A Beautiful Camp by William Covert

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 18, 1907

A Beautiful Camp

By William Covert

WM. COVERT

THE whole camp at our summer gatherings should be made attractive to the eye and instructive to campers and visitors.

When Balak called Balaam to curse Israel, the Lord made that which was intended to be an event of condemnation an utterance of beautiful praises. He gave to the king's hired prophet, first a vision of Israel's camp, and caused him to describe the glory of their tasteful order.

In his eulogy he said, “How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.” Num. 24: 5, 6.

Whether this well-drawn picture included in its prophetic setting the camps of Seventh-day Adventists or not, it certainly does show that a well-organized camp is approved by the Lord, and is pleasing to men. The features thus given of the camp are suggestive of order, of beauty, and of life. And why should not these features be regarded in planning and pitching the camp and in conducting our meetings?

These meetings have become mighty agencies for the proclamation of the third angel's message, and for introducing to the world the people who carry it. Thousands of persons every year attend them who do not go to our churches, and who, at present, judge of us and our work almost wholly from the impressions made upon them at those gatherings. These facts and conditions will probably continue as they now are for some time to come; therefore let us give to this branch of our work the talent and the attention that its importance demands.

The first question to settle is the location. This should be decided with reference to grounds, environment, the people, and the transportation. Select ground that is inviting in appearance, and large enough to accommodate comfortably all who attend. Of course it must be easily reached by the neighboring transportation facilities.

A grove is more beautiful than a shadeless space, but ground with beautiful trees can not always be had in close proximity to the cities. In any case, it is best to make the attendance a chief consideration. In locating get as close to the inhabitants as possible. Sanitary considerations should also be carefully investigated before a tent is pitched or a stake is driven. Those locating a camp-meeting should understand that they are acting for all who will attend, and that in a measure they thereby become responsible for the success and the results of the meeting. This matter should be taken to the Lord by those who know how to find him, and by those, too, who will be sure to get his counsels through the Holy Spirit.

Having decided upon the ground, the next thing in order is the plan of the camp. The meeting tents must be located and pitched with reference both to the congregation and to the speakers. The people desire to see the speaker and to hear what he says, and the minister wishes to speak with ease and to be understood. It is painful for an audience to sit facing a noonday summer's sun while listening to a discourse; and it is also trying on the sight and the nerves of a speaker to receive the brilliant rays of the orb of day in its meridian strength as he delivers the word of life to a listening people. These difficulties for the congregation can in a large measure be avoided by locating the speaker's stand either in the north or in the east side or end of the tent. This being done, then the speaker's stand within the tent should be provided with a wide awning of sky-blue canvas well stretched beneath the tent canopy. This awning should also extend over the platform for the choir. Tents made of colored goods give better protection from the sun's heat than do tents constructed of white goods. High tent walls afford more comfort than low ones, and their appearance is much better.

If for any reason a number of meeting tents are needed in the same camp, to avoid any possible annoyance let these be separated as far apart as the space and divisions of the ground will allow. The usual plan of the camp is to place family tents in rows, with streets between the rows. When this plan is adopted, uniformity in size and height of tents becomes a necessity, in order that the camp may present a symmetrical appearance. Well-pitched tents of uniform color, twelve by fourteen or twelve by sixteen feet, with walls five feet and standards eleven feet, and tents canopied with flies to protect from heat and from rain, make an ideal front for a camp. There will probably be at all times, tents in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and conditions used by campers at these meetings. Those planning these cotton cities should know how to give these irregularities such a harmonious blending that the display will be good, and sweet harmony in feeling be maintained. At times it may require the ability of one skilled in landscaping and possessing rare graces in Christian affability and wisdom to do these things well; yet the task is not an impossible one, and surely the end to be obtained is well worth the effort.

Before closing, it may be helpful to refer again to the beauty of the camp picture given in the scripture quoted in this article. Gardens in valleys copiously watered by mountain streams are cited as object-lessons calculated to inspire our committees with a desire for order and neatness in pitching tents for our meetings.

Superior illustrations of this thought may be seen in the many valleys bordering the little tributaries that constitute the sources of the Rhine and the Rhone in Germany and Switzerland. The soil is irrigated with the pure water that flows from the snow and the thousands of springs which come from the Alps and adjacent hills. These valleys are almost wholly devoted to vegetable and fruit gardens that rival in beauty the most lovely landscapes. The skill and the strength of the gardeners are wonderful, and they freely bestow both upon their gardens. They labor hard, working early and late to make them beautiful and productive, and their success is marvelous. They adorn with shrubs, border with walks, and embellish with flowers and trailing vines to the extent of their profession; and thus is given us models for imitation in making our camps beautiful. If we fail to equal the models, we should at least have the satisfaction of knowing that improvement has been made.