The Camp-Meeting for Colored Believers in Virginia
By W. H. Green
IN connection with the Virginia Conference and camp-meeting held in the city of Richmond from August 22 to September 1, there was held in another part of the city a conference and camp-meeting for the colored believers, which the writer attended throughout. The meeting was in charge of Elders J. B. Mallory and L. Muntz, with the writer assisting. The camp was on Baker Street, near Brock Avenue, where Brother Mallory has been and is conducting tent-meetings. There were about fifty of our people present from various parts of the State, including sixteen delegates. No one camped on the grounds, as good accommodations were obtained at low rates in private homes. Our evening services were well attended by interested listeners. There were between four hundred and five hundred present Sunday evenings, and about half that number attended on other evenings. While we could not fully conform to camp-meeting regulations, we were able to hold four meetings every day, with four conference meetings during the time,—morning worship from 9 to 10 A. M.; at 11, study of the Testimonies and various phases of the message; at 3 P. M., preaching, or study of the truth; and in the evening evangelical preaching for the public. Along with our feeble efforts there was able and instructive help rendered by the following brethren: W. J. Stone, president of the Virginia Conference, and R. D. Hottel, A. M. Neff, and J. H. Tindall of the same conference; J. E. Shultz, of Mt. Vernon College; J. L. McElhany, president District of Columbia Conference; F. M. Wilcox, editor of the REVIEW AND HERALD; H. R. Salisbury, educational secretary of the General17Conference; N. S. Ashton, educational secretary of the Columbia Union; and B. G. Wilkinson, president of the Columbia Union Conference. The meetings were full of life from beginning to end. All present renewed their hope in the truth, and took a firmer stand in the message for the finishing of the work, pledging their service, prayers, and God's money lent them, to the cause. One hundred forty dollars was pledged to the conference expense fund. There was $11.32 taken up for missions in the Sabbath-school. Other collections were taken during the conference. Several took their stand for the truth, and others asked for further instructions. Meetings will be continued two weeks longer by Brother Mallory, three nights in the week. Twelve were baptized by Elder Muntz the last Sunday of the meeting, six of whom united with the Richmond church. Indeed, the meetings were a gospel feast for those who attended, and all returned home with renewed zeal for the finishing of the conflict in this generation.
W. H. GREEN.