“Puyallup’s Greatest Meeting”
Christian Evangelist    (Dec. 31, 1908) 1684

We recently closed one of the most successful meetings ever held in Puyallup, and perhaps on the west coast.  The meeting ran five weeks, and resulted in 230 being added, 138 baptisms, 66 from other religious bodies, and 23 by statement.

The evangelists who led this meeting were David Eugene Olson, C. C. Curtis and Mrs. Nellie Callison, all of Eugene, Ore.  Brother Olson is a power for good and not ashamed to speak the truth in its purity and simplicity.  Large congregations listened with rapt attention through the entire five weeks.  Before the meeting was one week old, the house was too small for the crowds.  A large tent was secured and added as an annex to the building, which gave room for about 1,200 and still there was not room enough.

The Gospel was not only given in work [sic, word] from the pulpit, but in song by Sister Callison’s sweet and inspiring solos.  Brother Curtis is a splendid song leader and music director.  He led a chorus of 80 voices, including the children’s chorus and an orchestra of ten pieces.

These brethren place great emphasis on Bible school work.  There was an increase of from 135 to 256 in Bible school while they were here.  All departments of the work have taken on great activity.  Most of the young people who came in have also enlisted in the Endeavor work.  Our meeting of the Endeavor, which I must mention, was called “Telegram Service.”  Eighty young people took hold, most of whom had just become Christians; fifty offered prayer.

A “Young ladies’ missionary circle” was organized by Sister Callison, with 33 charter members.  Thirty of our young people volunteered to consecrate their lives to the ministry.  Some are already gone to “Eugene Bible University,” Eugene, Ore., to prepare for the work.

Brother Olson established a Swedish mission.  A number of Scandinavians have taken the stand for primitive Christianity.  This will be led by Brother Holsten, a Swedish member who lives here, who came into the church from the Baptists during the meeting.

There is a bright future for the Church of Christ in Puyallup.  There are now almost 400 members, and with Brother J. T. Eschelman as our minister and leader, we look for a greater work than ever before.  Plans are already on foot to enlarge the church building.  On Monday evening a reception was given the new members.  At this time Brother Olson raised $1,000 toward the building.  All the expenses of the meeting were met with free-will offerings.

Puyallup is a town of six or seven thousand people, located in a rich fertile valley between Tacoma and Seattle.  The climate is mild and pleasant most of the time.

                                                – Mrs. Rose Cook Eaton
                                                   Mrs. George H. Gregory, Committee