East Pennsylvania Camp-Meeting by E. W. Farnsworth

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 5, 1906

East Pennsylvania Camp-Meeting

By E. W. Farnsworth

THIS camp-meeting was held in Sunbury, Pa., May 31 to June 10. The camp was located on an island in the Susquehanna River, with the city of Sunbury on one side, and Northumberland on the other. The location was pleasant and convenient, as a trolley-line brought the people from both cities directly to the ground. A grove of stately trees made the place beautiful. The park we used is a pleasure resort. A large frame pavilion on the grounds was used for meetings, and other buildings, tables, seats, etc., saved the conference considerable labor and expense. The attendance at the meeting was not quite so large as we had hoped it might be. There were about two hundred of our own people present.

The first Sabbath a consecration service was held at which nearly all gave themselves anew to God and his work, and sought for the blessing and power of the Holy Spirit.

Elder S. H. Lane was present, and labored with us the first part of the meeting. The other laborers outside the conference were Elders W. A. Colcord and F. C. Gilbert; Profs. J. W. Lawhead, of Washington, and F. Griggs, of South Lancaster; and the writer. The last Sabbath and Sunday of the meeting Elder A. G. Daniells was with us, and his labors were greatly appreciated by the brethren and sisters.

The preaching and Bible studies during the day were of a nature to strengthen and encourage our own people. The evening discourses dealt largely with doctrinal features of the faith. While the outside attendance was not large, yet some were deeply interested.

The canvassing work, educational work, and other departments of conference work received special attention. Resolutions were passed encouraging the canvassers to work earnestly in the sale of literature; the responsibility was placed upon church elders of placing the REVIEW AND HERALD, the Gleaner, Liberty, and Life and Health in every Seventh-day Adventist family in the conference, while all were urged to make increased efforts to circulate The Signs of the Times, The Watchman, and Christlicher Hausfreund among those not of our faith; it was recommended that a special offering be taken each quarter for the poor; that active efforts be put forth against religious legislation; that a fund be raised to send the journal Liberty to state officials, and that the circulation of this journal be encouraged; and that only those persons who are in harmony with all points of present truth be chosen to act as officers in the churches.

Several resolutions were adopted in reference to educational work, and a recommendation was passed that a delegate be selected to attend the educational convention to be held in College View, Neb.

A sum not to exceed three hundred dollars was donated by the conference to defray the traveling expenses, and to pay the salary for one year, of Sister Bertha A. Kurtz, who goes as a self-supporting missionary to India.

The following resolution was unanimously adopted by the delegates:—

“Resolved, That we hereby express our deep regret at the publication and circulation of the tract written by Elder A. T. Jones, recently issued from Battle Creek, attacking the spirit of prophecy and the general organization and management of our work; that we regard this attack as wholly unjustifiable; and that we hereby declare anew our unswerving faith in, and loyalty to, the gift of the spirit of prophecy which has been connected with the third angel’s message from its very beginning, and express our approval of the General Conference organization, and our confidence in its present management.”

Two new churches were added to the conference, and there was an increase in the tithes paid during the past year of about three thousand dollars above that of the previous year. Hardly any change was made in the officers of the conference, Elder W. J. Fitzgerald being again chosen as president. His address given at the beginning of the conference, showed that there had been encouraging growth during the year in different departments of the work.

One afternoon during the camp-meeting was devoted to Sabbath-school and young people’s work, and an interesting program was rendered under the direction of Sister Sue M. Andrews, secretary of the Sabbath-school department. Meetings for the youth and children were held each day, and these were attended with encouraging results.

Four issues of a small illustrated paper were published, advertising the meeting, and reporting outlines of the subjects presented. These papers were folded on the ground and distributed by the brethren and sisters who were attending the meeting, and they thus obtained a blessing in imparting as well as in receiving the truth. By this means rays of light were placed in every home in Sunbury and Northumberland.

The latter part of the meeting the weather was quite unfavorable, especially the last Sabbath and Sunday. This seriously interfered with the outside attendance, which doubtless would otherwise have been much larger. The wind was so strong that some of the tents were blown down, but no serious damage was done, and no one was hurt. Some of these tents were so old that they were not worth repairing, and about two hundred dollars was pledged toward a tent fund to purchase new tents. During the storms we were forcibly reminded of the necessity of an experience which will enable us to endure the greater storms and more trying experiences of the future. It was an object-lesson to all which will not soon be forgotten.

The church at Sunbury did all in its power to make the camp-meeting a success, and the members cheerfully bore the burdens incident to such a meeting. The Lord will surely remember and reward their labor.

The last Sunday of the meeting, just after a hard storm, Brother G. W. Spies was ordained to the gospel ministry. He and Brother Martin remain to follow up the interest awakened by the camp-meeting. They will first pitch their tent in Northumberland, and we hope their efforts may be greatly blessed.

The work is prosperous in eastern Pennsylvania. We feel sure there will be greater growth and progress during the coming year. There is a great field before the workers, and each church-member should become a burden bearer, seeking no discharge until the end of the war.

E. W. FARNSWORTH.