I HAVE already received several letters of inquiry relative to camp meeting this year, and regarding camping tents. I have waited before making any statements concerning the camp meeting until I had something definite to state. I do not need to argue concerning the benefits of a well conducted camp meeting, or to urge the necessity of camp meetings in this State. We have tried camp meetings two years, and know their benefits. We need a good rousing camp meeting this fall. Such a meeting should be held in a good central place, and should continue some twelve days. The meeting ought to be held at such a time as not to interfere with the summer's tent campaign, so that we can have both our large tents on the ground, and have all our preaching talent in the State at the meeting. This is what we ought to have.
Now I will speak of what we can have, if the Lord will. 1. I have engaged the camp ground we occupied last year; so we can have that. 2. We can hold a camp meeting from October 15th to 27th, and have both large tents; have moon-light nights for the meeting; have all our ministers present, as also the presence of Brother and sister White, as she expects to return before that time from the Eastern camp meetings. 3. We can have the same brother furnish hay who furnished it last year. 4. New tents of heavy drilling 10x12, 3 feet walls, 9 feet ridge, made by hand, instead of by machinery, can be furnished, on the ground, ready to occupy, for $18.00 each. 5. Sheet-iron camping stoves, round, 18 inches high, 16 inches in diameter, with either a six or seven inch griddle hole, with cover, with damper, and with one length of pipe, can be furnished on the ground for $2.00 each. 6. By commencing now to make our preparations, temporal and spiritual, to meet in the name of the Lord, we can have a camp meeting as much in advance of last year, as that meeting was in advance of previous ones. It is not simply the getting together that will make the meeting, but the manner in which we meet, and the promptness with which we each act our part. We promise you on our part, that, by the help of our brethren, the grounds shall be in ample order in good season. Anything like ivy or poison oak, that troubled some last year, shall all be cleared up and destroyed, at least two weeks before the meeting. We shall clear ample grounds in time, if we can know in season how many tents are coming. What we cleared last year is in quite good shape still.
Now what we want to know, is 1. How does the time proposed meet the minds of the brethren and sisters? 2. Is the place of the meeting satisfactory? 3. Who want tents? Who want camp-stoves? Let orders come it, as tents and stoves will be made only as ordered. Write me immediately, any and all of you, on the subject. Direct your letters to J. N. Loughborough, St. Helena, Napa co., California.
For the benefit of those who do not know the location of the camp grounds, I would say it is near Yountville station, on the Napa Valley road, nine miles from Napa, and nine miles from St. Helena.