Southern California Items
By G. W. REASER
ON the two Sabbaths preceding our camp-meeting, fifteen persons were baptized in the Los Angeles church. These were persons not heretofore reported, who became obedient to the faith as a result of the last tent-meetings held in Los Angeles. It was estimated that fully one thousand of our people attended our recent camp-meeting in Los Angeles. It was the universal testimony of all present that they had never attended a better meeting. On the first Sabbath of the camp-meeting, after a sermon on vital godliness, by Elder J. O. Corliss, nearly half the congregation came forward for the purpose of reconsecrating their lives to the service of God. On the last Sabbath of this spiritual feast, when opportunity was extended to those who had never before started in the Christian life, to accept salvation, nearly one hundred responded to the call. Of this number twenty-two were baptized the following day, and others were referred to various churches in our conference for baptism and membership. During the camp-meeting a medical missionary department of our conference was created, and an advisory committee of seven persons elected. Two new corporations have recently been formed in our conference for the control and management of our two medical institutions. Each of these corporations bears the name of the institution which it was created to control. The names are “Glendale Sanitarium” and “Loma Linda Sanitarium.” During the camp-meeting about $3,800 was assured in donations, pledges, and loans for Loma Linda Sanitarium; nearly $2,000 for Fernando College, and $450 for camp-meeting expenses. This liberality on the part of a willing membership, few of whom are well off in this world’s goods, ought to stimulate confidence in our own conference, and perhaps inspire other conferences to raise funds to liquidate all indebtedness. The Ontario church, with thirty-two members, was admitted to our conference during the camp-meeting. Two other churches await organization. Brother E. H. Adams was ordained to the gospel ministry at the last meeting of our camp-meeting. This is the fourth son of Elder J. W. Adams who has been thus set apart. After a brief talk on the needs of Africa, during Sabbath-school the first Sabbath on the camp-ground, three of our brethren promised to support four native missionaries for at least one year in that field. Elder S. T. Hare will join Elder E. H. Adams in the tent-meetings at Chino, Cal., where a good interest is reported. Elder Healey will soon make a tour among about half the churches in the Southern California Conference. Sister E. G. White is taking a needed rest at Loma Linda. She worked with much earnestness for our people in several public meetings on the camp-ground. A church-school teachers’ institute has just been held at Fernando, Cal. The attendance was good, and the interest excellent. On Sabbath, August 26, five more converts were baptized in the Los Angeles church.