The Missionary by S. N. Haskell

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 24, 1880

The Missionary.

By S. N. Haskell

MEETINGS IN WESTERN OREGON.

WE left Milton, Monday, May 31, for Western Oregon. Thursday night sister White spoke to a crowded house at Beaverton; and in Portland, on the evening after the Sabbath, before the temperance society in the rooms of the Christian Association. On Sunday she spoke twice in the Methodist chapel.

There are about twenty keeping the Sabbath in Portland; these are scattered over the city, and owing to distracting influences in the past they have not held regular meetings. Most of them were out on Sunday evening, and were much encouraged. We have visited no place for a long time where the prospect appeared better for successful tent-meetings than in the city of Portland.

Wednesday evening, June 9, the camp-meeting commenced at Salem. It was held on Marion Square, which is in the heart of the city, situated on one of the principal thoroughfares. There was a general attendance of our brethren west of the mountains. Elders Jones and Raymond were present from Eastern Oregon. There were twenty-five tents on the ground. While there were many advantages in having the meeting in this place, there were also some disadvantages. There was not that opportunity for quiet retirement and secret devotion, that is so conducive to the spiritual interests of God’s people, at such a gathering.

There was quite an interest from those outside of our people, a goodly number attending through the day, and a large attendance each evening. Many seemed deeply interested. On Sunday the tent was crowded, both day and evening, by attentive audiences; while in the afternoon there was the most intense interest manifest to hear sister White, who spoke for two hours on the subject of Christian temperance.

On the Sabbath about seventy-five came forward for prayers, a number taking their stand for the first time to become fully identified with this people. The business meetings passed off harmoniously. The Conference was divided, Eld. Van Horn chosen president of the Conference and tract society west of the mountains, sister Van Horn secretary of the tract society, and Eld. Raymond president of the Sabbath-school and temperance associations. A strong desire was manifested on the part of some to learn more of the missionary work, and how they could best advance the Sabbath-school interests. But the meeting was so brief, holding over but one Sabbath and first-day, that it seemed impossible to do justice to all the different associations. We are thoroughly converted to the plan of holding our camp-meetings two weeks, if properly conducted, providing the brethren can remain the entire time. Our people need educating in the different branches of the work, and there is not sufficient opportunity to do this, and attend to the spiritual interest of the people, in the time ordinarily given to such meetings.

About fifty of the brethren signed the teetotal pledge, many of them becoming full members. Eld. Van Horn baptized three on Tuesday, while a number of others will be baptized at their homes. A strong desire was manifested for sister White to speak in the Methodist church on the subject of temperance; accordingly she remains another week before returning to California, and meetings are to continue in the tent to accommodate the outside interest. Our brethren left for their homes on Wednesday morning.

There was a general feeling of thankfulness on the part of our brethren toward the General Conference for the interest it had taken in furnishing them help at their camp-meetings, and a desire to profit thereby, as shown in the report of this Conference. S. N. HASKELL.