Wisconsin Camp-Meeting
By WM. COVERT.
The annual conference and camp-meeting for Wisconsin was held August 30 to September 12, at Oshkosh. The attendance of our people probably did not exceed seven hundred at any one time during this period. Elder L. R. Conradi was with us four days of the first week, and Elder E. W. Farnsworth assisted during four days of the second week. The earnest labors of these brethren were appreciated, and were very helpful to those present. Excellent liberty was given most of the speakers in presenting the Lord's message. Four new churches were received into the conference, making the aggregate number of churches organized in the conference one hundred and one. Forty-five persons received the ordinance of baptism in the beautiful waters of Lake Winnebago, which washes the shores of North Park, where the camp was located. The weather was ideal during the greater part of the time the meeting was in session. Elder Lipke, of Brazil, South America, was with us a few days, and presented the needs of the cause in the field whence he came. He desired to raise six hundred dollars for the benefit of an industrial school which is being established in Brazil. He secured five hundred dollars in cash and pledges, and the gift of forty acres of Wisconsin land, which was valued at four hundred dollars. Brother Lipke was well pleased with the response made to his plea for help. Funds were pledged to the amount of four hundred and seventy dollars for the maintenance of our Chinese school for girls during the coming conference year. There was also a pleasant and liberal response to a request for funds to meet the initial expense of founding treatment rooms in Canton, China. I do not know the exact amount raised for this enterprise. The people quickly voted to continue the support of Sister Thompson in China, and Brother and Sister Ritchie in Scotland. Several hundred dollars was secured for the sanitarium at Madison, and for other enterprises relating to the needs of the cause in the State. About one hundred persons received certificates as workers in the various departments of the conference, about half of whom are self-supporting, or nearly so. Brethren R. T. Dowsett and L. E. Sufficool received ordination and credentials. Much time was devoted to the consideration of the canvassing work. Albert J. Olsen, who has devoted many years to the sale of our literature, was chosen to the office of field secretary, or State agent. He has entered upon the work with much earnestness, and we believe an excellent work will be done this year in the distribution of our literature. Liberal plans were also laid for the missionary campaign which is to begin in all our churches the first week in November. Many other items of interest will be remembered by those who were in attendance, but all can not be written. Indeed, those who remain away from a good meeting must, of necessity, lose most of it; for it can not be put on paper.
WM. COVERT.