GENERAL CAMP-MEETINGS IN DISTRICT 6.
By George A. Irwin
THIS meeting was held at Walla Walla, Wash., May 24 to June 3. Elder W. T. Knox, my wife, and I arrived on the grounds the evening of the first day of the meeting. The camp was situated in a beautiful little grove in the northeastern suburb of the city. The preparations for the meeting had nearly all been finished, so that the meeting began on time. The attendance of our brethren was larger than usual at the beginning of such meetings. The daily program was about the same as that which usually characterizes our State camp-meetings. The early morning meeting was devoted to the reading of Testimonies, the eight o’clock hour to general district devotional meetings, and the nine o’clock hour to the various meetings necessary to transact the business of the Conference in its several departments. The remainder of the forenoon was devoted to preaching or to study of the Scriptures. There was a preaching service each afternoon, followed later by various other meetings; such as, children’s meetings, woman’s meetings, etc. The evening service was taken up in the presentation of the different points of our denominational belief. A fair outside attendance was present at these meetings. During the first part of the meeting, the day services were largely carried by Elder Knox and the writer, while the evening services were conducted by the ministry of the Conference. Prof. E. L. Stewart, the newly elected president of the Walla Walla College, was present from the beginning of the meeting, and rendered valuable service in all branches of the work, as well as in his special branch. Right here I might call attention to my failure to mention his name as one of the laborers at the North Pacific Conference, where he also rendered acceptable service. I am glad to report that he was well received by both Conferences. Elder H. Shultz was present, and conducted meetings regularly each day and evening in the interests of the Germans. Brother C. H. Jones, manager of the Pacific Press, spent a few days in the meeting, laboring in the interests of the Signs of the Times and the canvassing work. The various business meetings of the Conference were unusually interesting, and revealed the fact that all branches of the Conference work were making healthy advancement. The treasurer’s report showed an encouraging gain in tithe over former years, and an amount sufficient to pay all workers of the Conference a liberal allowance, leaving a small surplus in the treasury to begin the new year. Six new churches were admitted to the Conference, with an aggregate membership of one hundred and three. An increase of three hundred in the membership of the Conference was reported. This makes a fair showing for the last year’s work, when we consider the fact that a vigorous effort was made to revise the list of members in the various churches by dropping the names of spiritually dead members, and granting letters to those who had moved to other Conferences without taking their letters. The increase in the subscriptions to our leading periodicals amounted to over two hundred dollars. Six hundred and sixty copies of “Parables of Jesus, or Christ’s Object Lessons” were sold, and one hundred and seventy-five dollars was given toward the material and expense fund for the book. Contributions amounting to about two hundred dollars each were taken for the work in Australia and in the Southern field. In addition to this, a large amount was raised to pay for tents and to carry forward the work of the Conference. Elder G. W. Reaser’s work as president seemed to have met the approbation of the entire Conference, and he was unanimously re-elected. For a time it seemed as if there might be a disagreement in the selection of a tract society secretary, owing to some misunderstandings that had grown up between the school and the society; but the interested parties were finally brought together, and after earnestly seeking God, explanations were made, and the difficulty so adjusted that all felt clear in recommending the name of the former incumbent, who, along with the former secretary of the Conference, was unanimously re-elected. Elder W. F. Martin was elected president of the Sabbath-school association, to take the place made vacant by the removal of Elder Taylor from the Conference. The report from Walla Walla College was satisfactory, in the main. The supply of water, which had been a source of difficulty in the past, and which threatened to entail a large outlay to the college, has been finally adjusted for a long term of years, at a merely nominal annual expense. A complete health food plant, owned and operated by the college, has been brought into existence, which is meeting with a liberal patronage. Brother G. A. Nichols, the business manager of the school, has labored hard and faithfully to run the school on a paying basis, and to maintain its financial credit and standing. The outlook for the coming year seems good; and if all interested will labor harmoniously, there is no doubt that the school will be a success. A good school in this section is a positive necessity, owing to the long distance to any other of our large schools; hence, Walla Walla College should be a training center, where young men and women can be fitted for labor in the ministry, Bible work, medical missionary, church-school, and canvassing work. Dr. L. A. Dunlap has been connected with the school the last year, and will teach physiology and give instruction in healthful living and the administration of simple treatments. Drs. Kellogg and Leadsworth were present at the meeting for the purpose of counseling with the leading brethren of the Conference relative to the more permanent organization of the sanitarium work at Spokane, Wash. Several meetings were held, an organization was perfected, and the necessary steps were taken toward forming an incorporation. Dr. Kellogg gave one or two interesting lectures in the public congregation during his stay. Sunday evening, May 27, Elder and Mrs. S. N. Haskell arrived from Portland, and rendered valuable service from then until the close of the meeting. Brother Haskell spoke each day on important themes in connection with the Third Angel’s Message; and Sister Haskell conducted a study for the ministers and Bible workers, and also assisted Mrs. Irwin in the meetings in the interests of the woman’s work. The last Sabbath of the meeting was a good day. The Lord came preciously near to his people, as the plain truths for this time were brought out. At the close of the forenoon service, Brethren W. C. Young and C. L. Ford were ordained to the gospel ministry by prayer and the laying on of hands. In the afternoon, at the close of the service, when the invitation was given, a large number came forward for the prayers of the church. Many of these were making a start for the first time, while others had once made a profession, but had grown cold and become backslidden. These persons were earnestly labored with by the ministry of the Conference, until all expressed a clear evidence of forgiveness and acceptance with God. The meeting was continued until the close of the Sabbath, after which Elder Haskell and I, with our wives, were compelled to leave, in order to reach the California meeting in time. With many hand-shakes and “God bless you’s,” we took our departure, with earnest prayers that God would bless the Conference the coming year with many precious souls gathered into the fold, of such as shall finally be saved in his eternal kingdom.