Wisconsin Camp-Meeting by O. A. OLSEN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 13, 1910

Wisconsin Camp-Meeting

By O. A. OLSEN

THIS meeting was held at Grand Rapids, September 1-11, in a beautiful grove of oak and pine trees just in the edge of the city. On the whole the weather was favorable, and the attendance of our people was good. The laborers present in addition to those in the State and of the union conference were Elders E. W. Farnsworth, W. H. Thurston, G. F. Haffner, L. H. Christian, Brother L. A. Hansen, and the writer. The preaching was of a practical and stirring nature, and was well received. There was a fair attendance from the city and the surrounding community.

Wisconsin is one of the old conferences, and has long and nobly stood by the work, and shared the burdens of the cause. It was a great pleasure again to meet a goodly number of the early believers in this State, and find them faithful, and rejoicing in the expectation of soon seeing the realization of their hopes. Two new churches were added to the conference, and this was a source of encouragement to all.

The call for recruits for mission fields met with a hearty response. Some of the most promising young people in the State offered themselves for mission work, and the conference encouraged them in taking this step. Wisconsin already has a number of workers in China and elsewhere.

The business proceedings of the conference were harmonious. Elder C. McReynolds, who has borne the burdens of the conference presidency for five years, found his health much impaired, and Elder W. H. Thurston, recently from Kansas, was elected to the position. May God greatly bless him in taking up these responsibilities. Few other changes were made.

The various interests of the cause were presented, and received a hearty response. Brother L. A. Hansen enjoyed great freedom in presenting the “Ministry of Healing” relief campaign.

The last Sabbath of the meeting was a time of special blessing to the entire camp. In the three divisions,—English, German, and Scandinavian,—the presence of the Lord was very manifest, and many responded to the call to turn to him, and to renew their consecration to his service. During the conference twenty-three persons followed their Lord in baptism. As a whole, the conference was a refreshing season. Earnest meetings were held by the workers, where important questions pertaining to our work and to our individual relation to God and the cause, as well as to the manner of presenting the message, were studied with good effect.

Thus closed another camp-meeting. May the special blessing of the Lord be with the work in Wisconsin during the year to come. O. A. OLSEN.