Impressions at the Camp-Meeting.
By Uriah Smith
IT is not our design to give a report of the California camp-meeting, held in Healdsburg, Oct. 5–17; others will do that. But we purpose only to give some personal thoughts and impressions connected therewith. It was to us a most pleasant occasion from beginning to end; and the privilege of attending it, was one we shall not soon nor easily forget. It was a great pleasure to form an acquaintance with so many noble representatives of the cause of present truth in California. The goodly array of tents and the large number of brethren and sisters present, gave the impression, first of all, that here was a people who had interest enough to get out to meeting, even in the face of threatening prospects of unpleasant weather. This was one good sign. And another was the cheerfulness and harmony manifested after they had come together. “Behold,” says David, “how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Enterprises of great importance and no small degree of magnitude are being entered upon in this State; yet there was the utmost unanimity of action, and apparently of feeling, in these matters, which is of itself a pledge of prosperity and success. It was good to see so many, some seventy-five, starting in the service of the Lord. And the baptismal scene, when Bro. Healey, in a stream not a great distance from the camp-ground, led down into the water thirty-five who had taken upon themselves the vows of a Christian life, was a most pleasant occasion. The singing was worthy of special mention. The songs, some of them new and excellent pieces, were well rendered; and the work was done, not mechanically, but in a manner to show that interest was felt in this exercise as a part of divine worship. The promptness with which the organist and singers were in their places to open the meeting at the call of the bell, was commendable. The Lord showed his favor by specially sustaining some of his servants during the meeting. Bro. Waggoner, though much worn, was able to speak four times, and to be intensely busy in other directions, laboring with his usual acceptance to the close of the meeting. But more particularly was this manifested in the case of Sister White, who at first was able to attend meeting only by having a couch brought into the tent to recline upon; but when, as an act of faith, she arose to address the people, she was immediately and remarkably strengthened with such an abiding blessing, that she was able to speak six times during the meeting, once more than any other speaker on the ground. We were strongly impressed with the unity of the work of the third message. It is the same everywhere. One looking in upon the large tent full of Sabbath-keepers, and noting the spirit and tone of the meeting, the Sabbath-school exercises, the bearing and feelings and testimony of the brethren and sisters, out of meeting as well as in, might easily have imagined himself in Maine, or New York, or Michigan, or Iowa. Indeed, we detected ourself a number of times calling it the Michigan Conference, instead of the California Conference, so much at home did we feel among the brethren here, and the features of the meeting in the directions named were such a complete fac-simile of those in other places. We were impressed with the financial strength of the California Conference. The Treasurer's report shows nearly eleven thousand dollars received during the past year, only a little over one hundred less than in the Michigan Conference; and yet we are informed that only about one-half of the brethren here are paying tithes, and that even some of those who have pledged, are so far forgetful of their vows, as not to pay anything. If all would come up to their duty, what might not this Conference do? Shall it not be so?