5,445.48.

In response to an earnest call for Elder C. A. Burman to connect with the work in Alberta, Canada, the conference voted to release him. Elder Burman has rendered most efficient service as the president of the South Dakota Conference for the past three years, and as a result, the Lord has prospered the work in every way during his administration. It is gratifying to those who are chosen to plan for the extension of the work in other fields to know that young men are being trained as presidents of conferences, and in other ways, in the home field, where they can become qualified to bear burdens in unentered fields in other countries which require men of experience to carry on and develop the work successfully. Elder E. G. Hayes was unanimously elected president of the South Dakota Conference, and Elder N. P. Neilsen vice-president. Brethren J. W. Christian and C. M. Clark were duly ordained to the gospel ministry.

The work in the world-wide mission field was presented. After placing before the people of the conference the Battle Creek situation, a resolution was offered protesting against the recent published attacks upon the spirit of prophecy and the organization, and also affirming their unbounded faith in the gift of the spirit of prophecy and the third angel's message. The resolution was carried by a rising vote of the congregation. We believe that even greater prosperity will attend the work in South Dakota in the closing days of the message. K. C. RUSSELL.