Western Pennsylvania Camp-Meeting by E. W. Farnsworth

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

Western Pennsylvania Camp-Meeting

By E. W. Farnsworth

This camp-meeting was held in the city of DuBois, June 10-24. The camp was located in Electric Park in a pleasant grove, easily reached by the street-cars. A large building on the grounds made a convenient and comfortable place for meetings, the sides being enclosed with canvas walls.

The attendance at this camp-meeting was very encouraging, there being about two hundred of our people in tents and rented rooms. There was a spirit of harmony, earnestness, and love for the truth which was refreshing. Burdens were cheerfully borne, and when there was work to be done, there were plenty of volunteers to do it. The meetings were marked with a prompt and general attendance from the beginning to the close.

The president's annual report showed that progress had attended the different departments of the conference during the year. The laborers gave good reports of their work. About one hundred and fifty persons have accepted the truth, the larger number of whom have been baptized. Two new churches and six Sabbath-schools have been organized. Three new church buildings have been dedicated, two others are approaching completion, and several have received substantial repairs and improvements. The tithe shows an increase of about $1,500 over the preceding year, $11,164.15 having been paid into the treasury. The total amount contributed to the work in home and foreign fields during the year was nearly $15,000. Faithful labor performed in the different departments of work has been attended with encouraging results. This is especially true in the religious liberty work, canvassing work, in the Sabbath-schools, and in the Young People's Societies.

During the first Sabbath and Sunday of the meeting, Elder G. B. Thompson was present and labored with untiring energy. After his sermon Sabbath afternoon, there was a general desire to seek the Lord, to consecrate all to this closing message. A great refreshing was experienced from the presence of the Lord.

The laborers present at this meeting outside the conference workers were Elder W. A. Colcord, Profs. J. W. Lawhead and F. Griggs, and the writer. Elder F. C. Gilbert arrived shortly before the meeting closed. The Lord gave freedom to his servants in the presentation of the truth. A series of Bible studies was given in the early morning meetings on the experience of God's people during the restoration of Jerusalem under Ezra and Nehemiah, which showed plainly our duty at the present hour. Elder Colcord gave a number of Bible studies on the spirit of prophecy, presenting the Bible evidence for faith in this precious gift, and the proof never seemed so full and conclusive.

The conference proceedings passed off harmoniously. Elder C. F. McVagh was again elected president, I. N. Williams vice-president, and the other officers were nearly all re-elected. Resolutions were passed expressing the faith of the brethren and sisters in the spirit of prophecy, their regret that attacks have recently been published and circulated against it, and declaring their confidence in the Testimonies and the General Conference organization. The magazine Liberty was recommended by the delegates, and about one hundred subscriptions were obtained in the meeting. It was also recommended that efforts be put forth to place the REVIEW AND HERALD in every family of Sabbath-keepers in the conference, and that special encouragement be given to men of ability to enter the canvassing work. It was voted that in future the entire amount donated by the Sabbath-schools be given to foreign missions.

Especial attention was given to educational work and the establishment of church-schools. We expect that the future will show marked advancement in this direction, and in the training of young people for positions of usefulness in the message. Five thousand copies of the educational number of the Bible Training School were subscribed for to assist young people to enter South Lancaster Academy, and about fifty copies of “Christ's Object Lessons” were paid for by the brethren for the same purpose.

The brethren who had charge of the DuBois meeting tried to carefully follow the light the Lord has given us in reference to camp-meetings. A paper

was issued each alternate day and circulated among the people of the city, containing reports of the meetings, and inviting the people to attend them. It was inspiring to see how heartily the brethren and sisters took hold of the work of folding and distributing these papers. Advertisements obtained in the city from business men will meet a large share of the expense. There was a good interest manifested by people living in DuBois to hear the truth. Elders McVagh and Schwartz, with other workers, will remain to develop this interest.

The dining tent, where food was served on the European plan, was a feature of the meeting much appreciated by the campers. Warm, well-cooked, hygienic food could be thus obtained at very reasonable prices. The weather was cool and rainy, but we heard no complaint. We believe the brethren and sisters returned to their homes greatly refreshed from this good meeting.

The outlook in the Western Pennsylvania Conference is very encouraging. If the brethren will continue earnest in labor, the Lord will do great things for them. Those who had the privilege of attending this camp-meeting as laborers will remember it as one of our most pleasant and profitable meetings.

E. W. FARNSWORTH.