Earlier text: Significant of the TimesHarvest Ingathering for Missions
By A. J. S. Bourdeau
“Thy people offer themselves willingly in the day of thy power, in holy array.” Ps. 110: 3, A. R. V. Special Campaign Week, Nov. 1-6.
Full Campaign Period, Nov. 1 to Dec. 31. BE sure to attend the special “preparatory meeting” in your church Sunday, October 31. All orders for the special REVIEW are being filled in the order in which they are received, distant States being favored when absolutely necessary. Our large presses are now running the full twenty-four hours. Thus we hope to be able to fill promptly all orders received for campaign supplies. We are receiving, one by one, samples of the excellent missionary letters being sent out by our conference officers in behalf of this great effort. Over fifty thousand letters have been sent out from this office in behalf of the Harvest Ingathering campaign for missions,—most of them two-cent letters. On the inside of the new “Official Solicitor’s Card” will be found sufficient blank spaces for thirty signatures, also spaces for writing the amount given by each individual. The first copies of the Harvest Ingathering number of the REVIEW were mailed Wednesday, October 6. But for a temporary break-down in our power (engine) plant, they would have been mailed sooner. Those desiring to solicit means through correspondence should order an extra “Official Solicitor’s Card” to accompany their letter requesting means. The same card can be used over and over until filled. The special “Instruction Leaflet” is being mailed with every order for the Missions REVIEW. Whether ordered or not we are sending them out in the ratio of one leaflet to every twenty-five copies of the REVIEW ordered. Do not be surprised if we divulge to you this week a special plan whereby you will receive enough campaign supplies to enable you to begin work promptly Monday morning, November 1. Watch for our letter, etc. Brother D. K. Royer, secretary of the New Jersey Conference, informs us that up to October 6 the churches in that conference had ordered a total of 10,392 copies of the Missions number of the REVIEW. This is a good beginning. Brother R. D. Spohr, missionary secretary of the Indiana Conference, has just held a Harvest Ingathering campaign institute at the Beechwood Academy. The students are planning to do aggressive work during campaign week and after. Isolated Sabbath-keepers who are unable to have their “Official Solicitor’s Card” signed by the elder, treasurer, or other officer of the church nearest them, should secure (by mail) the signature of the conference president, secretary, treasurer, or some other officer who is available. Up to Tuesday, October 12, we had received orders for 174,650 copies of the Missions number of the REVIEW. This is but a beginning, for we have yet to hear from the large orders handed in to our church officers following the special second Sabbath service held in our churches October 9. Some of our regular agents for the ten-cent magazines are planning to sell their copies of the Missions REVIEW outright, for not less than ten cents each. They write us that they can dispose of the papers easily, and thus raise large amounts for missions during campaign week, November 1-6. Mrs. M. H. Crothers, missionary secretary of the Southern Union Conference, accompanies her order for one thousand copies of the Missions REVIEW with the following encouraging words: “We will do our best to make this year a ‘better one than last year.’ The people are much better acquainted with the work, and we look for much better results.” A faithful worker in Nebraska writes, “I distributed one hundred forty copies of the REVIEW last year. It took me over one week. The roads were muddy. I collected $16.76 while working my way through the small towns. My collections averaged a little over twelve cents for every paper distributed.” He is hard at work again in the present campaign. A dear old lady up in New Hampshire thus expresses her deep interest in this work: “I will be seventy-eight in December, but I will do my best to collect means to help send the truth to a perishing world. I am the only Sabbath-keeper in this place. Have interested two or three in the Sabbath question.” And she is but one of thousands of our dear isolated Sabbath-keepers who fill their declining days with home missionary work for the Master. The “Instruction Leaflet” has already been sent out to nearly all our workers. It contains just what you will need to know in order to make a success of this campaign work. Among some of its contents may be mentioned the following: “Program and Method of Work,” “How to Begin,” “Some Actual Experiences,” “The Children Can Help,” “Hints to Beginners,” “Definite Territory,” “Official Solicitor’s Card,” “Starting the List,” “A One-Minute Canvass,” “Talking Points” (or how to approach the farmer, tradesman, banker, nurse, temperance workers, printer, etc.), “Soliciting by Letter” (giving sample letter), “Where to Send Donations,” and a “Directory of Local Conference Treasurers,” alphabetically arranged under union conferences. One of the saddest communications we have received reads thus: “Mother is seventy-four, and has all she can do to care for me, an invalid. We live alone. It is impossible for us to work. Our prayer is for the soon closing of the work.” An intense desire to work is being manifested by nearly all of our people. Brother Frank F. Fry, field missionary agent of the Minnesota Conference, is visiting the churches of his conference in behalf of the campaign. He says: “We shall certainly take pride in keeping up last year’s best record, which was made in the Northern Union Conference. I am very much interested in the reports of last year’s work.” The missionary secretary of the Indiana Conference is stirring up an active interest in this work by writing many personal letters to the church-members. He says: “I have already sent out many letters this week, and will mail two hundred more within a day or two. You may expect a flood of orders from Indiana.” They are coming in. We can take care of many more. For some weeks the presses of the Review and Herald Publishing Association and the Foreign Mission Seminary have been turning out large quantities of printed matter for the campaign, being often run by night as well as by day. In order not to interfere too much with its regular work, our publishing house has been obliged to have some of this work done by printers in the city of Washington, D. C. Brother S. H. Carnahan accompanies his order for copies of the Missions REVIEW with these words: “Last year I ordered a few copies for use in another part of the island. I called on nearly all the Americans. O, if those who enjoy comforts in the home land could only realize what the workers out in strange lands on the frontier have to endure, they would be glad to share the hardships.” From an interesting letter written by a Methodist brother in a Western State who takes the REVIEW, we quote the following: “Your kind favor to hand, and contents carefully noted. So far as I know, the Seventh-day Adventists have no representative here. I am a Methodist, but am firm in the belief that God is now sending his final message to a dying world. Twenty-five years ago it was my privilege to read ‘Daniel and the Revelation’ and ‘The Cleansing of the Sanctuary,’ by Uriah Smith. I was deeply impressed with this light upon the previously hidden mysteries of these great prophecies. I am unfamiliar with your methods. However, any matter entrusted to me will be looked after to the best of my knowledge and ability. God’s people should lay aside all prejudice, and work for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.” We are sending this Methodist brother fifty copies of the Missions REVIEW with which to begin the campaign work in his district. The New California College
By Stephen N. Haskell
The readers of the Review may be interested in a description of the new conference college located at Anguin's, eight miles from St. Helena and five miles from the St. Helena Sanitarium. It is situated on Howell Mountain, about seventeen hundred feet above the level of the sea. It was formerly known in California as the Anguin Health Resort. One year ago we made a contract for a place in Sonoma County, called the Buena Vista property, the fame of which has been heralded from one end of the country to the other. The entire estate contained about three thousand acres. There was a castle upon it, making it the most desirable property for a school that we had found up to that time. When the word came to us at Washington that the man from whom we were purchasing absolutely refused to give a clear title, the matter was laid before Sister E. G. White. Following her counsel, we abandoned the project, believing that the Lord had a better place for us. This hope we believe has been realized in this excellent property which has been secured for the school. It would have required at least five years of hard labor and fifty thousand dollars in addition to the purchase price of the Buena Vista property to bring it to as good and as practical a condition as the one we have now secured. The new school property contains between seventeen hundred and eighteen hundred acres of land, most of which is mountainous, covered with woods. There is variously estimated to be from six to ten million feet of saw timber, pine, fir, and redwood. Some of these trees are six feet through at the base, straight as an arrow, and one hundred fifty feet high. There are many never-failing springs on the place, with an aggregate flow of three hundred thousand gallons of water daily. Three hydraulic rams raise this water to the highest elevation, from which the entire property can be supplied with water in the driest season. As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the mountain tops surround this valley of rich bottom-land, containing about one hundred acres in a high state of cultivation. There are thirty acres of alfalfa, and twenty acres of fruit—apples, pears, peaches, plums, prunes, quinces, cherries, grapes, figs, blackberries, and both English and black walnuts. There are ten buildings on the property. The main building, located in the midst of forest trees, is one hundred five by forty-five feet, and contains twenty-nine bedrooms, a dining-room that will seat one hundred fifty persons, a large parlor, a kitchen with accommodations to feed three hundred persons. A wide veranda extends around three sides of the main building on the first and second floors. The building is three stories high. There are six cottages of from three to eleven rooms each. A hall, thirty-six by seventy-two feet, formerly used as a dance hall, but now as a chapel, will seat over two hundred. Adjoining this hall were billiard rooms and a large bowling-alley, which have been converted into five or six good class-rooms. These buildings all come to us completely furnished, in good repair and ready for occupancy. Five hundred two-quart jars of fruit come with the place; forty-five tons of prunes have already been gathered, and more remain to be gathered. Under the main building there is a cellar with several compartments that are as dry as the inside of the house. Another cellar near the main building is hewn out of the solid rock, where provisions can be kept cool during the hottest weather. There are three large barns,—one for horses, one for cows, and the other for storage of extra feed. These barns are all well filled with hay and feed. There is a blacksmith and a carpentry shop well equipped with tools. Truly, these are goodly buildings, “which thou buildest not, and houses full of good things, which thou fillest not, and wells digged, which thou diggest not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedest not.” Deut. 6:11. There is a swimming tank, forty by one hundred feet, covered, and furnished with dressing-rooms and bath-rooms. This tank and the bath-rooms can be supplied with warm water. There is also an acetylene gas plant on the premises, which is of sufficient capacity to furnish two hundred lights. There came with the property thirteen horses, six colts, twenty-three head of cattle, over one hundred tons of hay; wagons, buggies, surreys, three of which can seat nine passengers each. The personal property is estimated to be worth not less than ten thousand dollars. It was only two days after the committee had decided to take the property, and the first proposition was made to the owner, before the trade was closed. Forty thousand dollars was paid, and twenty thousand dollars more is to be paid in six months, without interest. Immediately after the property was secured, it was decided to open the school the twenty-ninth of September, less than one month from the time the school property was purchased. The school opened with an enrolment of about fifty students, which was good, considering there had not been time to issue a calendar, or even to print a circular. There are no Seventh-day Adventist families living nearer than five miles of the school, so there were no day students. Students are coming in from different parts of the conference, and they expect soon to have the rooms all filled. The climate is delightful. Some winters the snow falls for a few days, and the average temperature in winter is twenty-five degrees above zero, while in the summer it is eighty-five degrees. The day of the dedication was a day of interest. Three four-horse teams, six two-horse teams, and several single carriages brought visitors to the spot. Sister White was present at the dedicatory services, and spoke very decidedly and clearly, stating that it was God's providence that had given us this place. Others bore a similar testimony, while Prof. C. W. Irwin outlined in a few words the general policy that would be carried out in the school. The dedicatory prayer was offered by the writer. The faculty consist of Prof. C. W. Irwin, Elder A. O. Tait, Prof. Geo. W. Rine, Mrs. C. W. Irwin, Miss Hattie Andre, and Miss Lois Randall. Drs. H. F. Rand and M. L. Edwards will render assistance in giving medical instruction. The close proximity of the St. Helena Sanitarium is a great advantage, as the spirit of prophecy has told us that our schools should be connected with a sanitarium. Each of these institutions can be a help to the other. It should be mentioned that there are prospects that the school will exceed its present capacity. Arrangements have been made for the purchase of a portable sawmill, so that by student labor a new dormitory may be erected, using the lumber on the place, without any outside expense except for the hardware. We have not heard one word of criticism regarding the purchase of this place, and the brethren have freely pledged for the purchasing of this property. Some have doubled their pledges. Our brethren and sisters have set their heads and their hearts to wipe out the indebtedness on this conference institution, and to begin this new school according to the light of the Testimonies regarding manual labor. Prof. C. W. Irwin, who has successfully demonstrated the manual labor problem, both financially and in developing all-round missionaries for foreign fields, stands at the head of this new school. He is supported by a faculty and a committee who believe in these principles. Our hearts say, “Praise the Lord.” Notes Concerning the North Pacific Camp-Meetings
By George I. Butler
A BRIEF report of the Spokane camp-meeting was written for the REVIEW. As I have seen no other reports in our church organ, perhaps a few interesting items may be proper even at this late date. The Tacoma camp-meeting was well attended. About one hundred seventy-five tents were pitched for the occasion, and three or four hundred persons camped upon the grounds. Elder G. A. Irwin and the writer, representing the General Conference Committee, were in attendance. The writer was present only a few days in the earlier part of the meeting. As the meetings in the North Pacific Union Conference were so appointed that they each lapped over on the time of another, one laborer went to the commencement, and the other remained to the close. Elder Irwin’s labors closed the Tacoma meeting, while the writer was attending the first half of the Portland meeting. At the Tacoma meeting upward of two thousand dollars was pledged for general foreign missionary work. Revival services were held with much profit, and quite a number were baptized. Representatives were present, and collections were taken for the publishing work, for17 the blind, for the cause of missions in Japan, China, etc. The meeting in Portland was also quite well attended. About one hundred fifty tents were pitched, and several hundred persons were in attendance. About two thousand dollars was raised for foreign missions, and smaller sums for other objects. It was very gratifying to see the increase in the numbers of believers compared with those present at a previous visit twenty-five years ago. I was informed that in Portland and vicinity alone there were several churches and four or five hundred members, and to the best of my judgment, the assembly was increased tenfold. These were not all new converts however; for, as is well known, a great emigration for years has been in progress, especially from leading central conferences, and also from various parts of the United States, and even from foreign lands. In all these meetings large numbers of old friends greeted me, coming forward to shake my hand with great cordiality, and calling to remembrance days of old, from twenty to forty years ago, when I was laboring all through the North. How time flies! For nearly twenty-one years I have been mainly in the South. It was indeed pleasant to see so many old friends, and find them so true to the dear cause all these years. I left the Portland meeting at about the middle of it, while Elder Irwin remained till its close. I was informed that the revival work was a success, and that a goodly number were baptized. The Montana meeting was held at Stevensville, and was the last one of the series in the North Pacific Union Conference. I left Portland Monday night to reach Stevensville at the beginning of the meeting. Circumstances were such that it seemed difficult for Brother Irwin to attend. This was quite a disappointment to the leading brethren in Montana. But the Lord was with us from the beginning till the close of the camp-meeting. The camp was pitched in a small grove of second growth pines, affording good opportunity for private devotion, and in my judgment it was the best and most spiritual meeting I have attended for years. This meeting was held in Bitter Root Valley, one of the most pleasant valleys that I saw in my long trip of about seven thousand miles. The valley is perhaps eighty or one hundred miles in length by twenty in width. It lies high up in the Rockies, with high peaks on either side. Bitter Root River is a fine stream of clear cold water, fed by smaller streams flowing out from the mountainsides, from the snows of the higher peaks. Speckled trout are plentiful in these streams. Much of the rich, choice land in the valley can be irrigated, and very large crops of hay, oats, wheat, and potatoes, and the earlier fruits are raised. With plenty of water for irrigation, it is not uncommon to raise one hundred bushels of oats, from forty to sixty of wheat, or four hundred bushels of potatoes to the acre. The weather is generally cool, though in the middle of the day it is quite warm. The land is high-priced as a rule, often one hundred dollars and upward an acre. Perfect union seemed to prevail among the ministers and people. They had been carefully instructed in all the principles of present truth. They loved to listen to the truth presented plainly and forcibly. They were believers in the Testimonies of the Spirit of God, yes, and in health reform, discarding flesh-meats and everything that was hurtful. This little camp-meeting, of about one hundred adults and perhaps forty or fifty tents, forcibly reminded the writer of the camp-meetings in Iowa some thirty or forty years ago. After the views of unbelief had been sifted out by the departure of those who followed Elders Snook and Brinkerhoof, then for years we had meetings that the writer will never forget, and many of the other believers of long ago. When we met together, there was perfect union, and such love as I have seldom seen since. For quite a number of years, from fifty to one hundred twenty-five were baptized at camp-meeting, and there was wonderful growth in every department. This camp-meeting was not a business meeting for the election of officers, so there was plenty of time for other meetings and spiritual instruction and devotion. Souls were converted, and a goodly number were baptized. Those of most means in the conference were too busy to attend, yet in the small camp-meeting of one hundred adults, we raised pledges amounting to about four thousand dollars, half for local needs and the other half for foreign missionary work. Brother Charles T. Rider was ordained to the ministry. God graciously came in by his Spirit and witnessed to the ordination. This ordination was very gratifying to me personally, as Brother Rider is the son of Stephen and Martha Lockwood Rider, the latter a sister to my first wife. Our families were most intimate. His previous labors had given evidence that this was a proper step. Elder R. D. Quinn, president of the Montana Conference, is held in high esteem by his brethren. It was a pleasure to make his acquaintance, and also that of other brethren in the ministry. A portion of the money raised will be used in building a much-needed intermediate school building. They have an excellent school in the conference. Montana is, in territory, the third largest State in the United States. There is a great territory to work, and few laborers to work it. May God greatly bless the work in this large State. On my trip homeward via California, I stopped off part of a day at Walla Walla. That is an important point in the great cause of present truth in the North Pacific Union Conference. We have a large sanitarium there, and College Place is the location of one of our greatest schools. Twenty-three years ago I attended a camp-meeting there. I felt loath to leave the Pacific Coast without witnessing the great growth of the cause in that important locality. There was much of interest to be seen, and many aged and dear friends of mine lived there. School was soon to be opened, and everybody was busy. I went, of course, through our excellent institution, with interest and thankfulness, and felt to praise God for what my eyes beheld. There had been some lack of needed water in the sanitarium, and so an artesian well had been bored, six inches in diameter. Water was struck in about seven hundred feet. A large stream of pure water came bursting up to a height of from fifteen to twenty feet, affording water for all needed purposes, and sufficient to irrigate three hundred acres, it is estimated. This was a great blessing. My many friends greatly desired me to stay longer, in order to speak to them once more before leaving for the California camp-meeting. I spoke to an open-air meeting on the school grounds in the dark. It was estimated that four hundred were present. And so we bade farewell to devoted friends, and left them on our way to California. The Eastern Colorado Camp-Meeting
By H. M. J. Richards
THE twenty-seventh annual session of the Colorado Conference was held in connection with the camp-meeting at Boulder, Colo., August 26 to September 6. This meeting was held on the beautiful Chautauqua grounds. Every convenience in the way of cottages, auditorium, dining-hall, water, light, street-car service, etc., was available, and added much to the pleasure and success of the meeting. Boulder is also quite near the center of population of the State and of our membership. As a result of all these favorable circumstances, and also of the fact that it was expected that Sister E. G. White would attend the meeting, there were, all together, one thousand of our people on the ground, making the meeting a truly representative one. Sister White spoke to the great congregation three times during the conference. Her instruction was of the most practical and spiritual nature. The last time she spoke was on the last Sunday of the gathering, and at the close of a most clear and inspiring sermon she kneeled down and prayed with the people, offering one of the most earnest prayers that we ever heard. The Spirit of the Lord came very near, and there was a general move of the whole congregation to consecrate themselves to the Lord to work for him everywhere and all the time. At this conference about five thousand six hundred dollars was raised in cash and pledges for various enterprises at home and abroad. So this camp-meeting was a time of great blessing in both financial and spiritual things. Besides our own faithful home workers who came in from the field to enjoy the meeting and consecrate their efforts and prayers to make it a success, there were present among the helpers from abroad the following workers, whose help was greatly appreciated, and added much to the success of the gathering: Elders W. C. White, E. T. Russell, H. H. Votaw (of Rangoon, India), G. F. Haffner, J. H. Kraft, S. G. Huntington (president of the Utah conference), J. H. Morrison, and S. Mortenson (superintendent of the Swedish department); Profs. H. R. Salisbury, C. C. Lewis, G. A. Grauer, and B. E. Huffman; Dr. W. A. Ruble, and Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Wightman. Thus every department of the work was well represented by general as well as home laborers. The expense of the camp was all met, and there was a surplus to apply on the tent fund. It was pronounced one of the most successful meetings held in this conference for some years.18 Elder C. R. Kite was elected president, and enters upon his work with the united support of the workers and people of the conference. Elder H. M. J. Richards was elected conference secretary. The other members of the executive committee are Elders E. E. Farnsworth, J. W. Lair, and H. F. Ketring. The board of directors of “the Seventh-day Adventist Association of Colorado” are: Elder C. R. Kite, president; Judge C. C. Holbrook, vice-president; Elder H. M. J. Richards, secretary; other members—Elders E. E. Farnsworth, J. W. Lair, and H. F. Ketring. The following are the departmental secretaries: Tract society, Ralph Emery; canvassing, Charles Sutton; education, Elder E. E. Farnsworth; Sabbath-school, Mrs. Mae Waffle; religious liberty, Elder H. F. Ketring; medical, Dr. C. A. Hansen; conference treasurer and transportation agent, Ralph Emery. We enter the new conference year with bright hopes for a successful year's work, knowing that the Lord is near to bless every honest effort that we put forth in his name. H. M. J. RICHARDS,
Conference Secretary. The Open Door
By V. O. Cole
WHILE our minds are being directed toward the work in the Southern field through the offerings of October 2, it might not be out of place to speak of one important way of getting the truth into that field, which, perhaps, many of our people have overlooked. While our gifts are indeed very acceptable in the sight of heaven, yet they can not take the place of the means I shall mention, which is, I believe, the Lord’s solution for us of the problem of reaching the many people of this long-neglected field. I am sure that many of our Northern friends are interested in the work here, and are willing to make sacrifices, as far as their means are concerned, to see the work go, but I fear that they have, in a great measure, overlooked one of the principal means by which this field will have to be warned. I presume all know about the race question, which is a very important problem here. If our ministers labor for one class, they are debarred from the other. The same can be said of the Bible worker, the medical missionary, or the school worker; but thanks be to our Heavenly Father! the Lord has given us one avenue through which we can reach all classes alike without raising prejudice. You ask, What, then, is the way that the Lord has left open for this great work to be accomplished?—It is the same of which the Testimonies have so plainly said: “If there is one work more important than another, it is that of getting our publications before the public, thus leading them to search the Scriptures.” Now, if this testimony applies in a general way, how much more forcibly does it apply to the Southern field, where this method seems to be the only open door which Providence has left by which we may be able to reach all the people without much prejudice. Yes, the faithful canvasser may go to the great mansion or to the humble hut, even if standing side by side, and raise no comment from the world, simply because he has something to sell. The people look at it from a commercial standpoint, regarding that an agent has the right to sell to all classes alike; while the Lord, holy angels, and real Christians look at it as a missionary work of the highest order. The canvassing work can be carried on here during the entire year. We trust that the Spirit of the Lord will turn the hearts of some this way who feel a deep burden for this field; and have the kind of missionary spirit that will take hold of the work understandingly, and with a zeal that is according to the knowledge of his word. Gen. Miss. Agt. S. E. U. Conf. The Indiana Conference
By Morris Lukens
DURING the past summer tent efforts have been held in the following places: Indianapolis, South Bend, Bluffton, Dillsboro, Orland, Marengo, Milltown, Linton, Kendallville, and near Wolcottville. In addition to this work, we have had laborers in most of the large cities of the State. Success has attended the efforts of our laborers, and all report additions to the truth. Two camp-meetings have been held in the conference this season: one at Bluffton, which was attended by about six hundred of our people, and the other at Linton, in the southern part of the State, where about two hundred fifty of our people were present. The definite message for this time was presented during the evening services at both camp-meetings, and at both places some began the observance of all the commandments of God. Especially was this true at Linton. After a number of discourses on the Sabbath question, the change of the Sabbath was presented; at the close of the sermon an appeal was made to the people, and fully twenty strangers arose. Several of this number began at that time to keep the fourth commandment. The Wabash Valley Sanitarium, located in our conference, has enjoyed the most prosperous season of its existence. Not only has the institution been full to overflowing all summer, but we have had a class of patients that has been a help to the institution financially, so that, in addition to meeting the running expenses, about two thousand dollars of its indebtedness has been paid off. Our conference school, Beechwood Academy, opened Wednesday, September 22, with the largest number of students it has ever had at the beginning of the school year. Seventeen church-schools have also been opened in the conference this year. There were sold by the members of the Indiana Conference during the summer more than thirty-five thousand of our ten-cent magazines. Those who are canvassing for our books have also met with success. We are now putting our efforts on the Missions number of the REVIEW, and the brethren and sisters of Indiana are responding nobly. East Michigan Camp-Meeting
By G. B. Thompson
The annual camp-meeting of the East Michigan Conference was held August 19-29 in Keeley Park in the city of Jackson. In many respects the location was excellent, it being central. The attendance from the city, at the evening services especially, was quite good. The fundamental principles of the message were presented each evening, and many manifested an interest in the doctrines taught. In addition to this, two of the city papers, the Citizen Press and the Patriot, published excellent daily reports of the sermons, averaging from one to two columns in length. In this way the message was brought to the attention of thousands of people who did not attend the meeting. I believe that a similar work to that done through the public press of Jackson can, and ought to, be done in many other camp-meetings, and thus a knowledge of the truth be taken to many thousands. Although the meeting was not as centrally located in the conference as some other meetings have been, yet the attendance of our people was good. There was perhaps a thousand camped on the ground and in rooms, and on the last Sabbath a large number coming from Battle Creek and from some of the surrounding churches in the conference increased the attendance to about fifteen hundred. An earnest spirit of devotion and consecration was manifested throughout the meeting. Some gave their hearts to God for the first time, and others who had lost a vital connection with the Lord took hold again with new courage and hope. About thirty were baptized. For the various needs of the cause in the foreign fields, in the South, and local conference work, nearly two thousand dollars was raised in cash and pledges. Elders A. G. Daniells, W. B. White, A. J. Haysmer, Allen Moon, the union conference laborers in the various departments, and the writer attended during some part of the time and joined with the local conference laborers in the burdens and blessings of the meeting. The various departments of the work in the conference received careful consideration, and progress in the different branches of the work during the past year was quite apparent. The regular business of the meeting of the conference was not held in connection with the meeting, so of course no detailed reports were given. This camp-meeting, held in this old battle-ground of the truth, was the means of bringing new courage to the work in this conference. Those who attended went to their homes with new determination19 to be more faithful in advancing the message during the coming year. No doubt there are many others who ought to have attended the meeting and shared in the refreshing season who were kept at home, some of them by the cares of this life. We believe the stirring times which we have entered and the nearness of our Lord’s appearing should be an incentive to every believer to attend these annual convocations. G. B. THOMPSON. The Kind of Men Needed
By H. B. Tilden
WE are the wealthiest people on earth. The value of the truth we possess is inestimable. Shall we stand still, looking on with ease, while the people all around us are perishing for want of the bread of life? We have a good field in North Carolina for men who will volunteer to carry the truth to the world. Men of spiritual stamina are wanted,—men who are able to find work close at hand because they are looking for it,—men to give energy to the ranks,—men for the times, able to cope with its errors,—men who will inspire with zeal those already in the field. The Master is calling for men whose hearts are warm with Christian love, and whose hands are eager to be about their Master's business,—men who will work diligently while the day lasts; for “the night cometh when no man can work.” Jesus is soon coming; “and while we watch and wait, God bids us work courageously to proclaim the message of his return.” Shall we do it? My address is R. F. D. 4, Hickory, N. C. H. B. TILDEN, Field Agent. Western Colorado
By Wm. M. Andress
Beginning September 16 and continuing for ten days, the first annual session of the Western Colorado Conference and the camp-meeting were held at Grand Junction, Colo. Although this conference is among the latest organized, it is made up of a loyal and devoted class of people, who are earnestly contending “for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” From the very first day of the meeting, it was plain to be seen that provisions could not be made for the entertaining of all in attendance, though every available tent and many near-by rooms were pressed into service. One special feature of encouragement was the interest manifest by our people in the business transactions of the conference. Every conference meeting was well attended, and perfect harmony reigned throughout these services. Many resolutions were adopted which, if faithfully put into practise, will mean much for the future progress of the message in this small corner of the field. Nearly one thousand dollars was raised for the carrying of the message into the regions beyond. Able help was rendered by the following brethren, who were in attendance from abroad: Elders G. A. Irwin, E. T. Russell, Chas. Thompson, H. H. Votaw, Dr. W. A. Ruble, and others. Elder and Mrs. Wightman were present during the last few days of the meeting, and manifested their usual zeal in setting forth the principles of religious liberty, speaking both at the tent and to a large and attentive audience on the street. Seven persons were baptized on the closing day of the meeting, and a number of others who had given their lives to the Master were referred to the local elders, who will later administer the ordinance. Although this was the first meeting of the kind ever held by our people in western Colorado, we feel that a new impetus has been given the work here, and that our lay members, as well as conference laborers, will go forth with a greater earnestness and a firmer desire to help finish the work in this generation. Wm. M. Andress,
Secretary.