13/4/31
HEH DHE ISHEN IEF ETRTT HRA RAT ERR EIR H £1) (HLTH)
He
- TASMANIA :
| PRESIDENT : F. G. RAMPTON Ei
£ SECRETARY : F. J. BUTLER :
HEH THR FHA HE TTRIE EE SE VE PHU THT TTR EAE HT T3531
Tasmanian Camp-Meeting and
Conference
1931 Session
W E look back on the ten days from Feb-
ruary 19 to March I as among our most
pleasant memories in our conference work.
Camp was pitched at a central site in
New Town, right in full view of the trams
and traffic passing along the main road to
Hobart, Many had been the queries as
to the possibility of erecting a real camp-
meeting. We feared the expense would
prohibit. But an excellent attendance of
delegates made the meeting an assured
financial success from the beginning,
judging by past meetings. The favourable
location and attractive appearance of the
camp drew unusually large audiences, es-
pecially to all the evening meetings. As
many as eighty-odd visitors were counted
at one week-night meeting, and the mission
pictures drew more than could be seated
in the large pavilion on the Saturday
nights.
We were given every assistance by the
City Council officers, and everything went
along from the first with a feeling of joy
and satisfaction that at last we were really
doing something evangelical in our camp-
meeting,
Pastors W. A. Spicer, A. G. Stewart,
and Dr. Sherwin represented the Union
Conference, and their presence was heart-
ily appreciated by all. With Pastors
“W., DD, Smith and J. R., James on the ground
with their families, we had five island
‘missionaries with us. Brother Spicer’s
imeetings will be long remembered, and
though he had to leave on the Thursday
preceding the close of the camp, his visit
‘was a great blessing to all. Dr. Sherwin
took hold of the young people's work and
:gave excellent help, while a goodiy num-
ber availed themselves of his medical
«counsel. We were glad Brother Stewart
«could remain for a little while to assist
with the Ingathering, especially during
such stress as the business world now is
feeling,
Brother Blair was a very welcome
wisitor, and his aid led to a fine record of
book sales, £83 worth being disposed of at
the meeting.
Weather conditions favoured us, on the
whole. Rain began the day after camp
closed and retarded the clearing of the
ground somewhat. But it was very cheer-
ing to dwell with the Lord those ten days,
and to know that He was leading in the
plans for the meeting.
Excellent responses were made to all ap-
peals, and a large list of young people and
others signified their wish to join bap-
tismal classes, Very definite were the
victories gained by some, and our hearts
rejoice to see the change wrought by their
decision to allow God to take control.
May God keep them all near Him, grow-
ing in grace daily.
A £200 response to the mission appeal
was good in the present financial depres-
sion. Sabbath school attendances were
the largest on record, 330 being present
each week. Of these about 188 were liv-
ing on the camp ground. Offerings for
Sabbath school were £28.
It transpires that the meeting was not
so expensive as last year’s gathering, even
though we were compeiled to purchase
quite an amount of additional equipment
when making the transfer from the old
(Glenorchy Show Grounds, Without
exception I believe it is remarked as the
best camp ever heid in Tasmania, and we
thank the divine Father for the unity and
biessedness of this season of fellowship,
The conference membership had moved
up by 19 to 370, a total of 24 baptisms
being recorded during 1930, with 6 deaths.
Perhaps the best known of those who
passed away during the year was Brother
Andrew Craigie, so suddenly taken off
following an operation at the Hobart
Hospital,
Tithe receipts of £2,127 were reported
by the treasurer, which were a splendid
total for 1930 and enabled us to carry
over to I03I sufficient balance to make
this year easier than had been anticipated.
The Sabbath school and Missionary
Volunteer figures revealed growth in all
lines except Sabbath school offerings,
which had fallen to £496, being £90 less
for the year. Our educational work was
represented by three schools with an enrol-
ment of forty-eight at the year end.
Some recommendations affecting Con-
stitution and policy were adopted. The
plan suggested by the Union Conference
in September last for the appointment of
the nominating committee found favour,
and the Constitution was altered to fit the
new policy.
Our Second Sabbath offerings for the
first and third months of each quarter are
to be divided equally between conference
and local church funds.
As soon as the new committee were ap-
pointed, they were faced with the task of
planning for the mission work in Hobart
to foilow the camp-meeting. Only one
tent was owned by the conference, and
this was greatly needed in Launceston;
yet the Hobart interest called loudly for a
tent. It was decided to purchase and
equip a second tent, so that in both the
south and the north work could be con-
ducted to the best advantage.
The present mission tent, seating 20,
was pitched near by after the camp, and
the interest that had been aroused is
being maintained by the mission under
the care of Pastors F. G. Rampton, J. R.
James, and W. D. Smith. Fifty-six names
are already on the list for visiting, and no
time is being lost at all in following up
the work.
Brother R. A. Thrift is now awaiting
his tent in order to follow up an interest
in Launceston, the northern centre,
Brother Bird returned to Smithton, where
the work is developing.
Election of Officers
The report of the committee on nomin-
ations was adapted as follows :
PRESIDENT : F. G. Rampton.
HoME Missions, RELIGIOUS LIBERTY,
and FIELD MISSIONARY SECRETARY: F.
G. Rampton,
SECRETARY-TREASURER : F. J. Butler.
SABBATH SCHOOL, MISSIONARY VOL-
UNTEER, AND EDUCATIONAL SECRE-
TARY : F. J. Butler.
ASSISTANT SABBATH SCHOOL AND
MISSIONARY VOLUNTEER SECRETARY?
Miss M. Rutter.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: President, N.
H. Feblberg, L. Steilmaker, J. B. Waty,
G. E. Salisbury, R. B. Singe.
Credentials and Licenses
Credentials and licenses were issued to
the following workers and colporteurs:
CREDENTIALS : F. G. Rampton.
MINISTERIAL LICENSE: C. E. Bird, R.
A. Thrift, F. J. Butler.
MISSIONARY LICENSE: Miss E. F. Hop-
good, Miss I. A. Lang, Miss I. Robertson,
Miss M. Rutter.
TEACHER'S LICENSE: Miss A, Hardy,
Miss W. Niebuhr, Miss L.. McMahon.
COLPJRTEUR’S CREDENTIALS: H. Vet-
ter, S. A. Slade.
COLPORTEUR'S LICENSE: J. R. Pearce,
E. Wenck.
In summing up this report we feel to
heartily concur in the recommendation
the plans committee incorporated in its
first report : “That we hereby express our
heartfelt gratitude to God for His abun-
dant mercies during the past year, and in
humble recognition of our dependence
upon Him as we face the perplexities of
another year, we gratefully reconsecrate
our lives to Him for service for the fin-
ishing of the work.”
God has been good to us and has abun-
dantly blessed, and as we look over the
camp just closed, we thank Him for direct
leadings and abundant blessings bestowed.
EF. J. BUTLER,
Secretary.
What Some Are Doing for
Their Sabbath School Offerings
| Taken from a Letter}
ENCOURAGING reports have reached us
from a number of the Sabbath schools in
our conference. Wallsend, Boolaroo,
Lambton, Hamilton, Muswellbrook, and
Scone members are selling magazines and
meeting with good success. Singleton
members are specialising in the sale of
small books. The Sabbath school super-
intendent had no work one day, so went
out with some small books, and sold more
than one pound’s worth, He feels confi-
dent there will be an increase in the offer-
ings of this school this quarter.
Our members around Newcastle also
are selling literature in aid of the Thir-
teenth Sabbath offering, but of course it is
more difficult in the coal-mining areas.
Think of the Tenterfield children drop-
ping all the coins given them for ice creams,
sweets, etc, into their self-denial hoxes
instead of gratifying their appetites; the
fathers of families at Boolaroo receiving
only three days’ pay in a fortnight, yet
growing vegetables and flowers and sell-
ing them for missions; the children of
Lismore and Lambton denying themselves
something every week to have an extra
offering to bring, and a great many hav-
ing no work at all, finding ways and
means to help. Truly the Lords people
are making a covenant with Fim by
sacrifice.
ANNIE E. DOUGLASS,
Nth. NSW. Conf. 5. 5. Sec.