The Missionary by John Norton Loughborough

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 31, 1888

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 14, No. 34.

The Missionary.

By John Norton Loughborough

HUMBOLDT COUNTY CAMP-MEETING.

THIS meeting was held, as previously appointed, at Rohnerville, from August 8 to 15. The site used for the meeting was a portion of the fair grounds. Here we had the free use of sheds for horses, water, etc., which was highly appreciated by the campers.

As the result of the tent-meetings held in the place the past summer, and meetings held by Brother Hollister, six miles up Eel River, a number had already commenced to keep the Sabbath. These, with other interested parties, greatly enjoyed the camp-meeting. It also tended to confirm them in the faith.

The attendance of our people from other parts of the county was about the same as last year. There were twenty-one tents in the camp, and on the Sabbath there were seventy-two who took part in the Sabbath-school exercises. The class contributions, for the London Mission, amounted to $36.30. Last year the contributions amounted to $33.15, which went to the African Mission.

Aside from those who had been laboring in the county, the ministerial help at this meeting consisted of Brethren J. H. Cook, Wm. Ings, J. F. Hanson, N. C. McClure and wife, and the writer. The discourses were of a practical character, relating largely to the unity, simplicity, and consecration which should characterize the lives of the people of God. Harmony and peace pervaded the grounds from first to last. As the people of God sought to press together the angels of God drew near.

Brother and Sister McClure conducted a meeting each day for the children, and their testimony is that they never before conducted a meeting of that character so free from inattention as these. It seemed that every child was eager to grasp the instruction given, and in fact all wished to obey the Lord.

The early morning prayer-meetings, the eight o'clock meetings in the tents, and in fact all the devotional exercises, were marked with earnestness on the part of the people, and the rich blessing of the Lord came in response to the same. There have been some elements of confusion among our people in the county. This has tended to dishearten the workers, but as the active ones press together, the disaffected ones will either rally and reform or else will grow colder and colder. The mind of those assembled in the camp is well expressed by the psalmist, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

One new feature, to us, in this camp-meeting, was lessons of instruction to those who wished to labor for their friends upon the grounds. These instructions were given by Brother Cook. During the meeting there were four persons baptized by Brother McClure. One of these was a deaf mute, who has embraced the truth at Eureka, and goes to reside in Santa Barbara County. Another was an old gentleman who attended a tent-meeting that Brother Bourdeau and the writer held in Healdsburg in 1869. After pondering over these things so many long years, himself, wife, and daughter have taken their stand to obey the Lord, in keeping all of his commandments.

As our camp-meeting broke up, on the morning of the 15th, our people returned to their homes with renewed courage and faith to toil on in the heavenly way. Brethren Lamb and Hollister will follow up the interest that has been awakened above Rohnerville, on Eel River, and Brother Hanson will spend two weeks among the Scandinavians in the county.

Our people say in all respects it was the best camp-meeting they have ever had in the county. When the question was raised whether they wanted another meeting in the county next year, the unanimous testimony was, "It is indispensable. We cannot get along without a camp-meeting." May the Lord bless that dear people in Humboldt County is our earnest prayer.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.