The 1915 Washington (D. C.) Tent Effort by R. C. TAYLOR

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 12, 1915

The 1915 Washington (D. C.) Tent Effort

By R. C. TAYLOR

The meetings are being held in a tent fifty-two by seventy-two feet, located at the corner of Eleventh and C Streets, Southeast, near Lincoln Park, in one of the most desirable sections of the city, and are being conducted by Evangelists R. E. Harter and S. B. Horton. Valuable assistance is rendered by a substantial corps of experienced Bible workers, who call from house to house during the day, distributing announcements of the meetings and giving out personal invitations to attend, followed by special attention to strangers at the tent.

A chorus choir of sixty members, in charge of Brother I. A. Steinel and assisted by the Review and Herald Orchestra, plays a large part in securing the attention of the public and drawing the people to the tent. A half-hour song service is held each evening while the audience is gathering.

The first meeting was held Sunday evening, June 27. The subject “The Crisis of the Ages” was given to an audience of fully one thousand persons. Preliminary subjects were covered during the first week; and on Sunday evening, July 4, the studies on the prophecies of Daniel were begun.

On Tuesday evening, July 6, Elder Horton presented a stereopticon lecture to a congregation numbering more than six hundred, on the meaning of the present war in the light of God's Word, bringing out some vital points which were evidently appreciated by the attentive audience.

On Sunday evening, July 18, Elder Harter spoke to an audience of about eight hundred persons on the subject of “Spiritualism.” The frequent rains have hampered the attendance more or less, but a sincere interest has been manifest from the first, and is increasing daily.

In addition to this effort, Elder J. M. Campbell, in charge of the work among the colored people in Washington, began an effort on July 11, at the corner of Twenty-second and M Streets, Northwest. Elder Campbell has carried the work thus far alone, humanly speaking, and reports a nightly attendance of from three hundred to five hundred, and an excellent spirit and interest among the seriously thinking colored people. Good music contributes very materially to the success of these meetings, and nicely illustrated handbills distributed in the neighborhood during the day, with a cordial invitation to attend, have a large influence in arousing the curiosity of the people and bringing them to the tent.

Work is also progressing in other parts of the District of Columbia Conference. Elder F. E. Gibson, assisted by Brother J. W. Hall, pitched a tent at Rollins Fork, Va., a prettily situated spot in the country about thirteen miles from Colonial Beach, and opened a series of meetings June 20, with an audience of about one hundred and seventy-five. This good attendance has continued through the succeeding evenings, ranging from one hundred to two hundred each night, and a favorable interest has been awakened. Brother Gibson presented the Sabbath question Sunday evening, July 18, to an audience that could not be fully accommodated within the tent. At the end of the four weeks' effort in this new field, the people are voluntarily suggesting the building of a church, one neighbor having offered to donate land in a favorable location and lumber for the building, while several others have expressed a willingness to contribute material and labor that this hope may be realized.

On July 11, Elder W. L. Bird and Brother W. A. Nelson began meetings at Reedville, Va., a coast town of about nine hundred inhabitants. The people there are rather backward about considering our truths, but encouraging meetings are reported for the first week, some of the most prominent people of the town being numbered among the audiences. R. C. TAYLOR.