The California Camp Meeting.
By Cal. Conf. Committee
The time of our Camp Meeting, October 1-12, 1874, is rapidly approaching, and as it approaches we hope all our brethren and sisters in this State are deciding that they will come to the meeting without fail. The old saying, "Where there is a will there is a way," is a very true saying. Decide to come to the camp meeting, every one of you, and to stay to its close, and make all your plans bend to it, and you will come. While our ministers have been devoting their time to new fields you have had but little opportunity to hear preaching. Now you can have a good opportunity, as upwards of thirty discourses will be given during the meeting on important points of our faith, and on close, searching, practical subjects. Besides this there will be scores of good social and prayer meetings, in which the older ones in the faith may speak words of cheer to those newly coming to the truth, and the warm zeal of those who have lately come out will gladden you, who, while deprived of preaching, have contributed of your substance to push on the truth that these might obtain the light. Camp meetings, in which our people from all parts can assemble together, form acquaintance with, and speak words of cheer to, each other, are indispensible. Such meetings tend to form a strong bond of union, and give strength and permanence to our work. Wordly men, "wiser in their generation than the children of light," have their mass meetings, where, for a time, every other consideration is laid aside but the all absorbing topic of politics, or whatever it may be. Every effort is put forth by them to secure the attendance of any and every one whom they have reason to think might be roused to interest. Shall we not take note, and learn by these things, and rally all our forces, and bring together all whom we hope to benefit by the meeting? Anciently God's people were told, "Three times a year shall all your males appear before the Lord." They were not to appear "empty." They were to come with their "free will," and "thank offerings" to God's cause, to "rejoice before the Lord," and consecrate themselves anew to him. If they could thus meet three times a year from all parts of Canaan, surely we, down here so near the close of time, can spend twelve days, dwelling in tents, rejoicing in God's goodness, consecrating ourselves with our thank offerings and vows to God, devising plans to extend the last saving truth, thus securing the salvation of our fellow men, and stars in our own crowns of rejoicing. As you come to the meeting bring along your friends, any whom you think may be benefited or led to the Lord and his truth. A number of such attended last year and embraced the truth. Let each brother and sister who reads this try to get one or more to the meeting. You know not what the result may be. We received a letter some ten days since from a brother, asking the privilege of putting up a board tent on the camp ground, as he wanted to bring some of his friends to the meeting who had been reading and were interested, and his last year's cloth tent was not large enough. Good! We answered, "Certainly, and God bless you in looking out for others." Stretch your borders brethren, bring your friends to this our "yearly feast of tabernacles." We design to unite our two large tents for a meeting room 60x120 which will also furnish lodging room for hundreds of men who may bring their blankets, and the smaller tents can be given up, if necessary, to females. Call on your friends to come. They can bring blankets and bed ticks in their trunks as baggage. We will furnish those who cannot get tents a place to camp. Still, let all our people, who can possibly do so, bring tents, and add to our city. Provisions can be bought on the grounds cheap. Urge your friends to come. Responsibility, which you cannot lightly regard, rests upon you to use your talent of influence in bringing others to the truth. "Do with thy might what thy hands find to do." We expect new gifts from the East to aid us in our meeting, and the old hands will try to seek the Lord for his blessing that we may all act well and earnestly our part in the work. Come on friends, don't let trifles turn you away from the meeting. It is the most important one ever held upon the coast. Will you share its benefits? Come! Come!! In the name of the Lord we say, come to the Camp Meeting.