California-Nevada Camp-Meeting by George B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 16, 1906

California-Nevada Camp-Meeting

By George B. Thompson

The annual camp-meeting of the California-Nevada Conference was held in the city of Oakland, Cal., July 19-29. The camp was a pleasant one at the corner of Forty-first Street and Grove Avenue. About one hundred and seventy-five tents were pitched, and probably seven hundred were encamped on the ground. A much larger number of our people than this attended the meeting, however. The members from the surrounding churches attended many of the services, and on Sabbaths the large pavilion was filled.

The annual conference not being held in connection with the meeting, the time was almost wholly given to spiritual matters. Besides the regular laborers of the conference, Elders H. W. Cottrell, S. N. Haskell, W. C. White, Mrs. E. G. White, and the writer attended the meeting from the beginning. Elders H. W. Decker and G. W. Reaser were also present for a few days. Sister White camped on the ground, and spoke a number of times with great clearness and power; and her earnest, stirring words of counsel and admonition were greatly appreciated by those who were present. The meeting was a most excellent one throughout. From the first, an earnest spirit of seeking God was present. The preaching was practical, and directed toward calling the attention of those present to the distinctive features of the message which has made us a people. Several revival services were held, and a number gave their hearts to God. Sixty-six were baptized, and a number

of others will be baptized in their home churches.

The first Sabbath of the meeting all were shocked by the news of the total destruction of the Pacific Press printing plant. But though staggered by this tremendous catastrophe, and bowed in sorrow and humiliation beneath the stroke, a courageous spirit was manifested. The situation was laid before the meeting, and considerably over nine thousand dollars was raised in cash and pledges to assist in rebuilding, as the Lord may direct. Our largest printing establishment lies in ashes, but it lives in the hearts of those who love this message, and its work will not be finished till the end. Arrangements have already been made to continue work in a limited way. This disaster's following the loss caused by the earthquake, has greatly increased the seriousness of the situation. We need to study carefully the lesson God is seeking to teach us by this catastrophe. One thing is sure: the time has fully come when we should devote our entire energy to the spread of the message, when we should do this one thing and let every worldly thing alone. Though the Press is burned, the message lives, and will triumph in this generation.

Time was taken at the meeting to study the needs of the mission fields. There is no subject of greater interest to our people than this. Following a talk on this subject, a collection was taken, and over five hundred dollars was received in cash and pledges as a First-day offering. A large number of most excellent young people attended the meeting, and the most of them are fitting themselves for work in the message. A number are in the canvassing work this summer, and many are planning to attend Healdsburg College the coming year. The indications are that the college will be full this year. Dr. L. A. Reed has been chosen as principal. He has associated with him a strong corps of earnest teachers, all of whom are planning to make the school a real training center for workers.

Time was given during the meeting to the various departments of the work. One most excellent meeting was held in the interest of religious liberty. Some papers were read on different phases of this question, and a strong effort was made in the interest of the new religious liberty organ, Liberty. As a result, nearly six hundred yearly subscriptions were obtained, including copies which will be sent to the State lawmakers. Elder J. O. Corliss, the religious liberty secretary, is doing some effective work in this line.

The special blessing of God was seen each day in this good camp-meeting, now numbered with the things of the past. There was a good attendance daily of those not of our faith; so much so, that it was deemed well to continue the meetings on the same ground for a time. Elders E. J. Hibbard and C. M. Gardner and others were left to develop the interest.

While at this meeting I had the privilege of viewing the awful ruins of the earthquake and fire in San Francisco. No pen can describe the awful desolation. It seems almost impossible to exaggerate the calamity. Picture to yourself ten square miles of ruins of the business portion of a large, populous city, and you have some faint idea of the scene. And what is seen here is but a faint picture of the ruin in which the whole world will be involved in but a short time. We should labor now as never in the past that the work may be speedily finished.

G. B. THOMPSON.