Camp-Meeting in Oregon

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 29, 1882

Camp-Meeting in Oregon.

At the close of the Upper Columbia Camp-meeting we felt too much worn to endure a ride of all night, and stopped over at Walla Walla, where we wrote for the SIGNS, and preached on Sabbath and Sunday. Monday night we resumed our journey, but found it harder than if we had gone earlier, as the Columbia had risen so fast that the road was impassable, and we had to change to a river boat in the night. The night was so broken up that no rest was to be obtained. At this stage of water the Dalles are a grand sight, the river rising far above the rocks which ordinarily conceal it, and in some places dashing in continuous waves, looking more like the ocean in a storm than a river in a quiet valley.

It looks like a strange work of engineering that, on a sloping river bank, the railroad lies for long distances below high-water mark.

Going from Portland to Salem our train jumped the track. A car load of Chinese was in a dangerous position, but nobody was injured. Had we been going at high speed the consequences must have been disastrous.

We arrived on the camp ground about noon the 14th, the day appointed for the meeting to commence. But things were far from being ready for a commencement, Elders Boyd and Raymond were hard at work. We also went to work; but the number of workers was either too small, or they commenced too late, for at night the work of preparation was about twenty-four hours behind what we earnestly desired. The people were tardy in coming together, which hindered our business some, and caused fears to arise for the success of the meeting.

We found on the ground Elders A. Snashall and E. W. Barnes. Eld. Snashall was educated for the ministry among the Presbyterians, and has been connected with the First-day Adventists about two years. He commenced keeping the Sabbath about the beginning of this year, and has been preaching it to some extent. He has credentials from the Conference, and will engage in the work this season.

Elder Barnes has been in the ministry twelve years with the "Christians" or Disciples. He has been a successful and highly-respected laborer, and has been studying on the law and Sabbath for some time. His mind was first directed to it by means of missionary work done by the Woodburn (Cal.) church. We were more particularly interested in his case as he came on to the ground with his own tent, with his family, as an inquirer, not being settled on the points of our faith, except the Sabbath, on which he was firmly established. We were as deeply impressed with his cautious prudence as with his earnest desire to know and obey the truth. Our opportunities with him were far more limited than we desired. He took his stand firmly with us, and with his wife united with the Salem church.

Our meeting was so late that we greatly feared that no effectual move could be made on the Sabbath for the spiritual benefit of the people. Yet there seemed to be a good feeling in the meetings in both the forenoon and afternoon. On making a call quite a number came forward. Some cases were of deep interest. Bro. King, brother-in-law to Elder Boyd, and recently from Nebraska, here made his first move in the Christian life. He was baptized; also a brother and sister from Beaverton who had kept the Sabbath for some time, but were never connected with any church. One brother whom we saw in Iowa twenty-one years ago, who had been separated from us for a long time, united with us here. Others who had been partially convinced on our faith came fully out and identified themselves with us as Seventh-day Adventists. It proved to be a time of unusual interest.

The Appeal written by Sister White to be read at the camp-meetings was received on the ground the last afternoon of the meeting. All the business had to be finished up that afternoon, which made it a busy time. We read the Appeal while a rain was pouring upon the tent. The circumstances were every way unfavorable, but it was the last opportunity; the impression made by the reading was as good as could be expected under the circumstances.

For several reasons we were not able to present nearly as much of the truths of our faith as is usually done at our camp-meetings. But most of those on the ground were believers, except on Sunday, when some four or five hundred came in, and close attention was given to the preaching. The subjects presented that day were the Second Advent near, and the Sabbath. Quite a number were present as inquirers, and we expect that farther fruit of the meeting will yet appear.

The meeting was in a grove, about two and a half miles from Salem, where they held a camp-meeting once before. It was a retired place; better suited for a work for our people than to work for those outside. Beside the large tent there were twenty-four tents pitched. Everything was neat and orderly, and a good impression was made on all who attended. Poor water was the only inconvenience—a serious one to any camp-meeting. No fear of this need be entertained for the future, as we think this mistake will never be repeated.

The business was transacted in a harmonious manner, and an excellent spirit prevailed throughout. The result of the election of officers was satisfactory. We were especially pleased to see that Bro. Boyd is finding the hearts of the people, who have the utmost confidence in his tact and ability to manage the affairs of the Conference and of the Tract and Missionary Society. He is also becoming deeply interested in his new field of labor. We consider the prospect very hopeful for the North Pacific Conference. Seldom have we seen a stronger contrast than was presented in the feelings of the brethren and sisters in this annual gathering and in that of last year. We were strongly invited to attend their next camp-meeting, which, however, we have no idea that we shall do. We heartily second the hope so strongly expressed in the Upper Columbia Conference, that Sister White may be able to visit this northern field at the time of their camp-meetings in 1883.

The Oregon and California Railroad Company kindly reduced fare and ordered all express trains to stop at the ground. All were particularly pleased with the conductors, who were obliging and gentlemanly in their deportment on all occasions.

The field is opening in the Puget Sound country, within the bounds of this Conference. By means of the circulation of our publications quite a number have embraced the faith near the Sound, and Elder Raymond will go there to organize a church, after which he will visit some other places where converts are awaiting the opportunity to unite with the church. Elder Snashall will labor near Oregon City, or near Vancouver, W. T. His mind seems impressed in favor of an opening in the locality first named. After organizing the church in East Portland, Elder Boyd was expecting to pitch the large tent in Stayton, Marion Co., the place of residence of Elder Barnes. Elder B. also holds credentials from the Conference, and will enter the work as fast as circumstances seem to demand or to justify. We shall remember the labors with the tent in Stayton with prayerful solicitude.

We have lost none of our interest in the young people in Oregon. Two hopes are prominent in our mind; One, that a T. and M. Institute will be held in Oregon, where these young people may receive class instruction in the missionary work; but it need not necessarily be confined in its benefits to the young. Another hope is that some of them will find their way to the Healdsburg Academy. And there is no time to lose. The cause demands laborers; and there are many who ought to attend this school, and become qualified to work intelligently, either as preachers or colporteurs and missionaries.

This visit, the last which we expect to make to these northern Conferences, has greatly added to our interest in these fields, and further endeared the people to us. We hope to meet them in joy when the Master comes.