The North Pacific Biblical Institute and Camp-Meeting by John Norton Loughborough

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 16, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 27.

The North Pacific Biblical Institute and Camp-Meeting.

By John Norton Loughborough

THE Biblical Institute and camp-meeting of the North Pacific Conference were held according to previous appointment. They were seasons of great interest to those who attended. The institute might have been much more profitable to those attending if they had had more time to study the lessons. It was designed that those in attendance should only labor one or two hours a day on the camp-ground and so have abundance of time to devote to the lessons. Owing to some misunderstanding, when the time came to open the institute, but very little work had been done on the camp-ground. For this reason the time between the lessons was almost wholly spent in hard labor in getting the encampment ready for the opening of the camp-meeting and Conference. This arrangement also partially defeated one object of having the institute, which was to give ample time to prepare the business of the different associations so that it could all be dispatched without any interference with the religious meetings of the camp-meeting, and so that ministers should not be under the necessity of losing any services or be kept up nights with committee work.

Notwithstanding the difficulties above mentioned, the institute was a profitable season, and the camp-meeting and Conference passed off harmoniously. There was a larger number encamped on the ground than has ever attended any previous camp-meeting in this Conference. There were forty-eight tents, and about two hundred and twenty-five campers. The camp-meeting Sabbath-school consisted of thirty-two classes, and two hundred and fifteen scholars. The report of standing of the churches showed an increase of one-fourth in the membership of the Conference during the last year; and, notwithstanding the pressure of hard times, the tithes paid in this year amounted to $1,555.51 against $1,407 last year. Of the $5,000 fund pledged at the last year's camp-meeting, $3,461.90 has already been paid. These pledges will, undoubtedly, all be met in due time.

During the Conference, considerable was said in the interest of our educational institutions, and it was voted to raise a one thousand dollar educational fund to be deposited with the Healdsburg College, and to be loaned without interest to assist some of those who cannot pay their own way, and yet need the training at the College to fit them for more efficient labor in this cause. Such laborers, as soon as possible after engaging in labor for the Conference, are to return the money to the fund, that still others may be assisted. Pledges to the educational fund were taken on the ground, amounting to $940.25. It is not designed to limit this fund to one thousand dollars. That was supposed to be a sufficient sum for present emergencies, and that it would be augmented as the work advances and other cases arise needing such assistance. Others embracing the truth will wish a part in this fund.

Considerable attention was given to the subject of reverence and proper deportment in the house of God. While the people, on their part, heeded the instruction, the Lord granted more and more of his solemn presence. On the last Sabbath of the meeting, there was a deep feeling, and about eighty came forward for prayers. Some of these were seeking God for the first time, and others were desirous for a deeper consecration to the work. On Tuesday, twelve were baptized in the Willamette River. The morning of Wednesday, July 1, our camp-meeting closed with a praise service, in which were many heartfelt thanks to God as special mention was made by each of some particular benefit received from his hand. Our people scattered to their homes with hearts filled with new zeal to labor for God.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.