Pacific Coast Camp-Meetings.
By Editor
THERE are three camp-meetings to be held west of the Rocky Mountains early in the coming summer; one in each of the three Conferences: California, Upper Columbia, and North Pacific. We have, in the past, had to call attention to the necessity of the meetings in the two northern Conferences being appointed to suit the convenience of those who attended them from a distance, who had to attend both. And in past years our spring camp-meetings in California have been so arranged that a minister could attend them and also reach the northern meetings in good season. Now our work is enlarging, and great changes are taking place. Under the advice of the General Conference there has been a drawing together of those who labor in all parts of the Pacific Slope. The Presidents of the northern Conferences have attended important meetings in California, and it has been considered advisable to hold a council of these three Conferences this season. If size and numbers were taken into account, this council would be held in California; but, for the better accommodation of the younger Conferences, and for those who can represent the Territories, especially Idaho, it has been decided to hold it with the N. P. Conference, with the camp-meeting to be held in East Portland some time in June. That is the most central point; a general meeting there will give Oregon and Washington a much-needed opportunity to become better acquainted with the nature and spirit and wants of our work, and with the laborers outside of their immediate fields. Elder Loughborough has appointed to leave Michigan April 1 for this State. Elder Corliss is now in Oregon. Eld. W. C. White is one of the General Conference Committee. These three, and perhaps Sister White, will, Providence favoring, attend both the northern camp-meetings. The editor of the SIGNS also expects to attend the meeting in East Portland, and perhaps will attend that in Upper Columbia. As far as laborers are concerned, no former meetings on the Pacific Slope have been so well supplied as these will be. In view of this large supply of laborers the friends in the northern Conferences ought to put forth extra efforts to have a large turn-out of the churches and of others. Last year they said they could and would secure a larger attendance, and reach a multitude of people, if the supply of laborers would warrant it. This year an abundant supply of experienced laborers will be furnished, and we expect they will make most earnest efforts to get the people to attend. But our coming camp-meeting in Los Angeles will be an important one, and Elders White, Loughborough, and Sister White will attend that. To conform to other appointments of the laborers in this State that was appointed for May 15-25, as announced in our paper last week. But it was not taken into account, in fixing this appointment, that it must be held early enough to enable the ministers to reach the Upper Columbia meeting. It has been found necessary to make a change, and the Los Angeles meeting will be held May 8-18. We have received, not an appointment, but, an intimation that the meeting in Upper Columbia will be appointed to begin May 29. This will be one week too soon to suit those who must attend the Los Angeles meeting. In making their appointment we hope the friends in that Conference will consider a few points:— 1. Eld. W. C. White is the only representative of the General Conference who will attend any of these camp-meetings. That he is best acquainted with, and most deeply interested in, the business matters which will come up at these meetings, and it is quite necessary that he attend them all. 2. To do justice to the business of the northern meetings, as well as other business, those who go from this State will need some time at the office immediately before going North, and after the Los Angeles meeting. 3. That the steamers leave here every five days, so that we cannot start any day we please as we can on the railroads. 4. If the U. C. Camp-meeting begins as early as May 29, in all probability most of the laborers referred to here will fail to reach it. The meetings North should be long enough to give time for the transaction of Conference and missionary business, for Bible-readings, for the necessary preaching, and for devotional meetings. If sufficient time is taken, the business may be all so attended to that a week's time will not be needed between the meetings. The Portland meeting can be reached without the delays in changes which have been experienced in former years. We feel deeply interested in all these meetings, and our prayer is and shall be that they may be blessed and prove a blessing to the laborers, to the people, and to the cause at large.