The Last Sabbath at the Camp
By W. A. S.
It was a bright, beautiful Sabbath day. The congregations seemed larger than ever, overflowing the large tent. Friday evening Elder Haskell drew lessons from the experiences of Israel, called out of Egypt and delivered by mighty power and an outstretched arm, tested and tried in the wilderness, and led at last into Canaan. Just so the advent people were called out from the world, to pass through similar experiences, and soon the faithful who endure the test are to enter the heavenly Canaan. At the early morning meeting the testimonies turned to recounting special providences of God in the experiences of workers in recent times. A spirit of joyful praise filled all hearts as tongues uttered the mercies of God. At the Sabbath-school hour, just before the offering for missions, Elder W. S. Hyatt told of the spirit of sacrifice among the native children and youth in the African missions as they devise ways of getting something to give in the Sabbath-school offerings. At the close of the school a double quartet sang an appeal from India, sent to the conference by one of our brethren there, who is shut in by affliction. For years he has rejoiced in this truth, and though suffering with the leprosy, a brighter, happier testimony than his one can rarely hear. The hymn is as follows:— (Tune, “Will You Meet Me at the Fountain?” Moody and Sankey’s Hymns, 259.) Hopeless millions here are moving
On toward the great last day,
Poor and naked, blind and wretched
Worshipers of wood and clay.
They have never heard of Jesus,
Nor of his redeeming love,
How he shed his blood to give them
Life and rest in heaven above. Come; O, come and tell these heathen
How he died for sinful men,
How he’s waiting to receive them,
How he’s coming back again! They have never heard of heaven,
Or the city over there,
With its golden streets and portals
And its walls of jasper rare;
Of the glorious, kingly mansions
That the saints will soon attain,
Where their Saviour, Christ, appeareth
Once again on earth to reign. Brethren, come and tell these millions
Who are dying every day,
Lead them to the cross of Jesus,
From their gods of wood and clay.
Come, for time is quickly fleeting,
Come along without delay;
India needs more faithful workers,
Come for Christ’s dear sake we pray. At the morning preaching service Elder Butler spoke with fervor and power on John 17:11, 20-24. The spirit of the world is strife. The great disturber of the universe is abroad stirring up trouble. But it is ours to work for union and to press together. He dwelt upon the spirit of love that should prevail, first in the family, then in the church, and then in the whole work of the message. Especially must this be seen in the remnant church, for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord brings again Zion. Illustrative texts used were Eph. 5:21-28, 1 Cor. 12:12-27, and 1 Peter 1:18-23. In view of the conflict before us, the word is, “Close the ranks.” All alienations, all resentments, all spirit of division, must be put away. The shaking time is upon us, and the only safety is in being bound up with one another and with the body in the bonds of the love of Christ. And we are to seek to help those that are out of the way, who need to be snatched from an evil course. At the close of the sermon, Sister McMillan, of the Southern field, sang a touching hymn, “I mean to be there, don’t you?” At the afternoon service Sister White spoke from 1 John 3:1-9 and 1 John 2:1, 2. The whole world is on our hands—we are to make known to it the saving grace of God. We were urged to be alert and open-eyed, with minds and hearts quickened, and characters fashioned after the divine similitude. Home religion is wanted. No middle ground is presented: it is the cross of Calvary, and we must begin to crucify self if we expect to join the heavenly family. The salvation of God is to be seen in our homes, and not an angry word heard; yet the wrongs of the children are not to be overlooked. The husband as the priest of the household, the mother as teacher of the children and queen of the home, have the sacred obligation of making the home a very house of God. He demands that they shall get the grace of God, which is beyond computation, and the power of God, which is without measure. Self-denial is to be taught, and the self-denial fund for work among the colored people in the South was urged. We are to overcome in a quiet, sober spirit. It is not to get up any excitement. While the church is to be one, it is oneness in the truth, even as Christ said in his prayer to the Father, “one in us.” Stern warnings were given against the devisings of scientific sophistry, which seeks to weave the fine fibers of error into the plan of truth. We are not to sacrifice one thread or principle of truth. Evil is to be rebuked. Failure to do so means sharing the consequences of error. But we are to hold firmly to the pillars of the faith. Sound principles must be held first in the home, then in the church, and then taken into all our missionary work. Sister White called upon all who were ready to make a determined consecration to God to rise, and the vast congregation stood in testimony of a willingness to yield all to God and to go forth to seek for souls as never before. The time has come to work in towns and villages and on every hand, we were told. The Lord is moving upon Jewish hearts, and many will join in the work. Following the sermon, a service was devoted to short testimonies on special providences in mission fields, in which the delegates from Japan, China, Africa, and South America took part. At the evening service Elder Loughborough brought out from the treasure-house of his long connection with this work many experiences and evidences of divine guidance from the earliest days of the advent movement to the present time, and dwelt upon the spirit of sacrifice which characterized those connected with the cause in the early days.