The Georgia Camp-Meeting
By J. N. Anderson
THE annual conference and camp-meeting of the Georgia Conference was held in the outskirts of the city of Barnesville, Ga., July 25 to Aug. 4, 1912. It is interesting to know that twenty-two years ago the first annual conference of our people in this State was held in this same place. This camp then consisted of five family tents, and a mere handful of believers. The camp this year consisted of thirty-seven family tents, and about one hundred fifty earnest, enthusiastic campers, representing a constituency of over four hundred believers. The meeting was well manned by Elder L. T. Crisler, the president, and his corps of workers, and ably seconded by the counsels and efforts of the union conference president, Elder C. B. Stephenson, and the other union men, together with Elder C. B. Haynes and the writer. A good interest on the part of the people of the city had already been aroused by a series of meetings beginning some time before the camp-meeting opened. The interest was maintained throughout, and a corps of workers remains to carry on the work. The record of the past year was very encouraging. No less than one hundred seventy-five new Sabbath-keepers have been won for the truth. The majority of these are in Atlanta and Savannah, where work has been directed by Elders C. B. Haynes, and J. W. Manns (colored). One hundred twenty-one of these new converts have united with the church. On the last day of the camp-meeting fifteen additional persons were baptized, and several others returned to their homes to be baptized. In this day of large giving to missions, the people of Georgia made an enviable record last year. August 1 the Fifteen-cent-a-week Fund stood $400 to their credit. Not satisfied with this, the best part of one forenoon was set apart for the consideration of, and giving to, foreign missions. A deep interest was manifested, and the result was that the sum of $1,500.16 was given in cash and pledges to the forwarding of our worldwide missionary enterprise, thus raising Georgia $1,900 above the high-water mark,—fifteen cents a week per member. They all gave out of the wealth of their faith and devotion. It was a noble illustration of genuine consecration to a worthy cause. The sum of $45 was pledged to the College of Medical Evangelists at Loma Linda, Cal.; $64 to the Southern Training School at Graysville, Tenn.; and $407 to the tent and camp-meeting fund. With the exception of the secretary and treasurer of the conference and one member of the executive committee, all the former officers of the conference were reelected. A spirit of devotion and courage prevailed throughout the camp. All the different departments of work were well represented, and plans for the earnest and wise prosecution of the work during the coming year were carefully laid.