The Missionary by John Norton Loughborough

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Apr 15, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 15.

The Missionary.

By John Norton Loughborough

Fresno, Cal., Camp-Meeting.

THIS meeting was held, according to appointment, from March 26 to April 6, on a beautiful site in the city of Fresno. There was a much larger attendance of our people than we anticipated; it was so early in the season we feared some might think it dangerous to camp upon the ground. Forty-four tents were erected, including the 50x70 ft. meeting pavilion. In these tents more than one hundred and fifty of our people were encamped. Besides these, a number of Sabbath-keepers who reside in town, but did not camp with us, attended the meetings, making in all about one hundred and seventy-five Sabbath-keepers who were regular attendants.

The weather was fine throughout the entire meeting, although a little cool nights. The days were warm, and as most of the campers were provided with stoves, none of them suffered much inconvenience. Our services were quite well attended by the people of the town, and produced conviction in some minds. There were held in all fifty-eight meetings, besides two sessions of the camp-meeting Sabbath-school. Of these meetings, twenty-seven were preaching services; three, social meetings; five, sessions of a Biblical Institute; four, sessions of a Sabbath-school Convention; six, meetings for youth and children; three, missionary meetings, in one of which a Rivulet Missionary Society was organized for the young people of Fresno, and one meeting in which instructions were given as to the proper method of keeping church records.

Of the discourses, five were given by Elder Butler, who arrived in time to be with us during the last five days of the meeting. Brother E. R. Jones spoke eight times; Brother Briggs, nine times, and the writer, five times. The preaching was decidedly close and practical, as well as instructive on present truth. After the close of Brother Butler’s discourse, Sabbath forenoon, April 3, he made a call for those who wished to consecrate themselves to God, or to make a start in his service, to come forward. About fifty responded to the call. After prayers had been offered, the whole camp retired to the eight tents used for morning worship, and the work of seeking God was still further advanced. On Monday forenoon, the 5th, this call was repeated, followed by a call for those who desired baptism. As the result of these efforts, seventeen, mostly the youth of our people, were baptized, and united with different churches in Fresno and Tulare Counties.

The preaching and talks of Elder Butler were timely, and were highly appreciated by our people. The two Sabbath-school sessions held were full of interest. The school March 27, consisted of 24 classes, and April 3, of 25 classes. On the first Sabbath 162 took part in the exercises, and on the second Sabbath 172 took part. The contributions were $28.81.

At the closing meeting, April 6, our people expressed themselves by a unanimous rising vote as well satisfied with the camp-meeting, and requested that another might be held for these counties, in the spring of 1887. They not only expressed gratitude in words, but they cheerfully raised the necessary means to meet all the local expenses of the meeting.

On April 6, after the camp-meeting had closed, a meeting of the Fresno church was held on the camp-ground. In this meeting a committee was chosen to solicit funds, and make arrangements to erect a house of worship in Fresno; said house to be about 32x60 ft. A good lot and about $2,500 towards the enterprise were pledged in the above meeting. It is expected that the meeting-house will soon be erected.

J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.