THE UPPER COLUMBIA CAMP-MEETING by John Norton Loughborough

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jun 17, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 23.

THE UPPER COLUMBIA CAMP-MEETING

By John Norton Loughborough

Was held in a cotton-wood grove, by the side of a beautiful mountain stream, one and one-fourth miles from the village of Colfax, in Washington Territory. It was not possible to find a suitable camp any nearer the village. There were fifty tents and over three hundred campers.

When our force of laborers from California reached the camp, on the 23d, the meeting had been in progress one day, and all of the various societies had held their preliminary meetings, appointing their various committees, so there was nothing to hinder our entering at once, and earnestly, upon the spiritual interests of the meeting. We found the people ready to respond to the efforts made to help them. Many expressed it that they had come to the meeting hoping to obtain help which they had not before realized. In this they were not disappointed. Nearly the whole time of the meeting was spent in the work of seeking greater consecration to the Lord. Like efforts to those put forth in the East Portland meeting produced like results; there were many new conversions, and peace and harmony pervaded the camp.

While this work was going forward, the business matters were brought in from time to time, so that all was properly attended to. There was ample opportunity around the camp, in the grove, for secret devotions, and it was not unusual in the early morning to hear the voice of prayer coming from a dozen different parts of the grove.

Though this Conference is not so great in numbers as the North Pacific Conference, yet there was a proportionate growth during the past year in numbers and financial strength. The increase in the tithe during the last year was about $1,500, being more than the entire tithe of the Conference four years ago.

The canvassing work in this Conference has been made a success, and the canvassers were full of courage, and ready to respond to the calls made for enlargement of the work. The Bible-reading work is receiving attention at Spokane and other points with favorable results.

The church school at Milton, Oregon, has prospered more the last year than any previous year, and its future prospects are very flattering. The brethren and sisters at the camp-meeting took stock in the school to the amount of about $1,600.

There had been some progress also in the Sabbath-school work; three new schools had been organized, but nothing had as yet been done to establish family schools. This will undoubtedly receive more attention the coming year. In other States there are now churches of some size which first commenced with the organization of family Sabbath-schools, then after a time others came in, and finally accepted the truth. We trust it may be so here.

At the earnest request of the Conference, it was decided to let Brother Daniels remain and hold a two weeks' revival meeting at Milton. At the same time all of the ministers and laborers were to assemble for an institute of instruction in methods of labor, and to carefully plan their work for the summer. It is expected that three tents will be used in conducting meetings in that Conference this season.

By vote of the Conference the Territory of Montana was released from the Upper Columbia Conference to the General Conference, and Brother and Sister Fero, as requested by the committee of the General Conference, will go to that field to join others in building up the work there, looking to the formation of a Conference in that Territory soon.

There were nearly one hundred baptized at the various occasions of baptism during this camp-meeting. Of these at least a score were new converts.

The weather during the entire meeting was exceptionally fine, and even until the whole camp was cleared; then a few of us that still lingered upon the camp had an experience with a storm of thunder, lightning, wind, rain, and hail, that, to say the least, tested the power of overcoats and umbrellas to resist. We found consolation, however, in the thought that it would make a pleasant journey for the retiring campers, as it laid the dust and gave them an atmosphere pure and balmy indeed.

I returned in safety to Oakland, arriving here on the morning of June 4, and look back with pleasure and thanksgiving to God upon the pleasant associations and privileges of the North Pacific and Upper Columbia camp-meetings. May the Lord bless and prosper the work in that part of his moral vineyard, is my prayer. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.