“The first colored campmeeting for the State of Louisiana convened at [New Orleans], beginning August 8 to the 18th [1918], with a good delegation present from various parts of the State and a splendid attendance from the city, especially at night when evangelical subjects were preached.
Aside from Elder King, the pastor of the church here, Elder Lawrence was here conducting a most successful tent meeting, which was merged into the campmeeting. There were also present from the workers in this State, Brothers Bell and Roberts, together with one or two Bible workers.
Elder C. N. Sanders, President of the Louisiana Conference, and Brother C. A. Caldwell, Secretary and Treasurer of the same, were present at most of the meetings, presiding at the regular Conference meetings; and the following Union and General Conference brethren were also present: Elder S. E. Wight, President of the Southern Union Conference; V. O. Cole, Union Field Secretary; O. R. Staines, Union Home Missionary Secretary; A. N. Allen, Army Secretary; F. C. Gilbert. of Boston, Mass., who is superintendent of the Jewish work in America; Bros. G. B. Boswell and J. C. Thompson, Secretaries; Prof. F. L. Peterson, representative of the Oakwood Junior College, and the writer.
The campmeeting was opened Thursday night, August 8, by a great sermon from the text, “We Will See Jesus,” delivered by Elder F. C. Gilbert; following which the campmeeting proceeded from day to day under the instruction of those having charge of the various departments, and the visiting brethren whose names have already been mentioned.
Bro. V. O. Cole, who is the Union Field Missionary Secretary, gave several instructive and impressive talks along the lines of his department. Brother Staines, having charge of the Home Missionary work, sought in his several talks to arouse our people to a sense of duty, without delay, in doing active missionary work for the church and their neighbors, because of the nearness of the end. The Army Secretary, Bro. A. N. Allen, most clearly set before our people their duty of loyalty to the Government and the necessity of fitting our boys to serve the Government conscientiously and acceptably in these trying times. Brother Thompson, the Educational and Young People’s Secretary for the Union, sought to impress upon our people the importance of having our children trained in our various schools for the service of the Lord, and also the necessity of building up strong young people’s societies so that our youths might be trained along active missionary lines for helping finish the work.
Prof. F. L. Peterson most fittingly represented the Oakwood School in the part he took in helping to make the campmeeting a success, and seeking out those who would attend the Oakwood school and fit themselves for the work in God’s cause. Elder F. C. Gilbert, aside from preaching several times at night, gave a most instructive series of Bible studies at 6:30 o’clock every afternoon. Elder Sanders and his secretary presided at the Conference meetings and, brought before the delegates the various resolutions and recommendations that had been passed at the white campmeeting for study and consideration. The said resolutions were most freely discussed by all, and after due consideration and deliberation, were passed. Then the election of Conference officers was brought before the Conference for consideration and ratified, which completed the work of the Conference, making its resolutions and recommendations and election unanimous. The officers elected were Elder C. N. Sanders, President, and Bro. C. A. Caldwell, Secretary and Treasurer, the others being about the same as last year.
Bro. G. B. Boswell, State Field Missionary Secretary, was present the last of the meeting and rendered timely and needed help in the progress of the meeting. Elder S. E. Wight, President of the Union, was present most of the time, showing deep interest in our people and their work, and gave timely instructions to the workers at their several meetings and also to the visiting members. Elder Lawrence, who was already here conducting the tent meetings when the Conference began, aside from preaching several rousing sermons, gave some helpful Bible studies in the mornings during the campmeeting; The writer was also present, conducting Bible studies in the afternoons and speaking several times at night. Elder King, the local pastor of the church, who is also State Missionary Evangelist, sought to make the campmeeting a real success by taking part along various lines during our stay here. There were many stirring and instructive lectures given by Elder Gilbert concerning the relation of the Law and the Prophets, and the Spirit of Prophecy as connected with the finishing of this work. He also preached the closing sermon of the campmeeting, giving an object lesson of the Passover, on the closing Sunday night.
The meetings at the camp during the day were held at the church, which was close by, but the night meetings were held at the camp tent. Owing to certain city regulations, we were not allowed to camp on the ground, therefore the brethren and delegates stopped at various homes in the city. Upon a whole it was a rousing good campmeeting which had a good effect upon the people of the city, because it was held where they had been accustomed to attending the tent meetings of several weeks. And here I should remark that these tent meetings had brought more than 40 people to take their stand for the Truth by the time campmeeting began, which, of course, greatly advertised the same. From all appearances, I believe that when the results of the campmeeting shall have been rounded up by the tent meetings which are being continued for several weeks, there will be at least 75 additions of good strong men and women to the cause.” — W. H. GREEN, Secretary of Negro Department.
Citation
Green, W. H. (1918, Sep. 12). Southern Union Worker, pp. 6, 7.
How it all Began 