The Montana State Camp-Meeting by W. B. White

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

The Montana State Camp-Meeting

By W. B. White

This gathering was held at Basin, Mont., June 21 to July 1, and was one of the largest and best camp-meetings ever held in this conference. Basin is a small town about thirty miles north of Butte on the Great Northern Railway, and is beautifully situated in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. The camp was nicely located on a large level piece of ground, behind which high mountains rose above us, forming a beautiful background. Twenty-five family tents were pitched, and quite a number lodged in rooms in the city. About one hundred and twenty-five were in attendance, and nearly all remained till the last day. Besides the conference laborers, there were present Elder G. A. Irwin, Prof. J. L. Shaw, who is spending a few weeks in our union conference, Prof. M. E. Cady, who stopped only one day on his way from Walla Walla to College View, Neb., and the writer. An excellent spirit of love, harmony, and union prevailed during the entire meeting, and indeed this spirit seems to pervade the whole conference, and speaks well for the future of the work in this field.

Elder Irwin remained through only part of the meeting, leaving Wednesday evening for the educational convention at College View; but during his stay he gave a very interesting and valuable series of lessons on the spirit of prophecy and its connection with the people of God in all ages, and especially with the remnant church. These were greatly appreciated by all, and many expressed themselves as receiving great help and encouragement from them. Quite a large number were present who were attending their first camp-meeting, and these studies were especially valuable to them.

The main topic of the meeting was the nearness of the end, and the great need of the Holy Spirit to conquer and subdue our lives, and make us overcomers. The doctrines of absolute surrender to God, faith in his promises, and a daily abiding in him, were clearly set forth, and found a place in the hearts of the people.

The finances of the conference are very encouraging, the tithe being about thirteen hundred dollars in excess of what it was last year at this time. The conference had quite a good surplus for a small field, and voted one third to foreign missions. On the second Sabbath a midsummer offering was taken, and about forty dollars was given.

The last day of the meeting the needs of the Mt. Ellis Academy at Bozeman were considered, and in a company of about one hundred persons, between ten and eleven hundred dollars was subscribed for the erection of a boys' dormitory, with large schoolroom in connection. This we think was about as liberal giving as we ever saw in so small a company. The academy has enjoyed a very prosperous year, and the future looks bright.

During the summer two tents will be in the field, one in the city of Bozeman and the other in the Kalispell country, in the northwestern part of the State. Elder W. F. Martin, the president of the conference, will spend considerable time the coming summer and fall in building up the several lines of work in the churches, and looking after some financial interests. The conference now has five hundred and twenty-five church-members, in fourteen churches. Quite a number will go out from the camp-meeting into the canvassing work, to sell our subscription books. A conference office will be built in Bozeman on the church lot, which is quite a central location, and Brother Amos Everett and his wife will have charge. A small depository of books will be kept in connection with this office. The future looks bright in the Montana Conference, and we shall pray that God may abundantly bless the work and workers.

W. B. White, Pres. N. P. U. Conf.