West Virginia Camp-Meeting
By W. E. Frederick
THE seventeenth annual camp-meeting of West Virginia was held on the beautiful fair grounds of Clarksburg, September 8-18, with a fair representation. The president's address at the opening meeting of the conference showed a very encouraging outlook. Some ten months ago, when Elder Huntington took the presidency, the conference was burdened with a debt of about four thousand dollars. Through careful management, and the faithful efforts of the brethren during the past ten months, this amount has been quite materially reduced, so that the present actual indebtedness is but twenty-five hundred dollars, with a fair prospect that this will soon be liquidated, for which we are truly grateful. At the first meeting of the conference, the usual committees were chosen for the transaction of such business as would properly come before them. The committee on nominations submitted the following report, which was unanimously adopted: For President, S. G. Huntington; Vice-President, B. F. Purdham; Conference Secretary, W. E. Frederick; Conference Treasurer, West Virginia Tract Society; Field Secretary, J. S. James; Tract Society Secretary, P. W. Province; Sabbath-school Secretary, Mrs. Kathleen Huntington; Executive Committee, S. G. Huntington, B. F. Purdham, W. E. Frederick, P. P. Amick, S. F. Ross. At this time a change of laborers was effected between the Virginia and West Virginia Conferences. Elders C. B. Rule and W. R. Foggin go to Virginia, and Elders B. F. Purdham and T. H. Painter make West Virginia their field of labor. Several whom we had expected from abroad to assist with the meetings, doubtless for good reasons, failed to meet their appointments. However, we were glad to have with us Elders R. D. Hottel, president of the Virginia Conference, and W. A. Colcord, of Washington, D. C., both of whom rendered valuable assistance, which was much appreciated. Brother D. W. Reavis, of Washington, D. C., was also present in the interest of the Review and Herald Publishing Association. While little or no excitement attended any of the meetings held, yet at times the deep movings of the Spirit of God were quite manifest. As a result of the meetings, eleven united with the church, and on Sabbath afternoon we all gathered at the river's brink to witness the burial of ten dear souls with their Lord in baptism. This was an event long to be remembered by those present. During the entire time of the camp-meeting, the outside attendance was fair, and quite a little interest on the part of some was manifested. It was thought best to follow up this interest with a tent18effort. Accordingly, Elder B. F. Purdham was asked to continue the work there. Brother J. S. James to assist him for a time while he is becoming acquainted with his work in the State. They have pitched their tent in the center of the city, and the outlook is good. At our closing meeting, after listening to an interesting discourse by Elder Huntington, opportunity was given for a farewell testimony meeting, and a large number spoke with deep feeling of the blessings which they had received at the meetings just closed. Some who were not of our faith also bore testimony to the goodness of God, requesting our prayers in their behalf. Personally, I enjoyed the meeting very much. Meetings of this nature will soon be in the past. Already the storm is gathering, and soon will break in all its fury. Well will it be with all those who have made God their refuge, for they will have a shelter in the time of storm. W. E. FREDERICK,
Conference Secretary.