California Camp-Meeting.
By Editor
It is only because we cannot get time to write that we do not give considerable space to our camp-meeting this week. It is not yet ended, but most of the business has been transacted, and a vast amount of instruction has been imparted to the people. The meeting is the largest ever held in California. Yesterday, Sabbath, Sept. 27, there were 862 in the Sabbath-school—more than ever before engaged in a Sabbath or Sunday-school in this State. Two tents, one 60 by 100, the other 50 by 70, were filled with the busy classes. It was a sight never to be forgotten. At first all assembled in the larger tent, literally filling it, for the opening exercises. Then a little army of the younger ones filed out in excellent order, going to the other tent for recitation. Our feelings on seeing such a large concourse of children on their way to learn the word of God, and to hear of his wonderful works and his wonderful goodness to us, we can never describe. How will their parents, and their home schools, train them to use their knowledge of the word of the Lord? Where will all these little ones be when the Lord shall appear in his glory? At our camp-meeting at San Jose, last year, a committee was appointed to revise our State Conference Constitution. To a great extent the old one had become obsolete. All our Conferences have outgrown their Constitutions. A revised one was reported, and, with some amendments, was adopted. It will be reported in the Conference proceedings next week. We confidently believe it will answer the purpose for which it is designed. The officers were elected as follows: President, S. N. Haskell; Secretary, J. D. Rice; Treasurer, Pacific Press; Executive Committee, S. N. Haskell, W. C. White, J. H. Waggoner, J. N. Loughborough, and M. C. Israel. Our field is so large, including the States of California and Nevada, that it has been found impossible for a committee of three, with some of them often absent, to do any justice to the work. We have never known more satisfaction to be expressed with an election than with this. Our "Assistant Editor" wisely refused to act longer as Secretary, as the amount of his other work would not permit. The Sabbath-school Association elected as President, C. H. Jones; Secretary, Josie L. Cochran; Executive Committee, C. H. Jones, C. C. Ramsey, and E. J. Waggoner. This is an excellent selection, all being experienced Sabbath-school workers. The "Pacific Coast Council" having recommended that Elder Jones come to California, where he could gain experience by associating with experienced workers, and that Elder Raymond go to Healdsburg College, it has been considered by this Conference that we ought to do something for the northern field in return. Elder Loughborough made it a condition of his accepting a place on our Executive Committee, that we send an efficient and experienced minister to work in the Upper Columbia Conference. To this the Conference agreed; and it was further agreed to pay the expenses of said minister during so much of the coming year as he shall be engaged in opening the work in Idaho. This was passed by a rising vote of the whole congregation, and it cannot fail to give encouragement to the U. C. Conference, which is now so destitute both of means and workers. It is also intended to send a worker to assist the North Pacific Conference, though it may not be advisable to send one for the winter or rainy season. We have greatly missed the presence and testimony of Sister White in this meeting. To compensate in part for this want, we have read portions of "Vol. IV." in the early meetings, to good effect. To-day, 28th, we expect a large attendance, and hope the Lord may give wisdom for the occasion.