THE CALIFORNIA CONFERENCE AND CAMP-MEETING.
By W. T. Knox
The California State camp-meeting and Conference was held in Oakland, June 4-16, on grounds convenient to the center of the city, and was well attended by representatives from our churches, and by the citizens of Oakland, being one of the largest meetings ever held by us in this State. From the first, the interest was encouraging. Some of the fruits of the meeting were seen in the seventy or eighty candidates who presented themselves for baptism. The work of the ministry was of a character that would tend to carry forward and deepen the work begun at our last General Conference. The meeting was favored with the labors of Sister White, Elders W. C. White, J. N. Loughborough, A. T. Jones, and H. Shultz, in addition to the ministers of the Conference. In the Conference meetings much interest was manifested by the people in the questions brought before them. Among other important resolutions adopted was one to divide the Conference, creating a new Conference in southern California. This action seemed necessary on account of the great length of the State, and the growing interests in the southern portion, which demand more attention than can be given by those who have in charge the work for the entire Conference. Another important measure favorably considered was the separation of the Conference sessions from the camp-meetings. It was voted hereafter to hold the Conference about the first of the year. The various reports submitted showed that progress is being made in most departments of the work. From her abundance, California decided to send help to some of the needy fields. Elder G. A. Snyder left during the meeting for Australia. In a few days Elders Watson and Dart will start for Alaska, and Brethren Ernest and Bond will make Arizona their future field of labor. The brethren were not only generous in giving their laborers, but also in devoting a portion of their funds to sustain the work beyond their borders, and in liberally contributing to Australia, the South, to mission-fields in general, and to the Relief of the Schools fund. Three thousand eight hundred dollars in cash and pledges was given. The following officers were chosen for the coming year: President, A. T. Jones; Secretary, M. H. Brown; Tract and Missionary Secretary, W. B. Sample; Corresponding Secretary, Evelyn Riley; Treasurer, Pacific Press. Executive Committee: A. T. Jones, M. H. Brown, J. O. Corliss, M. C. Wilcox, W. C. White, C. N. Martin, H. G. Thurston, M. E. Cady, I. H. Evans. The last Sabbath afternoon of the meeting the following brethren were ordained to the gospel ministry: T. H. Watson, Alvin Kellogg, A. M. Dart, A. Brorson, G. Raudeler, and W. S. Sadler. The Conference was followed by a profitable workers’ meeting, lasting a week. The workers all went to their fields of labor with courage and the expectation of a prosperous year. At the recent camp-meeting the interests of the canvassing work were looked after by Brother C. A. Pedicord; of the young people’s meetings by T. S. Whitelock, M. D.; of the intermediate division by Misses Jessie and Marie Barber; of the primary division by Mrs. Runnels and Mrs. Thorn; of the kindergarten by Katherine B. Hale.