p. 20 | A Memorial Year by W. H. WILD

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Dec 15, 1910

A Memorial Year

By W. H. WILD

Forty years ago our people held their first camp-meeting at Oneida, N. Y. There were present Elder James White, Mrs. E. G. White, and Elders J. H. Waggoner, J. N. Andrews, and M. E. Cornell. At the camp-meeting, my wife, myself, and others were baptized by Elder Andrews; hence this year marks forty years of association with the remnant which “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

I had many rich experiences in those early days. Well do I remember how, with Elder Wm. J. Boynton, who is now laboring in Washington, I sought the Lord for his earnest blessing. Together we would go to a little grove at the foot of a high mountain, where no human eye could see, and no human ear could hear, and holy angels would meet with us there. With one mind we would prostrate ourselves in the presence of God, and pour forth our whole soul in praise and admiration to him who suffered so much for us.

O, that I could see a revival of that unfeigned love, that deep searching of heart, that humbleness of mind, that plainness of dress, which distinguished the advent people from the world in those days! In all our ranks you could not find one person who had been baptized, adorning himself, as many do now, with gold rings, gold chains, and Babylonish garments. No; they believed the Bible and the Testimonies, both of which forbid the wearing of such things.

At the close of the Oneida camp-meeting, while I was watching Brother White pack his books, he gave me one of the prophetic charts, also a chart of God's law, saying that I would be able to use them to good advantage. This I have endeavored to do in presenting the blessed truths ever since that time.

W. H. WILD.