The Camp-meeting at St. Helena.
—It opened better than the one of last year left off. This was a reason of great encouragement. Of course there were the few who murmured at little things, but they were the few. The first meetings were meetings of rejoicing. The first service was dedicatory of the grounds. Elder Breed, the superintendent of this General Conference district, gave a cheering report of what God is doing elsewhere, which made others long for greater blessings. The next sermon was based on Hosea 10: 12, the burden of which was breaking up the fallow ground and sowing to righteousness. The first two evening sermons were on the eternal reward of the people of God, and the time when they enter upon that reward, by Brethren E. E. Andross and G. A. Snyder. The first Sabbath sermon was by Brother Ballenger, on the necessity of the right kind of faith, which shouted its triumph on the hither side of victory, which grasped victory by faith in the promise of God before the victory could be seen, instead of waiting for the other side before victory is celebrated. Many by faith gave themselves anew to the service of God, and the shout of victory was in the camp. This was followed by a discourse on Rom. 12: 1, by Elder J. W. Bagby, a most excellent talk on consecration. The day’s service closed with a social and praise meeting. The first meeting of the conference brought out the interesting and encouraging fact that the conference debt of about $19,000 of last year had been liquidated, and the conference was clear of debt. Thus far for the progress of this meeting at the present-writing, June 4. The Spirit of God is present in abundant power, and greater blessings are expected.