Interesting Facts Concerning the Work in the South
By George I. Butler
The writer of this article is not proposing to give a report of the Nashville meeting. Others will do this. But knowing how much interest many of our people feel in the progress of the work here, I will speak of this meeting, as it is an interesting mile-post in the progress of the work in the Southern Union Conference. Various epochs have occurred in the history of the message in this great Southland. I can well remember what seems to me the first entrance of the truth to the central portion of this great field. Elder C. O. Taylor and his companion visited the South. He was an ordained minister of the New York Conference. They were old '44 Adventists who had come into the message at an early day. This visit must have been nearly forty years ago. They labored several years in different parts of the field. We occasionally meet an old Sabbath-keeper who came out under their labors. Another point of interest was reached when Elder S. Osborn, of the Iowa Conference, accompanied by Elder Jacob Hare, of the same conference, came back to his old home in Kentucky. Brother Osborn stayed, and quite a large number came out under his labors. He was much beloved by those who knew him well. His labors were largely confined to Kentucky. Another point of interest was when Elders E. B. Lane and J. O. Corliss, of Michigan, visited Virginia and other places, and helped to start the work in this neglected land. Others also came. Many of these are sweetly sleeping, awaiting the call of the Master. It was a very important epoch when the Review and Herald established a branch office at Atlanta, Ga. During its occupancy of that field a large number of books filled with present truth were sold all over the South, more indeed than we have ever sold since. The rays of gospel light, like the rays of the sun, penetrated the moral darkness, and the truth of God was advanced. That light has not gone out yet. When the office was moved to Nashville, it was still another advance move. After an experience of nearly five years, I have not a doubt that this move was in the order of God. On the whole, Nashville is the very best place in the South for its leading office to be located. The organization of the Southern Union Conference was an epoch of vast importance to the cause in the South. The preaching of the truth in this field was done in a scattering, desultory manner. There was little system or order about it. Consequently in this Southern field there was very little coherency or connection. The distances were wide, with little communication between them. The organization of the union conference was therefore a necessity. Since that took place, there has been an increasing spirit of unity. The parts are becoming acquainted with one another, and a spirit of oneness is becoming more and more apparent. We are beginning to realize that we are one people. This is a very hopeful feature. We have had a great variety and number of trials, perplexities, discouragements, heartaches poverty, and “what-not” to meet in this field. But we are prepared to say with perfect assurance that there is no going back, but a steady advancement, and the work never looked so hopeful as now. Very valuable help has come here the present year. Permit me to mention four valuable accessions to our workers:— Brother W. A. Wilcox, from New England, has done an invaluable work in reducing to order our financial standing and condition as a conference. He is an excellent counselor. Elder J. S. Washburn, from Washington, D. C., has taken hold especially in the proclamation of the truth in our large cities. Dr. Frank A. Washburn has joined our forces as medical superintendent of our new sanitarium, which will be rapidly fitted up to occupy its position as our Nashville Sanitarium. And last, but not least, Brother L. A. Smith, upon the Watchman editorial staff. His coming is a great relief. It is such a help to have some one qualified to superintend the paper when we are under a special pressure from other responsible duties. How glad the writer is that our dear and lamented brother, Uriah Smith, has left a son to whom he has bequeathed so much editorial ability and good taste that he is well fitted to do the important duties of the editorial work. This is a lengthy preface to the subject-matter of the camp-meeting. Yet these facts concerning this Southern field are well worthy of our consideration. They all have a bearing on the prosperity of this work. The Nashville (Tenn.) Camp-Meeting
The camp-meeting just closed has marked an important mile-post in our progress. It was the largest camp-meeting ever held in the Tennessee River Conference,—yes, it was the largest meeting ever held in the Southern Union Conference or south of the Ohio River. It was conceded by good judges that fully three hundred Sabbath-keepers were in attendance, a wonderful contrast to some camp-meetings held here in the past. Our large sixty-by-eighty-foot tent was beautifully set, well lighted, and tastefully arranged. About thirty family tents were pitched, and there was a large dining tent close by. Able speakers were present. God's plain, convincing truth was spoken with power. Hearts responded. Nearly two hundred came forward for prayers. Two camp-meetings were in progress at the same time, the one I have spoken of, for the whites; another in a distant part of the city, where our colored brethren and sisters were encamped. Elder Sydney Scott, who recently moved from Kansas City to Birmingham, Ala., and who will labor in the Alabama Conference, and Elder Strachan, of the Tennessee River Conference, had charge of that meeting. They had an excellent meeting. Ten or eleven colored persons were baptized in the Tennessee River, and about twenty-two of the white people in our church baptistery. In passing, I would speak of the advantages of holding the camp-meetings of the different races at the same time, though in different places in the city. The necessity of separate meetings is18because of the race feeling existing in portions of the South. Because of this fact, separate churches and separate meetings are found to be preferable to both classes. The state of society makes this necessary. Yet the white ministers can go and speak to the colored people without offense. This plan has been tried, and seems to work well. Both can have the advantages of reduced fare, and a feeling of mutual kindness and Christian fellowship can be exercised. Both have the same God and Saviour, and both believe the same grand system of truth, and if faithful will go to the same heaven. Both tents were left standing, and the meetings continued after the camp broke up. Many in the closing services expressed their gratitude for the blessings of the meeting, and returned to their homes joyful in the Lord. This camp-meeting marked an important point in the progress of our work in the South. The work is certainly onward in the Southland. The Tennessee River Conference has now become the strongest, largest conference in the Southern Union. The Cumberland Conference was in the lead a few years ago. The growth has been more rapid of late in the former. Elder N. W. Allee's labors have been blessed of God. His health has failed, and for a year past he has been unable to work. He has hoped to regain his health in the climate of Texas, and has been at Keene for many months. Upward of two hundred have been added to the Tennessee River Conference in the last two years. At the meeting Elder W. R. Burrow was elected president, and Brother Strachan was ordained to the ministry. The tent will doubtless be pitched again in Nashville, and the effort will be continued until cold weather comes. The progress of the work is, on the whole, encouraging, and all are hopeful of the final results.