Vermont Camp-Meeting by H. W. Cottrell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 29, 1904

Vermont Camp-Meeting

By H. W. Cottrell

THE Vermont camp-meeting was held at Hardwick, August 18-28. This is a place of about four thousand inhabitants, located in a thrifty, enterprising part of the State, where the chief industry is the granite quarries.

The camp was well situated in close proximity to the people, and the attendance from the city and the surrounding country was excellent. The tent was well filled each evening, and on Sunday and Sunday evening there were perhaps from ten to twelve hundred persons present, which is a good attendance for so conservative a locality as the East. They listened with undivided attention to the presentation of the Sabbath and kindred reforms for the people of this generation, in order that they may be prepared for the coming of Christ.

We began at the opening of the meeting to present the Bible truths that make us a people, and the interest increased daily until the close of the series. Laborers will follow up the interest awakened, in the hope of establishing a goodly number of people in the third angel's message.

The churches in the conference were well represented by delegates, and there was a good attendance of our people. Several persons gave themselves to the service of God. Nine individuals who had previously made no profession were buried with the Lord in baptism. The presence of the Spirit of God was especially manifest, and made the occasion a blessed one to those who were present.

The various phases of conference work were considered, and the people were much encouraged to push forward the work. Special efforts were made to revive the canvassing work for our strictly denominational books and periodicals.

The conference still supports Elder W. A. Westworth in Scotland, and the brethren and sisters do not seem to have the least disposition to confine their missionary efforts from this time forward to the boundary lines of their local conference. In the interest of the general work they also support a teacher in the union conference academy.

I am sure the Lord will greatly bless the people of this conference in their endeavors to assist the one great work in a broader way than to confine it to the local church or conference. The individual, the church, or the conference that thus views the needs of the cause of God “must increase.”

The following-named laborers from outside the conference were present all or a portion of the time: Elder W. H. Thurston, of Canada; Elder M. D. Mattson, Bible instructor in the South Lancaster Academy; F. E. Painter, the Review and Herald's general representative for the Atlantic Union Conference; and Professor Griggs. Each rendered good service. The local conference laborers were present, and also the writer.

Elder H. J. Farman, of this conference, will connect with the work in Virginia.

The workers and the people return to their homes filled with the love of the truth, and with courage to do their duty, by the help of the Lord. Elder Watt was again chosen president of the conference, and Brother F. M. Dana was elected secretary and treasurer. The other members of the executive committee are Brethren T. H. Purdon, A. W. Boardman, and F. A. Page.

H. W. COTTRELL.