Ohio Camp Meeting by A. G. Haughey

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 16, 1902

Ohio Camp Meeting

By A. G. Haughey

The Ohio camp meeting and the forty-first annual conference was held on the fair grounds at Coshocton, Ohio, August 7-18. Most of the conference laborers were present one week before the time of opening. During this period Elder William Covert was with us, and rendered valuable service as an instructor, his principal theme being that of unity and harmony, in which all present were deeply interested. Everything was in readiness for the opening service, August 7, which was introduced by entertaining about one hundred of the leading citizens of Coshocton County at a hygienic dinner at 5 P. M., followed by a preaching service at 7:30 P. M. About eight hundred persons besides members of the conference were present at this first meeting. The hygienic dinner was given as a means of advertising the camp meeting, and proved a complete success.

Prof. W. W. Prescott and Elder W. A. Spicer were with us during the greater part of the meeting, and it was their privilege to speak to large and attentive audiences. Professor Prescott conducted a series of Bible lessons with the conference laborers, with which all were well pleased. J. B. Blosser was also present, and rendered valuable assistance in arousing an interest on the part of the people in the circulation of our literature.

On the last Sabbath of the meeting six brethren—M. C. Kirkendall, C. C. Webster, J. O. Miller, N. W. Lawrence, Francis M. Fairchild, and W. H. Granger—were ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, Elder D. E. Lindsey offering the prayer, Elder W. A. Spicer delivering the charge, and the writer speaking the words of welcome.

In the afternoon, following the preaching services, twenty-six persons expressed their faith in the Lord by following him in the ordinance of baptism. Nearly all of these were new converts to the faith. One noticeable feature was the fact that of one family, the father, mother, two sons, and four daughters were all baptized.

On the last day of the meeting four public services were held, with from three to five thousand interested persons in attendance.

There was a spirit of restfulness and unity in all the deliberations of the conference. It had been the studied effort of the conference committee to keep out, as far as possible, business matters. While seven conference meetings were held, not a single resolution was offered, nor any spirit of debate manifested. The business meetings were spiritual blessings to all who attended. It was the expression of many that this camp meeting was the best one they had ever attended. The meetings in the interest of the educational work, of which the Mount Vernon Academy is the central figure, were especially interesting. The various departments of the work in the conference were more closely united under one general executive committee than for many years in the past.

The following-named persons were elected: President, H. H. Burkholder; Vice-President, D. E. Lindsey; Missionary Secretary, N. S. Miller; Auditor, W. H. Edwards; Canvassing Agent, G. P. Gaede; Treasurer, C. V. Hamer; Educational Secretary, Bessie E. Russell; Executive Committee, H. H. Burkholder, D. E. Lindsey, Thomas Thornton, R. R. Kennedy, M. C. Kirkendall, G. C. Quillian, and B. J. Ferciot.

Ministerial licenses were granted to sixteen persons, and missionary licenses to twenty-five.

From the reports of labor given, it was ascertained that eight companies of Sabbath keepers had been raised up during the year, three of which were admitted into the conference as duly organized churches.

The following facts were gleaned from the financial reports. While the Sabbath-school donations had decreased during the year, the amount donated to foreign missions had increased more than $200. During the past two years there had been an increase of $6,306.53 in the tithe, over that of the two preceding years. Nearly $11,000 had been paid on conference debts, $5,000 of which had been raised as the result of the campaign for the sale of “Christ’s Object Lessons;” $2,500 had been expended in the support of laborers outside of Ohio,—without injury to the progress of the work in the State,—among whom are the following: Elder S. G. Haughey, England; Elder F. W. Field, Japan; Ida M. Walters, Katherine E. Miller, Lela Gibson, and Flora McCollister, New York; Mrs. Jessie B. Maybury, Tennessee; Sadie Baker and Cora Gibson, Canada; Elder M. S. Babcock, Nova Scotia.

Ohio now has an excellent school in successful operation, and the following statement is being realized: “In regard to the Mount Vernon institution, I would, could my voice be heard across the broad Pacific, say, Let the buildings be converted into a seminary for the education of our youth. I have been shown that there should be school buildings located in Ohio, which would give character to the work.”—Mrs. E. G. White. Fully one half of the present corps of laborers in Ohio were students in the Mount Vernon Academy, and many more have gone to other fields. From this time forth Ohio should be prepared to send many missionaries to various parts of the field.

We willingly sever our official connection with the Ohio Conference, and cheerfully turn over the work to other laborers. A. G. HAUGHEY.