California Camp-Meeting.
By Editor
LAST week we noticed some interesting points in regard to our recent camp-meeting. The weather was very fine throughout; neither hot nor cold, and but one foggy morning. But a smart rain came the afternoon of the 30th, after most of the people had left the camp. The meeting was the largest and most important ever held on this coast. About 180 tents were pitched, and well inhabited, and quite a number lived in adjacent houses. The grounds were large, allowing for wide streets and tasty arrangements for blocks of tents. The restaurant was capable of seating one hundred and eighty; it was well kept and largely patronized. It was unfortunate that the work on the ground was not completed when the time came to begin the meeting. Friday was largely employed in the work of pitching and fitting up tents, which prevented quiet and order in the camp, and the influence on the young was apparent for several days. There is much in the power of association. The first day on the ground being mostly spent by the children in running around or playing, the solemnity of the occasion seemed to be lost on them. An efficient camp-meeting committee of five was elected for next year, so we confidently trust it will not be so again. After order was fully gained, the young people's meetings were interesting and profitable. The business, of which a great deal was transacted, will be found in the reports of the secretaries. All the business meetings were well attended, which indicates a good interest in the work. This was as it always should be. The book sales were highly satisfactory, the retail sales amounting to $484.55. The entire sales were $785.00. There were sold 137 copies of "Vol. IV.," and a much larger number would no doubt have been sold had not so many ordered it in advance. "The Atonement" was received from the binders when the meeting was more than half gone; 47 copies were taken, and the valuable pamphlet, "Honor Due to God," was freely bought. Every Sabbath-keeper in the world should have this little work. The preaching was well received, and appeared to have a good effect on all classes. The committee appointed to take charge of the order of exercises appointed speakers solely with reference to the benefit of the meeting, without regard to personal feelings or preferences. And we feel assured that this was right. The importance of such an occasion cannot be overestimated, and every sermon should be the best possible to meet the wants of the people. We had so much business to attend to that we seldom heard a sermon, seldom being present except when called to speak, and we deeply regretted that we were not permitted to watch more closely the interest in these exercises. We saw a good spirit in the social meetings, but did not fully realize the depth of the feeling until toward the close. Then it was indicated by the number inquiring for light on matters of conscience, the large number coming forward for prayers, and finally by the number applying for baptism. Seven were baptized on Sunday evening, ten on Monday morning, and thirty-five on Tuesday morning. As the elder of the Healdsburg church was compelled to go home before the close of the meeting, to prepare for the opening of the school, the candidates for baptism for that church, sixteen in number, deferred their baptism till the next week, when the rite was performed at that place. Four from Mendocino County were compelled also to leave and receive baptism at their homes. Thus the whole number of candidates at this meeting was seventy-two. However, they were not all new conversions, yet largely so. Twenty-six were received into the Oakland church, the result mainly of the tent-meetings and camp-meeting. Still others are keeping the Sabbath. The San Francisco dailies, the Alta, Call, Examiner, and Post, gave quite full accounts of the camp-meeting, which helped to raise the interest taken in our encampment. It is safe to say that the influence of this meeting on the public is greater than that of any previous one held on this coast. Since its close our colporters and missionary workers find more to do than they did before. May God speed the good work until the remnant are sealed for the everlasting kingdom.