Vermont and Maine Camp Meetings
By H. W. Cottrell
These meetings were held on the same dates,—August 21 to September 1, 1902. The Vermont camp was located at Barre, within the city limits, in a good residential section. The attendance from the city was good, and the different parts of the conference were well represented by our own people. All the ministers of the conference were present, and assisted in the work of the camp. Professor Mattson, of the South Lancaster Academy, was present during the entire ten days, and Dr. Prince was in attendance in the interest of the sanitarium work during the first few days. Professor Griggs and the writer were present the first week of the camp, and Brother and Sister Franke, Brother and Sister Haskell, and Brother Miles were in attendance the latter part of the meeting. The various interests of the work were each considered, and plans devised for the furtherance of the same. The tract department of the conference is not entirely free from debt, but there are perfectly reliable resources that are nearly sufficient to cover the amount, besides some questionable resources, from which some money may be received. A special effort was put forth to encourage the despondent ones and those who had never accepted Christ to yield their lives to him. At the close of the first service on the first Sabbath, we made a request that the unconverted and those who were actually backslidden in heart, yield their lives to the Lord, adding that no one should come forward unless he belonged in one or the other of these classes. Thirty-three responded. The brethren and sisters gladly received broader views of the great work that rests upon us as a people, and without solicitation, selected one of the strongest ministers, proposing to the Mission Board that he be sent to Great Britain to connect with the work there, entirely at the expense of the Vermont Conference. The people were greatly blessed in this decision, and as soon as the action was taken, the spirit of liberality came in among them, as was seen by the various contributions that followed. The conference will also pay the salary of one teacher in the union conference academy. Elders Franke, Haskell, and Miles rendered valuable assistance during the latter part of the meeting, and the services were well attended by the people from the city. Elder Watt was re-elected president. Elders Franke, Miles, and Gilbert were in attendance during the first part of the Maine camp meeting, and rendered good service. I understand that Elder Franke had especial freedom in presenting the truth, and large crowds were in attendance. I am informed that a few persons from the city accepted the Sabbath as the result of his sermons on the ground. There were present from abroad the last few days of the series, Elder Gilbert, Professor Griggs, Dr. Prince, and the writer, each rendering, under the Lord, the best service he could, which was appreciated, especially by our own people. There was a special effort put forth to help the unconverted and any who were discouraged, and twenty-four were brought to the liberty of the gospel. One feature of especial interest that I will mention, is that the business meetings in each of these conferences were just as spiritual in every respect as any social meetings that I ever attended, and I am sure that this condition should exist in every meeting of each session of every conference. The Sabbath-school Department, the Book Department, the work with “Christ’s Object Lessons,” the Material Fund, and subscriptions for periodicals, each received due attention. The conference voted unanimously to pay the salary of a teacher in the South Lancaster Academy from the tithe treasury; as soon as this action was passed, a man arose and said that the Lord was moving upon his heart to contribute one hundred dollars to this general enterprise, that there be no shortage in the tithe funds. Without one word from any one, that spirit of liberality continued with the people until an amount of money was received considerably larger than the salary of a teacher for the entire year. This was the first unsolicited contribution that I ever knew to be given by a public congregation. Joy filled the hearts of all, and a song of praise was then rendered to the Lord. All are filled with courage. Both tithe and freewill offerings will doubtless flow into the treasury as never before. Elder P. F. Bicknell was elected conference president, Miss Morton was re-elected secretary and treasurer, and Mrs. P. F. Bicknell was elected conference canvassing agent. H. W. COTTRELL.