The Minnesota Camp-Meeting by C. L. Benson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jul 24, 1913

The Minnesota Camp-Meeting

By C. L. Benson

THE annual camp-meeting of the Minnesota Conference was held this year in one of the many beautiful parks of St. Paul. Owing to the recent General Conference, it was decided to hold this meeting just one week, from June 16 to 23.

One hundred forty family tents were pitched among the trees surrounding the large pavilion. Although some rain fell, and the weather was very hot, a courageous, pleasant spirit characterized all the campers, and a deep spirit of earnestness was noticeable at all the meetings.

Services were held for the English, Germans, and Scandinavians. In the English meetings the local conference brethren were ably assisted by Elders Chas. Thompson and O. A. Olsen; the Germans by Elders W. F. H. Shroeder, C. K. Reiswig, and G. F. Haffner; the Scandinavians by Elders Carl Svenson, Erickson from Chicago, L. H. Christian, and O. A. Olsen. The young people on the grounds numbered more than three hundred, and Sister Pogue and Elder W. W. Ruble, assisted by the writer, had the satisfaction of seeing many give their hearts to God for the first time, and almost all on the ground consecrate anew their lives to the finishing of the third angel's message. Other helpers were Sister Armitage, from Africa, Dr. David Paulson, from the Hinsdale Sanitarium, and Dr. Schunk, from the Iowa Sanitarium.

The book work was ably looked after by Brethren Gay and Shrewsbury, assisted by the union conference canvassing agent, Brother F. E. Painter, and S. N. Curtiss, manager of the Kansas City Branch of the Pacific Press Publishing Association. Eight hundred dollars' worth of books and tracts was sold on the ground. A good interest was aroused in the sale of our publications.

Elder G. W. Wells continues to act as president, all the conference officers being reelected, with one exception.

The General Conference recommendation to raise twenty cents a week per member for missions and the liquidation of institutional liabilities was enthusiastically carried. The mission offering taken on the ground amounted to over $3,500, besides the Sabbath-school collection of $239.

Sabbath was the great day of the feast. Elder Olsen spoke from Isa. 52:1-10. The Lord came very near, and almost the whole camp went forward. At the afternoon service, Brethren Stemple White and B. C. Haak were ordained to the ministry. Following this impressive service, fifty-six, mostly young people, followed their blessed Lord in the ordinance of baptism.

C. L. BENSON.