THIS meeting was held at Laurens, S. C., August 14-24. The camp was pitched in a quiet place near the edge of the town. There were about one hundred Sabbath-keepers encamped on the grounds. It was not a very large meeting, but the Lord certainly came near to us, and we enjoyed a precious season together.
The attendance from the outside was not so good as we desired, and yet some interest was manifested. The evening services were devoted principally to sermons on the leading doctrines of the message, for the benefit of the public. During the day the preaching was of a more practical nature, calculated to encourage and strengthen our people in the Christian life. An excellent spirit pervaded the meeting from the beginning to the close.
The conference business was carried on in a very harmonious way, and as the several departments gave in their reports substantial gains were seen. During the year eight tent efforts were conducted, and as a result about seventy-five began the observance of the Sabbath. The tithe for the year amounted to $3,236.35.
Elder C. V. Achenbach was reelected president of the conference for the coming year. The other officers of the conference were as follows: secretary and treasurer, J. L. McConneghoy; young people's, Sabbath-school, and educational secretary, Mrs. C. V. Achenbach; religious liberty secretary, A. H. Evers; field missionary agent, Archie Underwood. Aside from the regular laborers of the conference, there were present at the meeting, Elders O. Montgomery and C. B. Haynes of the Southeastern Union Conference; Elder T. H. Jeys, of Huntsville, Ala.; Brethren V. O. Cole, L. D. Randall, R. Hook, Jr., representing the book and publishing work; Prof. G. R. Fattic of the Southern Training-school; and the writer.
SOME OF THE FAITHFUL WORKERS IN THE NORTH AMERICAN NEGRO DEPARTMENT This picture was taken at the recent General Conference.
There was a hearty and unanimous response to a resolution adopting the twenty-cent-a-week plan of raising money for missionary purposes. And to further show its interest in mission work, when the call was made for foreign missions, the conference pledged itself to give one thousand dollars during the coming year. This means self-sacrifice on the part of some, but we know God loves a cheerful giver; and we predict that the South Carolina Conference will not lose anything by its liberality.
The last days of the conference, as is usually the case, were the best. The last Sabbath especially was a day long to be remembered. All the campers consecrated their lives anew to God's service. Backsliders were reclaimed, and a number gave their hearts to God for the first time, and were baptized. We all felt greatly refreshed and strengthened, and left the camp with brighter hopes and stronger determinations to fight on till the victory is won.
