The Texas Camp Meeting
By W. A. McCutchen
Will be held this year at Handley, July 24 to August 3. Handley is six miles east of Fort Worth on the Texas & Pacific and the Dallas & Fort Worth Electric Line railroads. We tried hard to locate the meeting farther south this year, but suitable grounds and accommodations could not be had within the territory in which we desired to conduct the meeting. Waco, Corsicana, Hillsboro, and Temple were visited,—and Waco was visited twice, so anxious were we for it to be held at this place,—but suitable grounds could not be found in or about the city. The hot weather that prevails at the time of our camp meetings makes it very essential that we have shade, plenty of good, pure water, and roomy grounds, so as not to be too crowded. Our annual camp meeting has become such a large affair that it is no longer easy to find grounds that will serve our purpose in the cities of north and central Texas. But at Handley we have all the essentials combined. We have a twenty-five-acre grove on an elevation, with open fields and prairie on all sides to let in the breeze, and an abundance of pure water from the artesian wells of the power house of the electric line road, piped to the grounds for our use, free of charge. Besides this, the electric company puts in electric lights for the meeting tent, gives us the use of a two hundred-and-fifty-acre pasture adjoining the grounds, with plenty of good water and shade for stock, hauls a car load of tents and fixtures from Dallas to Handley and return, all lumber, furniture, commissary supplies, and whatever needed, and as often as needed, from Ft. Worth—all free of cost. These are some of the reasons, together with the fact that we were unable to find a suitable place farther south, why we decided to hold the camp meeting at Handley; and it is hoped that when the brethren know these facts, they will feel entirely satisfied. The pasture being given to us free, pasturage will be furnished the brethren free of cost. This is something we have never had before. We also have a cheaper rate to the meeting than usual—a fare and one tenth for the round trip. At least the Texas & Pacific has granted us this rate, and has asked other connecting roads of the State to do the same, which we have no doubt will be done. Later instructions about rates will be given. All roads coming into Fort Worth, except the Santa Fé and the H. & T. C., run into the union station, where change can be made without transfer to the T. & P. for Handley. Those coming from the east, northeast, and southeast through Dallas on the M. K. & T., Santa Fé, and Cotton Belt will have to transfer at Dallas to the T. & P. for Handley. The H. & T. C. and T. & N. O. come into the same station at Dallas with the T. & P., where change can be made to the T. & P. for Handley without transfer. Let all preserve these directions, and govern their route accordingly. We expect good help at our meeting to look after all departments of the work. Besides the laborers of the conference, Brother G. G. Rupert, president of the Southwestern Union Conference, Brethren Haffner and Fields, presidents of Oklahoma and Arkansas Conferences, Brother S. H. Lane, of Battle Creek, Mich., and probably other general laborers, will be present. Let all come expecting to receive a blessing and to be a blessing, and it will be “even so.” The seeming objection to having the meeting at a small village, instead of near the city, is overcome by the fact that the electric line road gives us almost a city rate (15 cents for round trip), and thus practically brings us within the city, or rather, brings the people to us. This company owns the entire street-car system of Fort Worth, so this round-trip rate may be secured in any part of the city. Come praying God’s blessing upon the meeting. W. A. McCutchen,
President Texas Conference.