BEAVERTON, AND SALEM, OREGON.
By Isaac D. Van Horn
Previous to the quarterly meeting in Beaverton we held a series of meetings in our meeting house. We enjoyed freedom in discussing the different points of our faith, and more especially those points which relate directly to salvation through Christ. The church and a few outside showed good interest in the meetings, but most of the people were too much prejudiced to receive much benefit from the word preached. The meeting resulted well, for at our quarterly meeting six joined the church, five of whom were baptized. The blessing of the Lord was returned again to hearts that had become cold and discouraged, and the whole church has been greatly revived. The church now numbers twenty-nine members, nearly all of whom are earnest workers in the vineyard. They are in harmony with every branch of the truth. The Sabbath-school department is receiving special attention. We are ready to engage in any enterprise that will advance the precious cause of Christ. We are looking forward with great interest to our camp-meeting this year, believing that we shall see good results. The second Sabbath and Sunday in April, I spent with the church in Salem. We held six meetings with them, all of which were well attended. After being absent from them for about six months we were much pleased to find them manifesting so much zeal in their meetings. The Sabbath-school of this church is growing in interest. The blessing of the Lord was with us. Two were baptized and united with the church. We enjoyed a precious season celebrating the ordinances. At one of our meetings matters pertaining to the Conference and Camp-meeting were taken up. The Brethren in Salem regretted much that it had been decided to hold our camp-meeting this year at some other point. We told them an objection to Salem was that our camp-ground was so far from the city. One brother suggested that we hold it on Marion Square in the city. I then stated that if the church would obtain the privilege of the Square that we would hold our meeting in Salem. A committee of three was appointed, and a letter I have just received informs me that they met with no opposition in obtaining the Square for our camp-meeting. So we have decided to change the place of our camp-meeting from Cornelius near Hillsboro to Salem. So the Salem church cheerfully accept the burden of our camp-meeting another year. As we see the providence of God in opening the way for our meeting to be held in so beautiful a place in the city of Salem, may we all so do our part as to favorably impress with the truth many of the people of that city.