"ARE you going to the California Camp Meeting?" This is the question that is now being passed around in this State. While most are answering, "Yes, if the Lord will," some few, who need the benefit and encouragement to be derived from just such a meeting, are saying, "I don't see how I can go, my business is such this year, I don't see how I can leave home." My brother or sister, whoever are making such excuses, just listen to a kindly admonition. Don't let the devil lay a snare for your feet, by causing you to lay plans for temporal interests that directly conflict with your spiritual interests.
It is said of Luther, that on days when cares and business pressed him heavily he would say, "I have so much business to-day, I shall have to spend two or three hours praying." Most professors, in these times, under such circumstances, would say, "Oh, I am so busy, and have so much to attend to to-day, I shall not have time for prayers this morning." So we say of the Camp Meeting. Are you, my brother, pressed with cares more than usual this year, you need the Camp Meeting, and must have it, or be wounded by over much care.
Don't listen to Satan's suggestions, "Oh, you can't go this year, you must do just so much towards getting out of debt this year, wait, and go to the Camp Meeting next year." How do you know that you will live to see the next year's Camp Meeting? Remember our Saviour's admonition, "Seek first the kingdom of God," and decide at once to come to the Camp Meeting, to obtain just those spiritual blessings you need to refresh your mind from the pressure of those carking cares.
With the rest of body and refreshment of mind you may there receive, you will have clearer heads and stronger hands to prosecute your lawful duties of life after you return to your homes. Don't make excuses, but come and share the benefits of this Camp Meeting.
Probation's hours are fast winding up. The last saving truth for perishing mortals is being proclaimed. We each have an influence to exert, a part to act, a place to fill. The world takes too much of our thoughts, our time, our attention, and our affections. Break away from it. Come to the meeting, asking God to wake you up as never before to a sense of the times we are in, and the solemn, short work that is to be done here, and to a sense of the fearful responsibility that rests upon us individually to act our part in the work faithfully and well.
To this Camp Meeting we assemble, not simply to go through its forms, but to dedicate ourselves and our all to God as never before. My brother, my sister, begin the work of consecration and preparation for the meeting now. Don't think you have got to do just so much manual labor any way before you can go to the Camp Meeting, and so rush on covering yourself up with cares, exhausting your physical and mental energies, and neglecting a preparation of mind.
Instead of doing every thing you can before Camp Meeting, put off all that can reasonably be put off till after Camp Meeting; at least sufficiently so as to take time each day for calm reflection, and prayerful seeking of God. Seek him earnestly, not as a mere form, but chasten your own hearts before him till you realize for yourself that God hears you pray, and that he will come with you to the meeting.
If we have a good Camp Meeting this year it must be the presence and power of God that will make it so. We came together last year, disappointed in relation to the ministerial help we expected. Two feeble mortal men as ministers, did not make that Camp Meeting, but when we as a people aroused to a sense of our needs, sought mightily to God for help, he was pleased to meet with us to that extent that many who came to the ground with an opposing spirit were obliged to say, "God is with you of a truth."
Begin now to seek God. Open the door of your hearts. Let the Saviour in. Be sure you enjoy his presence before you start for the meeting. Come, praying as you come. Don't come with any spirit of lightness on you to this solemn meeting. It is an important time for the cause of God in this State. May the deliberations and decisions of the meeting be right.
Let us meet, individually, with the solemn inquiry in our hearts, "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" How can I so devote my talents of influence, ability, strength, or means that this solemn truth of God can be advanced? Leave your farms, your stock, your merchandise, your grain, your cares, at home, and let the all-absorbing theme on the Camp Ground be, God's cause, and its advancement. We may say (and I feel as I write), as was said anciently, "If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us?" Ex. 33: 15, 16. Let us seek God earnestly, and when we shall assemble in his name we shall feel indeed that God cometh into the camp.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Pres. Cal. State Conference.
THIS WEEK'S PAPER.
By Editor
AGAIN we go to press in the absence of the Editor. Owing to a press of matter coming in at a late date, which seemed necessary should appear in this number, several valuable articles we were obliged to lay over till next number. We have also been obliged to shorten up a number of the continued articles.
The plan of devoting the first one or two pages of the paper to the exposition of some fundamental point of our faith, which we wish to bring before a world who do not believe as we do, is one which all can appreciate. In the form of a tract many would doubtless read it; but appearing in the first pages of a periodical, the balance of which is filled with matter of the most lively interest to all Christians, but few will pass it by without a reading.
Hence we say, place a copy of the paper in the hands of every candid person that you think would read it. You cannot tell what the result may be. Only yesterday we heard of a brother in this State who understood the benefit to be derived from reading, and whenever he had an opportunity would place a tract in the hand of a friend with the request that he would read it. What was the result? When Eld. Loughborough came through that section there were five souls requested baptism who had embraced the truth without hearing a sermon. But that is not all. Bro. Young received some tracts at the hand of this brother and was convinced of the truth. Well, he has been at work scattering the tracts; and now he writes to Eld. Loughborough stating that five have embraced the truth through reading tracts that he has given them, and asks advice about starting a Bible class. And thus the work is going on, and these are the reports we are receiving from all over the land.
Cheering reports are coming in of the advancement of the cause from all quarters. The report of the Michigan camp meeting is truly encouraging; as also the reports from Elds. Loughborough, Canright and Van Horn. Since these reports have been received we have received later word by letter from quite a number. We have the report of good camp meetings in the Eastern States.
Eld. Cornell is now in Guenoc, Lake county Cal. It is a place of but nine houses. Taking a circle of four miles in each direction there are but forty families, yet from the first his audience has averaged seventy-five.
He went at the request of the only Sabbath keeper in the vicinity. Five more had been reading our publications, and as soon as they understood the nature of the lectures that were to be given and had conversed with Bro. Cornell, they took their stand and kept their first Sabbath.
Eld. Van Horn writes Sept. 3: Our tent has now been pitched two weeks in Weston, Umatilla Co., Oregon. The interest is good and the attendance good for so small a place. We hope for good results.
Bro. Loughborough reports: I have closed the tent meeting at Vallejo. Organized s. b. for the little company there amounting to $153.50 per year. A delegate was chosen to represent their company in our Conference, and a resolution passed by them requesting the watch-care of the Cal. Conference.
In the item "To our Patrons," the removal of the SIGNS to Michigan is hinted at. It rests wholly with the friends on this coast to say whether it shall remain here, or be taken east. Perhaps all do not realize just how the matter stands. The eastern friends offer to purchase a site, build an office building, and stock it complete, all ready for operations. What is expected of the friends on this coast is that they support the SIGNS, and meet the current expenses of its publication. Here is a golden opportunity. The east is looking on with intense interest to the work that is going on on the Pacific coast. Not only does their interest express itself in words, but it puts their hands into their pockets, and they do not come out empty. Now the only question is, will we support the paper if it is established on the Pacific? Here the matter stands. Eld. Loughborough's article in last paper was to ascertain what would be done on this coast. The matter will be left open until after camp meeting. If between this time and the close of the camp meeting the matter is taken up in such a manner as to show that the Pacific coast will support the SIGNS, it will become a fixture on this coast. Otherwise it will be removed east immediately after the camp meeting.
California Camp Meeting.
By J. N. Loughborough
THIS Camp Meeting will be held at Yount-ville, Napa Co., Cal., on the Napa and Calistoga R. R., on the same grounds as last year. The meeting is to commence October first, at 2 P. M., and continue to the morning of the twelfth of October. Yountville is the name of the R. R. station, and is midway between Napa and St. Helena, being nine miles from each. The ground on which the meeting is to be held is through the fields, one mile directly east of the R. R. station. There will be a sign erected at the entrance to the grounds, so that all may know where to turn in.
It is desired that each church send their tents and straw ticks to the camp ground as early as Tuesday evening, September 29th, accompanied by two or more able bodied men to labor on the 30th in pitching tents, filling ticks, seating the grounds, &c.
It is desired that the campers, as far as possible, arrive on the grounds by the evening of September 30th, so that all may be in readiness to commence the meeting without confusion on October 1st, at the appointed hour.
We will have teams meet the trains each way to convey passengers and baggage from the depot to the Camp Ground free of charge, from September 29th to the evening of October 2nd. After that we will furnish conveyance free for those who inform us, or their friends, that they are coming, and our free teams they will know only by our drivers calling their names, as hacks will be run after October 2nd by parties charging for the conveyance of the crowd.
A daily mail in connection with the arrival and departure of the United States mail at Yountville, will be established to and from the Camp Ground. All letters designed for those camping on the ground, to ensure insertion in our mail bag, should be marked, Yountville, Napa Co., Cal., Camp Ground.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Pres. Cal. State Conference.
Preparing for the Camp Meeting
By John Norton Loughborough
Notice.—Please read again carefully the statement made in SIGNS No. 6, relative to the campmeeting, the Conference, and the yearly Missionary meeting. Let each church, each church officer, each librarian and business agent of the Missionary Society, and each individual, see that suggestions there made are carried out in preparing for, and coming to, the camp meeting.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Pres. Cal. State Conference.
Camp Ground Preparations and Arrival
By John Norton Loughborough
Note.—I pitch my tent on the Camp Ground Sept. 21st. The 22nd we commence the work of cleaning up the grounds. Let such as can help us on that day be on hand. As before stated, we wish all the tents upon the ground the evening of Sept. 29th, and a good force of men with them to pitch tents, fill ticks, seat the grounds, &c., on the 30th. Again we say, let all the campers, as far as possible, arrive on the grounds the evening of Sept. 30th, so that we may all be in readiness to commence our meeting at the hour appointed, 2 P. M. Oct. 1st. Remember we have a daily mail to and from the camp ground, and that all letters designed for those camping on the grounds should be addressed Yountville, Napa Co., Cal., Camp Ground.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Pres. Cal. State Conference.
Camp Meeting Travel and Correspondence
NOTE.—I made personal application to the General Passenger and Ticket Agent of the C. P. R. R. for half fare for people to Camp Meeting, but was informed at once by a printed circular that they give no half fare this year to any one. J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
NOTE.—All persons writing letters designed to reach me from Sept 20th to Oct. 12th please direct to Yountville, Napa Co., Cal. (Camp Ground). J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
To our Patrons.
By Editor
The Signs of the Times is designed for a weekly paper. It will probably be issued weekly soon after the California camp meeting, Oct. 1-12, at which time it will be decided whether it shall be published in California or in Michigan. In either case, those who have paid for one year will receive fifty-two numbers.
Quarterly Meetings.
For the next six months we appoint for the Quarterly Meetings as follows :-
Napa, September 19, 20.
Saint Helena, October 17, 18.
Bloomfield, October 24, 25.
Woodland, October 24, 25.
San Jose, November 14, 15.
Healdsburg, November 21, 22.
San Francisco, December 12, 13.
Petaluma, December 19, 20.
Green Valley, Sonoma Co., Jan. 16, 17, 1875.
CAL. CONF. COMMITTEE.
California Conference.
The third Annual Session of the California State Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, will be held in connection with the Camp Meeting, at Yountville, from Oct. 1st to 12th. The time of the first business session will be announced by the President, from the stand.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, JOHN JUDSON, J. W. BOND. } Cal. Conf. Com.
Cal. State Missionary Society.
The California State Missionary Society will hold its fourth Annual Session at Yountville, Cal., in connection with the Camp Meeting, from Oct. 1st. to 12th. The time of the first business session will be announced by the President, Eld. J. N. Loughborough, after Camp Meeting is opened.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH, JOHN JUDSON, E. A. STOCKTON. } Executive Com. of Cal. State Missionary Society.
How to Send Subscribers.
By Editor
NOTWITHSTANDING what has been stated so many times in the SIGNS about getting the consent of the parties before ordering the paper, we frequently receive orders in which no mention is made of the matter. Previously we have sent back numbers pre-paying postage. But we have expended in this way as much as $15 in postage. Can do so no more. Such letters which do not carry out the requirements in No. 6 of SIGNS, will be returned, with a slip referring them to what is said in the paper.
We request that each person, no matter how much business he may have previously done for the SIGNS, state with each and every order for the SIGNS that the persons named have themselves consented to receive the paper.
The following is a model order for the SIGNS. We would advise all who can to follow this example :—
Editor Signs of the Times:—We have received the promise of each of the following persons to receive, read, and pay the postage on the SIGNS. (Then follows six names, the letter closing with) Inclosed please find five dollars as a donation to the SIGNS. MRS. ELIZA BLISS.
Books
HAVE received a bill of books from the S. D. A. Publishing Association at Michigan, amounting to nearly $800 at retail prices. Received word yesterday that they have reached San Francisco. Shall have a general assortment on the Camp Ground.
One Hundred Dollars Each.
By Editor
It has been proposed to raise $20,000 to establish the press on the Pacific coast, in sums of $100 each. Smaller sums donated to the Pacific Mission can be used in the publication of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES, provided that two hundred persons will respond to this call.
John Morrison, $100; T M Chapman, $100; John Judson, 100; George Drew, pd, 100; J N Loughborough, pd, 100; Jochim Pulse, 100; James White, pd, 100; R Stickney, pd $40, 100; N S Raymond, 100; A C Woodbury, pd, $25, 100; E H Root, pd, 100; P W Baker, pd, 100; Brother L—e, pd, 100; L McCoy, pd, 100; Benj. N Berry, pd, 100; J S Hart, pd, $50, 100; R M Pierce, pd, 100; R A Hart, pd, $50, 100; J Shiverly, pd, $20, 100; Mary Hare, 100; W E Newcomb, 100; Wm Harper, pd, 100; Noah Hodges, 100; W. O. Dungan, 100; Thos Bickle, pd, 100; Ivory Colcord, 100; Amy Dartt, pd, 100; P. S. Marshall, pd, 100; John H. Bennett, 100; Wm. Harmon, 100; J. W. Bond, 100.
Donations for the Signs.
$2.00 EACH. J. H. Washburn, George Savage, Daniel Ruan, John M. Downs, J. W. Sheets, Mrs. H. M. Marshall, Ida L. Tyler, W. Raup, John Ewing, S. R. Maxon, Dora F. Rowe, O. F. Guilford, Mrs. Dunavant, Jos. B. Palmer, Horace Schram, C. H. Bailey, Mrs. W. H. Smith, Amy E. Dartt, Mrs. Lydia Mix, P. S. Craig, Ada Jones, Suphos Peterson, Mrs. S. L. Harnden, Louis Dysert (for Wm. J. Stone and J. W. Rondermel), Sally Duntem, E. S. Griggs, W. Hastings (for T. J Irish), Frederick Kittle, (for Lewis Brush), J. S. Wicks, R. J. Foster, J. Byington, (for L. L. Byington), Mrs. Harriet Stanley, L. B. Church.
$1.00 EACH. Mrs. H. W. Smith (for Alvira Drew), A. P. Conyne, Wm. Falkner, P. D. Lawrence, Burly McLean, James G. Robinson, Samuel Fisher, G. L. Sever, Mrs. J. C. Jones, M. M. Russell, Catherine Tosh, Mrs. H. H. Tawny (for Mrs. Ann Ely).
MISCELLANEOUS. C. Allen $5, Mary E. Dibble 50 cts., C. T. Bracketts 50 cts., H. A. Gasten 50 cts., E. Tallman 50 cts., W. O. Swimerton 50 cts., E. U. French 50 cts. T. S. Waters $5, E. E. Fitz 50 cts., Mrs. Eliza Bliss $5.