THE good camp-meeting at St. Helena is in the past. It is a common saying at such annual gatherings that each succeeding meeting is the best ever held. While these words ought always to be true of each succeeding meeting, there are those who have thought that they became sometimes an oft-repeated legend. But it was pre-eminently true that this California camp-meeting was the best ever held in the State. There were several things which unitedly made it so. 1. The camp-ground itself, furnished by the good people of St. Helena, was all that could be desired. Possessing as it did a large wood pavilion, in which the main services were held, and numerous shade trees of oak and manzanita, the warm weather was rendered much more tolerable. 2. The business was well systematized and quickly despatched. The greater part of it was well over by Wednesday. This settled many queries and conjectures, and gave more time to the spiritual interests of the meeting. 3. The financial showing was encouraging. Nearly nine thousand dollars more tithe was paid by the churches of the conference this last fiscal year than the previous, and while aggressive operations were not diminished, a debt of over eighteen thousand dollars was wiped out. The whole tithe amounted to $43,000 plus. Of course this does not include donations for tract and missionary work, local or foreign, donations for the poor, city missions, Sabbath-schools, etc. This was an encouraging beginning. 4. The people came with the earnest desire to seek God. This was manifest from the beginning to the close. 5. There was union among the ministers. Together they humbled their hearts before the great God of heaven and earth, sins were confessed, differences were put away, and together they claimed the promise of the Spirit, and thus led the people. And the Spirit was poured out; souls in the prison-house of sin were set free, sinners were converted the sick were healed, and a large measure of power and sweet communion was the result. 6. The preaching was pre-eminently evangelical and spiritual. Elder A. F. Ballenger was present with the message repeated so many centuries ago for the whole church of God, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” And many did receive it, and, as all God’s blessings must be received, by simple faith. There was hearty response to his appeals, and marked results followed. To God, in His own ways and means of working, and by whatsoever instrument He will, be all the glory. “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us,
But unto Thy name give glory,
For Thy mercy and for Thy truth’s sake.”
May the prayer of His people be that which Inspiration has taught, “Strengthen, O God, that which Thou hast wrought for us.”