p. 16 | Camp Meeting Suggestions

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 30, 1914

Camp Meeting Suggestions

THIS word comes from the secretary in Western New York:—

"In our conference work I believe we should begin early in the year to plan for camp meeting. Invite and urge the youth and children to attend. Get them interested in some one else. Write each of them a personal letter or post card.

"If the camp meeting is held in the early summer, it is a good time to urge the young people to present a finished Reading Course work by that time. Have their certificates for them, if possible. Have the names of all who have completed their work nicely written or printed on large cardboard, or otherwise, and placed in the young people's tent. Later the list can be changed to the book

tent. It is surprising to see the interest this creates.

"When the certificates are distributed, call the names and have those who have earned certificates come forward to receive them. A few words of commendation for their faithful work are a real encouragement, and serve as an incentive to others to join the next reading circle. Call attention to the course that begins in a few months. Distribute the enrollment blanks, to be signed then or brought to the next meeting. Do not let this conclude the effort, but talk it in public, talk it to parents and to individuals. Solicit orders for the first books, and many will order the complete set. Have both Senior and Junior books at the young people's tent, and of course at the book stand. Read some interesting selections from them. Then begin a campaign for the summer by visiting or corresponding with those who could not attend the camp meeting. By the time the course begins in October, there will be a good list of names; but do not cease the effort then. Individuals have enrolled as late as February and finished their work by June."

Another secretary in the Atlantic Union writes:—

"I make it my business to see all young persons as soon as they come on the ground, and ask them to write their names, ages, and addresses in a little book I always have with me. I tell them where and when the youth's meetings are held, ask them to attend, and to invite others. As soon as possible, I find out who are Christians and who are not, and early enlist those who are, to work in a quiet way for those who are not. I hope to organize societies in churches where none are held, and to enlist some of these who attend camp meeting to take responsibilities in them, as I know no better way to make the camp meeting work permanent than by putting the youth where they may use what they have learned, and getting them to work directly for others."

This word comes from Southern California:—

"We had two reception tents for the young people near the Volunteer pavilion,—one for the young men, and the other for the young women. In each of these reception tents we had a register. These registers are of value throughout the year.

"The picture talk period each evening from 6:45 to 7:20 was helpful and very instructive. Our tent could not accommodate the attendance at any picture talk. We plan to have the stereopticon in the main pavilion next year.

"We arranged with the tract society secretary to offer slightly soiled or shelf-worn denominational books at reduced rates, also left-over Reading Course books used in previous years.

"The young people rendered splendid service in scattering the placards among stores for window display, and announcements among the homes within a radius of twenty blocks of the camp. This was done the first day of the encampment. Several assisted each day in giving out literature to strangers and visitors as they left the camp."

Another secretary writes:—

"We found that the most convenient time for the meeting of the prayer band was before the devotional meeting early

in the morning. Some of us found it necessary to rise before the rising bell rang, in order to be there on time, but this hour seemed the best of all the day for our prayer service. There was quite an attendance at these band meetings, and the results that followed demonstrated their value. There was hardly a person present for whom special prayer was offered who did not yield his heart to the Lord.

"At one of our camp meetings last season, a reception and reading tent was fitted up by one who has a special interest in boys. The plan was a success. Restless boys who otherwise would have been strolling about the city spent much time between meetings in this tent. Some read as many as four books.

"Besides our regular meetings for the young people, we had two special meetings. One of these was devoted to the reading of papers and discussions on 'The Needs of Our Young People, Spiritual, Educational, and Social.' This gave us an opportunity to present before the people the Reading Courses and Standard of Attainment. Our other special meeting was a temperance rally."