[The following letter from Sister Burgess in India will be read with interest, and is in itself an appeal for help with which to advance the message in that dark field.—Ed.]
“DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER HASKELL: Your good letter reached us this morning, and made us glad, as your letters always do. We are happy to learn of Brother Haskell’s good health, and of the interest in your work there.
“We are getting on nicely in our work here, and enjoy it very much. We expect within a few days to go into the country about two miles, where we have secured a little house for the remainder of the hot season, at a rental of four rupees ($1.20) a month. It will be more quiet there, and better adapted for our work. The air also is much better, as the house is just on the edge of a large pine forest.
“A few days ago we were joined by a young man and his wife from the plains who expect to remain with us several months, studying the truth and preparing to give the message to the Hindustani people. I think Mr. Burgess mentioned them in his last letter. This young man was born a Hindu. When he was about twelve years old, he went with his father to one of their sacred cities to attend a mela, and at the close of the festival, in the crowd and confusion he became separated from his father. He was found by a missionary living in that city, and was taken by him to the mission and cared for until word could be sent to the father as to the whereabouts of his son. When the father came for him, he had become so attached to his new friends and the teaching he had received from them that he refused to leave them. He remained in the mission, and was educated as a preacher, in which work he has been engaged for a number of years.
“We met this young man when we first went to Tulsipur, where he had been working in connection with the Methodist Mission. From the first he seemed to realize that the Lord had something more for him, and seemed anxious to walk in the light as fast as he received it. We gave him no encouragement to disconnect with the Methodists and unite with us, as we wanted to be sure that the Lord was leading them, but they voluntarily gave up their situation in the mission, and came here to study the truth and fit themselves for this work. Since they have stepped out by faith and united with us, we feel that it would be a great lack of faith on our part not to receive them. So we expect to begin our first training-school for Hindustani workers in a few days, as soon as we move into our new quarters, with this young man and his wife as pupils. We want them to become thoroughly established on all points of the message before sending them out in the work. They will also be a great help to us in our translation work, as their native tongue is Urdu. It will cost us about five dollars a month to support this young man and his wife while they are training and after they go out into the work, but we know that the Lord, who opened the way for us to return to work among this people, and who has so bountifully supplied all our needs, will give us the means to care for just as many workers as can be raised up for the Hindustani people.
“The little house into which we expect to move can be obtained by the year for forty rupees, or about thirteen dollars. We are thinking some of taking it by the year, and establishing a permanent station here. Almora has the reputation of being the most healthful hill station of India, and the native people are very friendly to us. Of course we would expect to work in the plains during the cool season, but we would leave the native workers here in charge of the station during that time. However we shall know better what to do in this matter after having remained here a while longer. It seems that the Lord is leading in the direction of our working in the hills during the hot season and in the plains during the cool weather. In this way we shall be much more likely to keep our health, and the people in both places must have the message.
“Just to show you the kind feeling the people seem to have toward us, I will relate an incident. The only way of getting about here except by walking is by pony or landy. As there is so much climbing, of course it is rather difficult to walk any very great distance. Once or twice of late my husband has needed to go quite a distance, and has hired a pony, but as the regular charge is one rupee, whether one has the horse one hour or several, he has made most of his journeys on foot. A few days ago as we were up in the bazaar, a nice-looking Mohammedan gentleman, whom we had never seen before, stepped up to us and told my husband that he had horses for hire, and that when he needed a pony, he should come to him. Mr. Burgess asked him if he would hire the pony by the hour, and while he did not give him a definite answer, he gave him to understand that he would be reasonable with him. So the next time he needed a pony, he went to this man. He furnished him with a pretty black riding pony, and when my husband went to settle with him, he told him that he did not care to take anything from him. The horse was at his disposal whenever he wanted17to use it, but he would not charge him anything for it. We never saw the man before, and do not know how he knew that a horse was needed, but of course the Lord knew all about it. We often speak of how much better off we are than those who are rich, for we get the use of everything we need without the anxiety of owning it.
“The editor of the Hindi paper here has been very kind in publishing in his paper anything we give him, without charge. We have had one article on tobacco, one on vegetarianism, and he has in his hands for the next issue an article on the cause of earthquakes, which Mr. Burgess prepared largely from the Testimonies and the Bible on that subject. In this way we can get the truth before the readers of the paper when perhaps we could not reach them in any other way. We hope to get the second of Daniel in yet.
“With much love,
“GEORGIA A. BURGESS.”
From the above it is evident that the Lord has gone before Brother and Sister Burgess.
There are some eighty million Hindustani people, and God already has given them a minister and his wife. It is very probable that Sister Burgess’s estimate on the cost of supporting a minister and his wife is very low, but if a minister and his wife can be supported and receive an education and then go into the field for one hundred dollars a year, it would be a very safe investment.
If there are any of our people who have a few spare dollars, or if some wish to invest a few dollars in this work, they may send the same to the Bible Training-school, at South Lancaster, Mass., and it will be forwarded to Brother and Sister Burgess in India.
S. N. HASKELL.
Central America
By H. C. GOODRICH
BELIZE, BRITISH HONDURAS.—We are finding some interested ones here in Belize. A week ago I baptized three. One of these was a young woman recently married to one of our brethren. She has for a long time desired to keep the Sabbath. The Sabbath before she was married, her mother compelled her to do an ironing, and the day before her wedding she beat the girl. This sister seems very happy in the new-found liberty, and is very faithful in her new home and religion.
Another was a man fifty years old, who many years ago began to observe the Sabbath, but did not give up the use of tobacco and rum. Lately he has been very sick. When he saw that death was near, he sought the Lord earnestly, not for health, but for salvation. The Lord heard him, and gave him a clear evidence of his presence and love. He then gave all his little belongings to the church, and began to get well, to the surprise of every one. Since then his life has testified that his conversion was from the heart.
Brother Allen seems to be working hard, and making progress. Brother Peebles writes that the printing work is going ahead, but slowly. This is a work that needs much wisdom, and we pray every day that God will direct in it.
At Puerto Cortes Brother Hamilton has built a little church. They are waiting for dedication till I can come.
H. C. GOODRICH.
W. JAY TANNER
By W. Jay Tanner
Hayti
CAPE HAYTIEN.—In our last report we mentioned the fact that the third angel's message was stirring things up among the Catholics of Limbé; that we had eight candidates there for baptism; and that the archbishop had gone to that place to assist his priests in quenching the flame of truth. It is now three months since I wrote that report, and I am glad to be able to assure our people in America and elsewhere that we have not merely held our own, but by the help of our Commander have been able to advance upon the enemy. The cause commands even greater respect than then; and the eight candidates for baptism have developed into thirteen good, strong, baptized Adventists, with more to follow. Therefore, it will be seen that the archbishop did us no harm.
Baptism was administered August 8. The day before, a company of seventeen of our people came over from Grande Rivière, on horseback, and a number of others gathered from other parts, making, all told, a very good number of Sabbath-keepers for such a new field. The private room where the meetings are regularly conducted being too small for our needs, the commandant de l’arrondissement gave us the free use of the bureau de la place for the services that we expected to hold for three days in connection with the baptism, a favor which we appreciated very much indeed.
Early on the morning of the eighth, the candidates assembled at the meeting place, for the final hour of counsel, instruction, and prayer, before the burial in “the likeness of His death.” Then, after a simple marriage ceremony on behalf of two of the candidates, all repaired to the riverside, where we found awaiting us, besides a large crowd of people, the commandant de l’arrondissement, with a company of armed police and soldiers, to keep order, if necessary.
The day was ideal, the situation picturesque, and withal the service was most solemn and impressive. This was not, however, the first baptism ever held at Limbé. Over twenty-five years ago, a native Haytian was baptized there by a Baptist minister. That service was held in secret, because of fear of abuse from the Catholic mob. But Providence, in preparation for the final message, has wrought a change in Hayti, and on this last occasion this same man, now bowed down with the weight of years, but rejoicing in new-found truth, stood on the river bank, and watched seven of his family peacefully buried in the watery grave, to arise to walk in newness of life, free at last from the subtle, soul-debasing superstitions of Romanism.
MAIN STREET, LA VILLA DU CAP HAITIEN
The ordinances, which were held on the Sabbath afternoon, also attracted a great deal of attention, as there was much curiosity to see “how the Protestants take communion.” This curiosity did not prevent an impressive spirit of quiet solemnity in the service, however. After the meeting some were heard to make the remark, “The Protestant way is the best.” But what made the greatest impression was not the fact that the members took the wine as well as the minister, as one might expect, but the Scripture that was read just before the ceremony was celebrated—1 Cor. 11: 23-30. Such is the ignorance in which Rome keeps her adherents, that many never knew the reason for the service before.
The social meeting was likewise a novelty to the people. It was truly a precious occasion, when faults were confessed, and many hearts were melted to tears. For this reason, some confounded it with the Roman Catholic confessional. A Catholic, after meeting, remarked to one of our members that he liked “the open confessional of the Adventists, in which the members confess publicly to their priest,” better than the secret confessional of his church. All the services were full of that life and power that the third angel’s message imparts, and this serves as an explanation of the progress of the cause in Hayti. It is the simple message without embellishment or “new ideas” that is convincing Roman Catholics in this field.
W. JAY TANNER
Dominica, West Indies
By P. Giddings
ACCORDING to the recommendation presented at our conference session relative to each church’s selling its quota of “Christ’s Object Lessons,” to assist in raising funds for our West Indian Training-school in Jamaica, we took our share. Two of our Catholic night students paid for five, and found such a ready sale among their friends that they ordered more. These two young men have not fully identified themselves with us yet, but are in hearty sympathy with our work. They are both fine carpenters. One of them is assistant superintendent of the Catholic monastery now being built. His chief is so pleased with him that he proposes the starting of a saw-mill, factory, etc., and making him manager; but he says he will not accept the18position as that would interfere with his keeping the Sabbath, for to this end he is arranging his affairs. He had a pleasant talk with one of the priests, who acknowledged that we are right on the Sabbath question. The priest promised a further talk with him, so he is ready with both King James and the Douay Versions of the Bible.
A Catholic school mistress has been keeping the Sabbath since February. After reading some of our literature she exclaimed, “How can a people with such truths be silent?” She has loaned “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation” to one, “Coming King” to another, and bought and presented French “Controversy between Christ and Satan” to another. She walks in the light as she sees it. Mrs. Giddings visited with her, and they had a talk on diet and the wearing of jewelry. On her next visit, the lady had laid aside her ornaments.
Every advance step is like climbing a steep mountain, but we believe as we live nearer God, and his people hold up our hands by their prayers, sheaves will be gathered here for the garner.
A meeting-house is a problem we are now trying to solve. In a community strongly Catholic and nowise friendly to our cause, we can not naturally expect much financial sympathy; and our constituency being small, it is not much we can do. However, there is much stone that can be had for the drawing, and so we hope to build of stone. But we want two hundred dollars to start on. We now have the greater portion of this amount in the bank, and are waiting for the rest. Who will help us to place a humble house of worship as a sign, a memorial, of God’s Sabbath—a light amid the moral darkness? Send either direct to me or to our treasurer, C. W. Enoch, Sea Field, Westbury Road, Bridgetown, Barbados.
P. GIDDINGS.
The Texas General Camp-Meeting
By George A. Irwin
THIS meeting was held at Alvarado, August 2-12. Alvarado being only nine miles from Keene, where a large proportion of the conference membership reside, the attendance was larger than at any preceding meeting ever held in the State. The camp consisted of one hundred and thirty-seven family tents, five fifty-by-thirty-foot preaching tents partitioned off for family use, the whole containing a population of nine hundred and twenty-five. Adding to this a considerable number who roomed in dwellings near by, and those who came and remained but a day or two, the number in attendance, all told, would reach one thousand.
The camp was located at the outskirts of the town upon an elevated plot of land, a portion of which was covered with shade trees. The first Sunday there was a heavy rain, which caused the campers much inconvenience, and made the ground so wet inside the large preaching tent that no meeting was held in the afternoon or evening. The weather was exceedingly hot during the entire time, but it did not seem to affect the attendance nor interest in the services.
Elder Loughborough and the writer were the only general laborers from outside the conference. Elder Haskell and his wife were expected, but not feeling well when the time came for him to leave his home, he wrote canceling the engagement, fearing the excessive heat and fatigue of the journey might prostrate him entirely. The night services, consisting of a connected series of sermons upon the special message for this time, were conducted by the conference ministers and Professor Giddings, the religious liberty secretary of the union conference. Brother Loughborough gave one talk each day upon early experiences in the rise and progress of the third angel’s message. These talks were highly appreciated by the brethren, and will be productive of much good in confirming and establishing the faith of the people in the spirit of prophecy and work of Sister White, in these times of doubt and apostasy.
It was gratifying to note how the Lord strengthened his aged servant to deliver his message from day to day. The promise in the “song for the Sabbath day” came forcibly to my mind as I observed the clearness and power with which he spoke. “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; to show that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” Ps. 92:14, 15.
The various reports rendered during the conference sessions showed a healthy increase in all branches of the work. There was an increase of four thousand dollars in the amount of tithe paid. The canvassing work, under the leadership of Elder Eastman, has made a very marked gain. In the first seven months of 1906, the book sales amounted to four thousand dollars more than in the two preceding years combined, and the prospect is good that the same activity will be seen throughout the year, providing books can be supplied by our publishing houses to fill the orders taken.
Although a larger force of laborers was kept in the field last year than ever before, and one man was supported to labor in Arkansas, the conference paid five hundred dollars of past indebtedness, and had sufficient to pay all laborers up to date. Two hundred and thirty persons accepted the truth during the year, and were added to the membership of the conference. A vote was passed to raise a fund of one thousand dollars to purchase a new camp-meeting pavilion and some much-needed family tents; $815 of this amount was raised on the ground. Two hundred dollars was raised to assist in advancing the work among the Mexicans in the State.
Following a talk given by Brother Muck, the editor of our paper for the blind, a collection was taken which netted one hundred and forty-five dollars. One hundred and fifty-five dollars was pledged toward the equipment of a tent factory to be operated by the Board of the Keene Academy. The amount of Sabbath-school and First-day offerings was not announced, hence I am unable to give the exact amount in this report.
The few colored brethren in the conference had a place assigned them in the camp, and a tent pitched where special meetings were held once each day, in addition to the meetings held in the large pavilion, which they attended regularly. Twenty-four persons were baptized at the close of the meeting. Several others will be baptized in their home churches. Twelve persons were granted ministerial credentials, six ministerial license, and eleven were given missionary license, making a total working force of twenty-nine.
Elder Santee was unanimously re-elected president of the conference, and the following persons were associated with him to make up the executive committee: D. U. Hale, W. W. Eastman, T. W. Field, W. M. Cubley, C. W. Miller, and E. B. Hopkins. Judging from both the reports and appearances, I believe the Texas Conference is in better shape at this time than ever before in its history, to press the work to the very outskirts of this great State. The location of a good school, like the Keene Academy, in the State should prove a great blessing to the work in the education of the young people, providing the brethren do not make Keene a concentrating point to the detriment of small churches and companies out in the field that need their help. If the large number of people already collected at Keene who have no special business there other than to be associated with those of like faith, would scatter out into the destitute and needy portions of the State, and go to work for souls, it would not be long until the “lone star” State would become a strong and flourishing conference. That it may be so is the prayer of the writer. GEO. A. IRWIN.
The British Union Conference
By E. E. Andross
The fifth annual session of the British Union Conference was held August 3-12, at Bowes Park, North London. The location was everything that we could desire, and the weather throughout was ideal. There were five large tents pitched on the ground, including the dining tent, which was forty feet by eighty feet, in which hygienic meals were served daily for the accommodation of the delegates and the brethren and sisters attending the meeting.
The attendance was all that we had expected, being larger than that in any previous gathering. Delegates were present from all five divisions of the union conference, and the feeling seemed to prevail that this was the best meeting we have ever held in this field.
The attendance from outside was fairly good. Preceding the conference, a tent-meeting had been held a short distance from the location of the conference, at which a good interest had been developed, and about twelve had taken their stand for the truth. Quite an effort was made to call the attention of the people of the community to the meeting, and we hope good results will follow. Elders Wakeham and Lacey are continuing the interest.
The report showed that the growth throughout the field during the past year has been quite marked; in fact, during the last four years and a half, since the division of the field into separate conferences and missions, and the organization of the union conference, the growth has been very marked indeed. During this period twenty-six churches have been organized, and eight hundred and forty-nine members added. From the opening of our work in 1878 to 1902, a19period of twenty-three years, twelve churches were organized and eight hundred and fifty members added, making an average yearly increase of thirty-seven in the membership, while since then it has risen to two hundred and twelve.
The institutional growth has been equal to the growth in other lines. Since the organization of our union conference, our health work has been developed, and we now have three sanitariums, which are in a very satisfactory condition, financially and otherwise.
The past year's work has undoubtedly been the most profitable one since the opening of our college work about four years ago. With but few exceptions, the students are engaged during this summer vacation in some branch of the work. Two have gone forth to prove their calling in the work of the ministry, while about ten others have been working in connection with tent work and in the conference employ. A large number of others are doing successful work in the canvassing field.
The publishing work has enjoyed a steady and very healthy growth, especially during the past year.
New territory has been entered in the evangelistic work, and we hope to see a strong work built up in the Catholic portion of Ireland.
This conference was especially marked, in that action was taken to send from our scanty supply of workers, Brother A. A. Carscallen to open up mission work in British East Africa, and in this he will be assisted by Brother Peter Nyambo, who left shortly after the close of our college, the first of June, and has been spending some time in Germany, and will join Brother Carscallen in Hamburg, whence they sail for British East Africa, September 1.
Elder and Sister Jensen were released from the South England Conference to open up mission work in Abyssinia as early as possible, in harmony with a request of the Scandinavian Union Conference.
From this meeting also, Sister Edie, one of our Bible workers, is sent forth to join the force of workers in the Nyassaland Mission, South Africa. We ask the prayers of our brethren and sisters throughout the world, to accompany these workers as they enter their new and difficult fields of labor. It is the desire of our brethren and sisters in this field to do all that they can to assist in carrying this gospel message to the world in this generation. We are not only willing to give of our means, but also of our laborers, and our young people are preparing to go forth into these neglected fields.
The last Sabbath of our conference was a very blessed occasion. In the morning Elder Spicer spoke with great power, and to his earnest appeal a large number responded, seeking a preparation for the conflict that is before us. Among these, many were making their first start in the service of God.
In the afternoon Elder Conradi spoke on the sacred work of the ministry, and following this, two of our brethren, Brother John Gillatt of the North England Conference and Brother George Nickels of the South England Conference, were set apart for the work of the ministry. This was indeed a solemn occasion. Brother Carscallen, not being able to attend the conference, was ordained to the work of the ministry on Tuesday evening, August 21, at a farewell meeting held in Duncombe Hall, North London.
The officers for the coming year remain practically the same as in the past. However, Elder W. H. Wakeham, who recently joined our force of workers in the North England Conference, was elected at a specially called meeting of the South England Conference, to act as president after my resignation from that position. Up to this time the South England Conference has never possessed the entire time and attention of its president, his time having been occupied at least partially in other matters. We believe that this is a step in the right direction, and that the Lord will bless the work in this conference with greater prosperity as a result.
Elder Parsons and his mother, who have been laboring in the North England Conference since coming to this field, now take up work in Ireland, while Brother and Sister McAvoy, who have labored in Ireland, unite with our force of workers in North England. Since Brother Wakeham was asked to come to the South England Conference, Elder Harry Armstrong was requested to connect with the work in the North England Conference.
We were blessed with the assistance of Elders W. A. Spicer and L. R. Conradi, and also the laborers from the various parts of our union conference. All go forth from this meeting with hearts filled with courage and hope for the future. We are assured that God is in this message and with this people, and that the truth that he delivered to us at the beginning will soon triumph.
E. E. ANDROSS.
Eastern Polynesian Mission Conference
By A. H. Piper
The Eastern Polynesian Mission comprises the missions established in the Society Islands, Cook Islands, and Pitcairn Island. The field in which this mission operates is a large one when viewed from the standpoint of its geographical boundaries. It contains over one hundred islands scattered over a large area of the southern Pacific Ocean. The means of transit between the great majority of the islands is very infrequent and poor, perhaps the poorest of any mission field in the world, and for this reason it is a difficult field to work.
On June 27, delegates from the missions named assembled in conference at Raiatea, one of the leeward islands of the Society group. In addition to the island delegates, we had the pleasure of having with us Elder E. H. Gates, of the Australasian Union Conference, of which conference our mission field forms a part. The meetings were held at the home of Brother John Brodein, part of the delegates lodging in the home and others in a large cotton-gin house on his plantation. During the entire period of the meeting, the weather was very pleasant, for which we all felt grateful to a kind Heavenly Father. Four meetings were held every day, one of which was devoted to business, and the remaining three were of an educational or devotional character.
Recommendations pertaining to practical godliness in the matter of faithfulness in keeping the Sabbath and in paying tithes were passed by the unanimous vote of all attending the meeting. During the discussion of these recommendations, touching incidents were related of how God had signally blessed faithfulness in tithe paying. Some of our dear island brethren are learning that in taking God into partnership they make a wise business move. Sisters Rosalind A. Young and Winnie McCoy, of Pitcairn Island, who are at present residing in Tahiti, were invited to return to Pitcairn and connect with the school there as teachers. It was decided to ask the Australian Union Conference to consider favorably the printing of a four-page monthly paper in the Tahitian and Rarotongan languages. It was resolved to ask our people to provide themselves with either an American or Australasian health journal, published by the denomination, in order that they might acquaint themselves with the means of prevention of disease and of the correct treatment of the sick. Another important resolution passed was that advising our people to procure the “Testimonies for the Church” and give them careful study. Elder B. J. Cady was elected chairman of the mission committee, which consists of B. J. Cady, A. H. Piper, and G. T. Beckner. Mrs. B. J. Cady was chosen secretary of the mission, also secretary of the Sabbath-school department of the Society Islands Mission. Mrs. A. H. Piper was elected secretary of the Sabbath-school department of the Cook Islands Mission.
Throughout the meeting, Elder Gates conducted studies on church order, organization, and education. They were of a profitable nature, and no doubt their influence will work for good on the hearts of the believers in this part of the world.
A pleasing feature of our small meeting was the number of young people attending it. When we consider the general character of young people in the islands of the South Seas, their loose ways and licentiousness, we feel that there is a power in the message of Revelation 14 that keeps many of our young men and women from falling into the gross sins of this their generation; and realizing that this message is the only means whereby the young can be saved, we return to our respective fields more determined than ever to push it until it reaches earth’s remotest bounds.
A. H. PIPER.
Ohio Camp-Meeting
By R. A. Underwood
It was my privilege to attend the last week of the Ohio camp-meeting held at Troy. About six hundred of our own people were in attendance. The meeting was too far from town for the people to walk, and the street-car service did not furnish them with the accommodations needed, therefore the outside attendance was small.
The business of the conference is to be attended to at a later meeting in the winter, hence the meetings were not crowded with business matters.
The program of the meeting had been20arranged for each day some time in advance, and was largely carried out as planned, giving one full day to school work, one day to the medical work, etc. Many excellent papers and addresses were either read or delivered directly bearing upon the topic considered.
While this plan of conducting a camp-meeting has some advantages in giving all branches of the work specific attention during an entire day, there is danger of allowing such a program to crowd out more or less two important features that should be made most prominent in every camp-meeting; namely, the spiritual revival work for those in the camp, and the presentation of the special features of our faith that distinguish us from other denominations. I believe that these features should be made most prominent in all our camp-meetings, and that every camp-meeting should be so planned that some part of every day's program should be devoted to these special features of the meeting. In locating our camp-meetings, easy access to the town or city should outweigh the convenience of buildings or the shade trees to be found on a fair-ground.
There was good work done for the young people and children by those in charge. Twenty-five persons were baptized the last Sabbath of the meeting. Brethren C. A. Pedicord, W. E. Bidwell, C. Redfield, and James Shultz were ordained to the gospel ministry. The Ohio Conference has two thousand Sabbath-keepers, and a large number of laborers. She has nineteen ordained ministers (one or two of these are aged), seventeen licensed ministers and Bible workers, one college, ten church-schools with twenty-three teachers, seventeen sanitariums and treatment rooms with thirty-three doctors and nurses. This makes a large corps of laborers in these various branches of the work. Elders I. H. Evans and Geo. F. Enoch made strong appeals in behalf of the distant needy fields. Some of these laborers will respond to this call. About two thousand dollars was given in cash and pledges for the work at home and abroad. Ohio has already many laborers in distant lands, and others will go soon.
I was glad to meet some of the old pioneers of the cause in the State, and to see many who were but children years ago when I labored in the conference, grown to be laborers and burden-bearers in the cause to-day. The conference committee and the laborers are loyal to the cause of the third angel's message, and have committed themselves to the finishing of the work.
R. A. UNDERWOOD.
Chicago English Camp-Meeting and Tent Work
By Wm. Covert
THE Chicago camp-meeting began June 21, and services continued in the same pavilion used during the camp-meeting until September 3. The attendance fell off some, yet the interest with several score of persons continued good till the close. Of these probably forty are keeping the Sabbath. Thirty-six have signed the covenant to obey the Lord in all things required in his Word. As many as thirty of these have taken their stand as a result of these meetings. It is known that twelve or more not counted in the foregoing statement have entered upon a life of obedience to the commandments.
A hall has been rented on the corner of Orchard Street and Lincoln Avenue, being within the same block where the camp-meeting was held, and meetings are now being held in this hall. Our meeting and Sabbath-school held Sabbath, September 8, was an occasion of unusual interest. Probably forty persons were present who have lately decided to yield obedience to the whole truth. The West Side English church will for a time unite with the new Sabbath-keepers in their Sabbath meetings. Preaching services are appointed for three evenings each week, with the understanding that this arrangement will continue until the new members have time to become established in the present truth, then a new course of meetings is to follow. There is yet a vast unworked field easy of access from this place. The good order preserved during our long-continued series of meetings has been a matter of remark by many. It really seems wonderful to note the kindness manifested toward our workers by the large number of people who meet them. We know it is of the Lord, to the end that the message may be given to this great city.
