CAMP-MEETING IN AUSTRALIA
DURING the last three months of 1900 four camp-meetings were held in Australia. The first was held in Brisbane, Queensland. At this meeting the first annual session of the Conference of that colony was held. It was the second camp-meeting in that city. The exhibition grounds near the center of the city were obtained for our use by the street car company. But though this meeting was favorably situated and extensively advertised, the attendance was not equal to that of two years previous, nor did the interest approach the enthusiasm of that time. There was a fairly good representation of our own people. The annual reports showed an encouraging increase in membership and income. The latter, however, was not equal to the expenditure. The tract society and the medical work have also become involved in debt to a considerable extent. The colony is now passing through the throes of a great drought. Consequently, the young cause in Queensland is bearing no small burden; but the courage of the people is good. Elder George Teasdale, of New Zealand, was chosen president of the Conference. God has a people in Queensland. He has a great work there; and He will doubtless see it carried through. Associated with Brother Teasdale are Brethren H. C. Lacey, F. W. Reekie, Thos. Whittle, and G. W. Tadich, and a small company of helpers. The principal speakers at this meeting were Elder Farnsworth and Dr. E. R. Caro. Although not large, the meeting was characterized by many blessings, and not a little fruit appeared. The next meeting was held at Lambton, a coal-mining suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales. Two years ago a similar meeting was held at Hamilton, but two miles from the present site. Here a church was raised up. A counter attraction was set up near our camp; but from the first, the interest and attendance were good and increased. The attendance of our own people was not what it should have been, especially during the first of the meeting. Those who came carried away rich blessings. Every meeting was an unfolding of the sacred word. Here we were privileged to share the labors of Elders E. W. Farnsworth, A. T. Robinson, W. A. Colcord, E. R. Palmer, C. B. Hughes, and A. S. Hickox. Brother Colcord is president of the New South Wales Conference, and has a devoted little band of workers associated with him. Strenuous efforts are being put forth to dispel the incubus of debt, and they are succeeding. This is a grand and inviting field of labor. There are in this Conference about five hundred Sabbath-keepers, with six good houses of worship. Near Lambton is situated the Avondale school, which had just finished its most successful year's work. It was a great success, too. The enrollment was fully one hundred and fifty, and almost without exception the students were hopefully converted, and intelligently started in the Christian life. At present the outlook for the school is most encouraging. The next year's work begins January 31. The attendance promises to be large. The crops on the estate are all doing well, and many improvements have been made. The health retreat, near the school, is doing a flourishing work under the care of Brother and Sister Robey and Sister Boyd. Elder A. T. Robinson is chairman of the retreat board, and Bible instructor in the school. Much could be said of an encouraging nature concerning the work in this new center. From Lambton we went to Adelaide, South Australia, a journey of twelve hundred miles, where the third meeting was held. The brethren had difficulty in procuring a satisfactory place for the meeting. Finally they pitched the tents at Ovingham, a suburb outside the city, and not near any means of transport. We were threatened by a “push of larrikins,” which the police told us they could not control. A saloon keeper was the only man who could and would let us have grounds for the meeting, and these were not particularly inviting. But the Lord cared for His own work. Not the slightest disturbance was created, the attendance was large, and the interest deep. Our own people listened eagerly to the word taught. The camp-meeting was merged in a tent-meeting on the same ground, and the interest was for some time carried on by Elder Farnsworth, assisted by the local laborers, who are still at work with success. This Conference has been organized but a short time. There are a little less than two hundred members, yet they are possessed of good courage. The president is Elder J. H. Woods, one of the pioneer workers in our publishing work. Associated with him is Brother Wm. Knight, Sister Jennie Wilson, and a small company of workers. This was an excellent meeting. The Victorian meeting was held at Bendigo, a mining town one hundred miles north of Melbourne. It continued over three weeks, including the holidays. Grounds could not be secured in a central location, and the long distance from the main churches prevented a large attendance of our own people. The citizens did not come in large numbers; though on the whole, we had a good hearing. The holidays absorbed the minds of the public, and the last part of the meeting was attended with a spell of great heat. But we received marked evidences of God's favor and blessing. Elder Farnsworth and his wife and E. R. Palmer were present during the first part of the meeting. Elder Robinson also shared in the work. Dr. D. H. Kress and his wife were made welcome, and their talks and labors were highly appreciated. Elder G. B. Starr has the oversight of the work in this Conference, which numbers about the same as New South Wales. One feature of this meeting was the brass band of twenty pieces, from the Bible Echo office, which led the singing, and played sacred music before and after services. The ministry of this Conference consists of Elders S. McCullagh, R. Hare, editor of the Bible Echo, G. B. Starr, with several earnest men as licentiates. Like the other Conferences, Victoria feels the weight of debt. But we all look forward to a time soon to come when, by God's help, this cloud will be lifted.93 Two other meetings remain to be held in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Launceston, Tasmania. Brother Farnsworth is now on his way to the former. On the whole, these meetings have been, so far, seasons of blessing and refreshing. A good spirit of courage and devotion prevails. The people have manifested a readiness to accept the pure word of God. 25 Sloane St., Summer Hill, Sydney.