Southern New England by William A. Westworth

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 19, 1906

Southern New England

By William A. Westworth

This report of our camp-meeting is delayed a little on account of the press of other work, and yet we feel that we should not omit to testify to the goodness of God and his presence with us at our late gathering at Middletown. The help of our Heavenly Father was manifest from the beginning. The weather was delightful as we arranged the camp; and had we been called upon so to do, we could have held our first meeting on Tuesday night. By Wednesday night every arrangement and detail was perfected, and our workers were free to rest throughout Thursday and to welcome our brethren and sisters as they came on the ground. This condition we believe contributed largely to the success of our work.

The representation at the camp was a larger one than that at Willimantic one year ago, and the spirit of energy, courage, and consecration was everywhere manifest. The last Sabbath of the meeting witnessed a large outpouring of the Spirit of God. Ministers and people alike laid aside everything that had hindered in any way their usefulness; hearts were turned to God; consecration for service was renewed; and victories were gained which caused our hearts to unite in thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father for his mercy and long-suffering to us, his erring children. This work of triumph we believe was the result, to some extent at least, of a heart-searching and a straightening up in individual lives all through the previous week. We thank God for the advance step thus taken.

We were favored with the presence and assistance of Elders Ketring and Fitzgerald throughout the season, and for a part of the time with the help of Elder F. C. Gilbert and Professors Griggs and Cottrell, besides having a full attendance of all our workers in the local field.

The condition of our conference is encouraging, and we press forward with confidence that the coming year will be a successful one to the praise of God. Our force has been increased from four, one year ago, till at the present time we enter our tent season with fourteen upon the conference pay-roll. During the past fiscal year our tithe has increased over twenty-five per cent, so that although we have largely increased our working force, our cash balance is considerably in advance of what it was one year ago, and our property has also been increased several hundred dollars.

We are thankful to God that we have a good equipment, all paid for, and that we are thus able to press forward, unembarrassed by any debt.

During the camp the needs of various enterprises were presented, and donations were received, as follows: for foreign mission work, one hundred dollars; for the Jewish mission work, centered in Boston, about eighty dollars; and for the expenses of the home work, outside the regular lines supported by the tithe, one hundred and sixty-five dollars.

During the latter part of the meeting there was considerable interest manifested on the part of the townspeople, and we hope that this interest, now being followed up by a tent effort, will bring some souls to the full knowledge of this saving message.

Wm. A. WESTWORTH.