KANSAS CAMP-MEETING by J. N. Ayers

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 21, 1878

KANSAS CAMP-MEETING.

By J. N. Ayers

This meeting has been appointed for May 22-27, and it is with the greatest anxiety that I look forward to that time. A great many questions arise in my mind. Will our brethren lay aside their worldly business for a short time and attend this annual feast? Will they come at the commencement and remain till the close? Will they commence now to make their arrangements, not only to come themselves, but to bring their families and interested friends? Are they daily praying for the success of this meeting? Will they consecrate all they have and are to God, and come praying that his blessing may rest upon them and the meeting, and that we may see souls converted to God?

Will all the churches and unorganized bodies be properly represented? Will the T. and M. officers be on hand with full reports from their respective districts? Will all come up to this annual meeting with a free-will offering, thereby showing their gratitude to God for his blessings received during the past year? In short, will all do their duty? If they do not know their duty, this will be the place to learn, as we expect experienced help from the General Conference.

We believe this will be the largest gathering of Sabbath-keepers that ever met in Kansas, and there is no reason why it should not be the best, if all do their duty.

Let me make a few suggestions: Let the Conference secretary see that every society is furnished with proper blanks. Every leader should ascertain at once what blanks he needs and order from the secretary, Smith Sharp, Ottawa, Franklin Co., Kansas. Choose your delegates at your quarterly meeting in April. See that they have the necessary instructions and credentials, as the Kansas Conference will hold its annual session at this meeting. Our T. and M. society will also hold its annual meeting, and each director should be present, as business of the utmost importance will come before this meeting. Have a consolidated report of all T. and M. labor performed in your different districts, and if there are openings for ministerial labor report them.

The ministers should all have their accounts made out before coming on the ground, so that there will be no delay. The account should show where each has labored, and how long at each place; it should also show the number of days he has labored, the number of times he has preached, the number baptized by him, the number taken into the church, and the number of churches organized.

The financial report should show the amount received from the treasurer, the amount received from individuals, and the total amount received. The bill of expenses should be itemized, then added together, showing at a glance the total expenses. Then deduct the amount of expenses from receipts, showing just how much has been received over and above expenses.

Appointments will appear next week.

J. N. AYERS, Pres.