California Camp-Meeting.
By Editor
The late camp-meeting held at Healdsburg was a meeting of great importance to the cause in this State, and a season of unusual interest. Perhaps we cannot appreciate all its privileges and benefits as well as those who were not so worn with labor, and did not have to work so hard during the meeting. But, notwithstanding this, we count it among the most happy experiences of our life. It was indeed good to be there. It was by far the largest meeting ever held in California by the Seventh-day Adventists. Full 600 people tented upon the ground during the entire ten days of the meeting. We expected to break up on Monday morning; but the amount of business was so large, and the interest so great, that it was voted to hold it over Monday, the 16th, and most of the people remained. We were pleased and surprised to find so large a congregation on the ground on Monday evening. More business was transacted than at any previous meeting held in this State. The work of the Conference and of the Tract and Missionary Society is enlarging. The Sabbath-school Association and the Health and Temperance Association received due attention. Special temperance meetings were held for the young. Steps were taken to put the St. Helena Health Retreat in thorough working order as a health institution. A new feature in our Conference work was the consideration of the new Healdsburg College, which received considerable attention. A visit to the new building, now in process of erection, and to the College building, was an occasion of much interest. Almost the entire encampment went over to the village, first visiting the new building which is called “the boarding house;” but this name only in part expresses its intended use. It will contain in the basement a complete kitchen, laundry, and bakery. On the first floor class rooms and a working parlor. These will afford opportunity for instruction in various kinds of work, beside that afforded by the lot of five acres, in which the house is situated. All were agreeably surprised to find the work so far progressed. The second story was inclosed, and the workmen ready to put up the third. It is constructed in a very substantial manner. All then repaired to the College, which was inspected and admired. In the “audience room” above, a dedication service was held; brief and informal, but quite interesting. As the room could not contain all the visitors, the speaking was limited to very few words; “Beulah Land” was sung, after which, prayer by the editor of the SIGNS, was offered; then, by request of Sister White, a verse of “Hold the Fort,” was sung by almost the entire congregation. When it was voted at the Sacramento camp-meeting last year, to make an effort to start a school in California, no one imagined that so much could be accomplished in one year, nor would it have been believed if it had been predicted. No other important enterprise among Seventh-day Adventists has been so rapidly forwarded to a successful standing, and with so small an outlay of means compared to results. Bro. W. C. White has spent several weeks in Healdsburg, to aid in the work. There seems to be a general feeling among our people that the shortness of time demands that the College be placed in the highest state of usefulness in the shortest possible time. All consider that it has a mission to prepare laborers for various positions in the cause of the present truth, and all seem to realize that there is no time to be lost. Had the committee appointed last year, after ascertaining what they could do, waited to be instructed and indorsed by the Conference of this fall, a full year would have been lost to this enterprise, and the opportunity to purchase on such favorable terms would have passed away. We never for a moment doubted that our people would approve the action of the committee, which they did heartily. We are not able to report the amount raised for this object, but it will soon be given. Elder Haskell had expressed, not only thanks for the confidence and kindness bestowed on him in California, but, a desire to be released from his positions in this Conference, as he could give no assurance that he would be able to spend any considerable part of his time in this State. The situation was liable to be a perplexing one. But a strong committee on nominations was appointed, of old Californians, well-tried in this work, in whose judgment all have the utmost confidence. Their nomination was ratified by the unanimous and cordial action of the Conference. Statistics show that the California Conference is truly prosperous, considering the amount of labor available. We attended the first camp-meeting held by S. D. Adventists at Wright, Mich., in 1868, and many since “from Maine to Oregon,” but never one where there appeared to be better courage and stronger hope for the prosperity of the work than this last one in Healdsburg. It will be seen by the report that but few licenses were granted. More would have been given were it not that we have such excellent facilities for education. It is a pity to have young men of some natural ability waste their time in feeble efforts, when a suitable time spent in cultivating and training their minds, might make them effective laborers. To work without education or culture on the plea that time is short, is as unwise as the calculation of the man who mowed his fields with a dull scythe because he had not time to grind it. We trust that our College will be the means of sending many efficient laborers into the field. The preaching was just what we think it ought to be at such meetings—a combination of doctrinal and practical. Indeed, all Bible doctrines are practical when viewed and treated right. The state of the cause at the present time, the progress of the political Sunday agitation, is well calculated to stir the feelings and touch the hearts of Seventh-day Adventists. We felt extremely anxious that this meeting should meet the present wants of the people, who had shown so great interest to attend it. The number in attendance was too large for profitable social meetings under the pavilion, especially where personal labor was needed for individuals. Some time was unfortunately lost by not having arrangements made for a number of meetings at the same time. When this work was organized, a marked change was at once apparent in the spiritual condition of the encampment. The Sabbath-schools on the 7th and 14th were among the very best we ever saw on a camp-ground. Over 400 persons took part, and the arrangements were so well perfected that all took their places without delay or confusion, and all worked with pleasant earnestness. To see so many people, from the little children to aged men and women, coming from various parts of the State, so readily take their places and enter upon class work, without any disorder, was a sight calculated to fill the heart with gratitude and praise. At a Sabbath-school Convention, this would be expected as a matter of course; but for such a meeting as ours, where the multitude of business rendered it impossible to make a specialty of any one thing, these were truly “model Sabbath-schools.” But our people yet need to take an advance step in this work. Many church members throughout the State, in various churches, take no part in the Sabbath-school. This should not be so. Every church member should be enrolled in the school. On the afternoon of the first Sabbath of the meeting, we spoke on the rise and early work of the message, and its progress and present state. Twenty-five years ago, we saw nothing whatever to indicate that our views of the Sunday as a question soon to take a leading position in American politics, were correct. Now the evidences are on every hand. Everything indicates that our work is nearing its close. Sister White was present at this meeting, having been assisted to a couch which was placed on the platform. Our readers have been informed of the severe sickness through which she had just passed. Her appearance, as she came upon the ground, did not give any assurance that she would be able to assist in the meeting. But at the close of the discourse above referred to, she arose and began to address the people. Her voice and appearance changed, and she spoke for some time with clearness and energy. She then invited those who wished to make a start in the service of God, and those who were far backslidden, to come forward, and a goodly number answered to the call. After prayer, they were divided into two companies, and the work with them continued in separate tents. On the second Sabbath afternoon, Sister White spoke, and renewed the call, only asking those forward who wished to make a start, or to be baptized. Over seventy came forward. The interest and the feeling was such that it was considered useless to extend the invitation beyond these classes, as it was evident that almost the entire assembly would have moved upon an invitation to indicate a desire to seek a greater nearness to God. Thirty-five were baptized on Monday morning, a few others choosing to be baptized at their places of residence. After the first attempt of Sister White to speak, as noticed above, her restoration was complete. Beside that address she spoke six times during the meeting—once more than any other person. Elders Smith and Van Horn spoke each five times; editor of the SIGNS four times; Eld. Healey, who was absent part of the time at a funeral, spoke three times, and Eld. Ballou twice. Elder Rice was not able to speak on account of a sore throat. Elder Briggs was not present. He was holding meetings in Mendocino County, and the interest was such that he did not consider it prudent to leave. Just before the meeting, while preparations were being made, there were heavy rains. We went to the grounds Thursday afternoon; the day was pleasant, and it appeared as if the rains were over. The ground was wet, and considerable work remained to be done, as the rain had hindered. But the rain came on again that evening and poured down all night. Next morning as we went around among the tents, we found everybody cheerful and hopeful; not a gloomy countenance was seen nor a murmuring word was heard. And yet again it came during the following week; nearly equal to any camp-meeting we ever had in the East, and no eastern company of campers ever took a season of rain more complacently. We think of a truth we never saw a better spirit on any camp-ground than prevailed throughout this meeting. The resolution passed concerning Sunday and politics should not be misunderstood. Our position was fully stated in a discourse on Sunday the 15th. We have not tried, and shall not try, to influence the vote of any one, or to restrain any one from voting. We only cautioned our brethren, and we repeat the caution, not to admit that the Sunday question is a political question with Seventh-day Adventists. It has been made a political question by others—let them act on it as such. For ourselves we can never be induced to defend the claims of the Sabbath of the Lord, or our right to observe it, in the field of politics. We believe it is a snare of the enemy to lead our people to throw their religion into politics, and thereby bring it down to the level of that of Sunday religionists, who appeal to politics and civil law to uphold their religion. We have never asked for a law to enforce our faith and practice; we only ask to be let alone, and to be protected in our rights when our rights are assailed, as every American citizen ought to be. We have looked forward to the time when our brethren would have to withdraw from politics. And we hardly see how they can take part in it now, closely connected as their action must be with our religion, without being inconsistent in our profession to oppose Sunday only on a religious basis, and so compromising the dignity of God’s commandment. This meeting cannot fail to have a marked influence on the cause in this State. All have had their ideas of the work enlarged, and a general feeling prevails that advanced steps must be taken, and more energetic efforts put forth, to scatter the truths of the Third Angel’s Message.