The Upper Columbia Institute and Camp-Meeting by John Norton Loughborough

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 25, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 25.

The Upper Columbia Institute and Camp-Meeting.

By John Norton Loughborough

It was a question of much doubt with our people in the U. C. Conference, whether, in a season of so much financial depression, a seventeen days' meeting—ten of the Biblical Institute and seven of camp-meeting—could be profitably held; whether it would not fail because of the meager number who would attend it. As to the Institute, many did not seem to comprehend its nature. They supposed it must be something to especially instruct ministers and colporters, instead of furnishing an opportunity for all to study the Scriptures. Now that these meetings are in the past, we can all look back upon them with thanks to God that they were held. The attendance at the Institute was greater at the first than he anticipated, and the number increased until it was merged into the camp-meeting proper.

Not only did the Institute furnish a rare opportunity for the study of the Bible, but, as prayer and social meetings were held each day, the religious interest was in full sway at the very opening of the camp-meeting and Conference. There was also ample time during these ten days for the preparation of all business to come before the meeting, so that there was not the slightest interference of business with other services, or even the detention of any person from any of the meetings for committee work. All accounts to be audited were so prepared and simplified that three short sessions of the auditing committee completed the work. This left not only the regular services of each day intact, but gave much time for instruction in Sabbath-school and church work, and how to do church business. It was indeed a season of instruction, in which many learned how to do the duties they were expected to perform when they should return home.

Some important changes were made in the officers of the various associations of the Conference, but all officers were elected early in the meeting so as to have ample time (which they improved) to learn how to do their respective duties.

The Spirit of the Lord was present in a marked degree from the commencement of the meeting to its close. Some testified that they had never felt more of its power than on the last Sabbath of the meeting, when over fifty came forward for prayers. Several started in that meeting to seek God for the first time. Fourteen were baptized in the Walla Walla River on Monday. Some of these were re-baptisms of those who had been baptized in other denominations, but said they now felt as if they were starting to serve the Lord anew, and they wanted to do a thorough work.

The financial condition of the Conference is much better than we feared. The treasurer remarked that notwithstanding there had been three days of real work this year to one of the year before, the Conference did not owe more than half as much at its close as last year. If all will be as persevering to pay their honest tithe as some have been, the Conference may be entirely out of debt before its next session, and also meet its running expenses. The people of God went to their homes from the meeting with good cheer, and the laborers go out into the field expecting the Lord to bless the seed sown, and that sheaves will be gathered to the garner of the Lord.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.