p. 512 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 32. (8/21/1884)

Earlier text: The Mouth of the Columbia River

California Camp-Meeting.

By Editor

THE time is drawing near for our annual camp-meeting. At our April meeting, Oakland was named as the most desirable place. The interest aroused by the tent-meeting now in progress, and by the missionary work in connection with it, is another argument in its favor. A very good ground has been offered us in a central location and easy of access by the street-car lines. So the meeting is appointed to be held in Oakland Sept. 18-30. This is as early as our brethren from the grain-growing districts can leave their work and is as late as is desirable in this climate.

It is not necessary to urge our brethren of experience to attend this meeting. All who have enjoyed such privileges know the importance of these annual gatherings. But to those who have not attended our yearly meetings we will say, begin early to lay your plans to attend the meeting and let no ordinary difficulty hinder you. The signs of the times, and the progress of our work show that time is short. How important that we keep our hearts alive to the work! We are a busy people; the cares of this life and the temptations of the enemy press heavily upon us. Shall we not then thankfully embrace this best opportunity of the year, to lay aside these cares and devote a little season undisturbed to the worship of God?

Many things will arise to detain us from attending such meetings. Satan will do all in his power to so shape circumstances that those who need the meeting most will be kept away. Our brethren should not be satisfied to attend the meeting alone, but let as many members of the family as possible have the benefit of the meeting. Bring neighbors and friends, and come with a heart prepared to work for the good of others.

Circumstances are very favorable to an interesting and profitable meeting. The number of laborers present will be sufficient, with the blessing of God, to carry forward the many branches of work which present themselves at our large camp-meetings. There will be an opportunity for those who wish to receive instruction in the Sabbath-school work and the duties of church officers. The canvassing and colporter work will also receive their share of attention. Preparation is being made to hold a children’s meeting nearly every day, that the little ones may be benefited by the meeting.

The friends of the cause will rejoice to know that Elder Loughborough will be with us, and that Elder Waggoner will not go East till after this meeting. We have just learned that Elder Butler is to be at the Colorado meeting, which closes Sept. 16, and we shall hope that when he is so near, and the brethren on this coast so much desire his presence and labors, he will arrange to attend our meeting.

Let the delegates to the Conference be appointed as early as possible, and do not forget to appoint persons to assist in the work of the meeting as was suggested at our April meeting. It was then unanimously voted to recommend that “as the Camp-meeting Committee are over-burdened with work, and as difficulty often arises in finding help to do necessary work, each church elect a number of brethren equal to the number of its delegates to the annual Conference, to go early to the meeting in order to prepare the ground, pitch the tents, and to assist the committee during the meeting and at its close.”

Arrangements will be made as heretofore for chartered cars to run from St. Helena, Lemoore, and other places. All who wish to buy or rent tents should apply at an early date to Eld. M. C. Israel, care Pacific Press, Oakland.

CAL. CONF. COMMITTEE.

Camp-Meetings for 1884.

MICHIGAN (Northern)	Traverse City	Aug. 27 to Sep. 9
VERMONT	Burlington	" 28 " " 9
NEVADA	Reno	" 29 " " 8
INDIANA (Southern)	Farmersburg	Sept. 2- 9
MAINE	Portland	" 4-15
COLORADO	Denver	" 10-16
OHIO	Columbus	" 11-22
MICHIGAN	Jackson	" 18-29
CALIFORNIA	Oakland	" 18-30
NEBRASKA	—	" 24-30
INDIANA	Logansport	Sept. 25 to Oct. 7
KENTUCKY	—	Oct. 9-20

GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

Everything in Its Place

By Editor

THE pastor of Trinity Baptist Church, in Oakland, W. T. Fleenor, is engaged in preaching against the Sabbath of the fourth commandment of the decalogue. That is appropriate. We should consider it sadly out of place in a minister who occupied ten consecutive “Christian Sabbaths” in preaching ten “sermons” on “Poe’s Raven,” to preach in favor of the Sabbath of the Lord. Our motto is, “Everything in its place.”

Relation of Law and Grace.

By Editor

THE report of the sermon on this subject in this paper, is published by the request of many who heard it. It was an unstudied answer to a question based on Gal. 5: 4. Of course we cannot recommend it as a systematic or well-framed argument, but as far as the positions on the Scriptures are concerned we stand by them, confident that they can be successfully defended against all the assaults of antinomianism. We regret that it occupies so much room, but we do not wish to divide it, and as it is published in the Tent Meeting Journal we cannot consistently abridge it.

Excellency of the Law.

By Editor

IN this number of the SIGNS we publish an extract from H. H. Dobney’s admirable remarks on the ten commandments. Mr. Dobney was a Baptist minister in England; a good writer, and a man of excellent spirit. He evidently knew that peace which comes from loving the law of God. Ps. 119: 165. We shall conclude this article next week.

We have before noticed Mr. Jarrell’s book entitled, “Old Testament Ethics Vindicated,” and have purposed ere this to give a brief synopsis of his argument; but “a multitude of business” has prevented. Mr. Jarrell is also a Baptist minister, and his vindication of the ten commandments as a perfect and immutable law is quite as strong in expression as that of Mr. Dobney. Though hindered we shall not forget, but will soon give some well-considered thoughts of Mr. Jarrell on this subject.

Conference Business.

By California Conference Committee

IT is very encouraging to notice the number of laborers in this Conference, and to see how rapid the increase has been during the last two years. At its annual session the Conference must settle the accounts and pay the bills of all these laborers. This will take time and money.

That the work of the Auditing Committee be not unnecessarily prolonged, we request all ministers and licentiates in the employ of the Conference to make out their reports of expenses and labor up to September 1, and to mail it immediately after that date to the Conference Secretary, Eld. E. J. Waggoner, Oakland, Cal.

That we may have means to settle all accounts, we ask our brethren to pay in all tithes due to the time of the camp-meeting and not to wait till the end of the quarter. Let the treasurers be prompt to collect what is due and bring it to the camp-meeting. CAL. CONF. COMMITTEE.

The Greely Horror.

By Editor

THIS is the popular term for the story of the disastrous expedition of the Greely party in the arctic regions. Only for one thing we should deeply regret the course of the newspapers parading before their readers the horrible details of the action of men crazed by starvation. We hope that it may be the means of arousing public feeling against the insane folly of fitting out expeditions to make discoveries which must of necessity entail untold sufferings on the explorers, and be of practical advantage to nobody. We hope this may prove to be the last of “polar expeditions.”

Healdsburg College Notes.

By Sidney Brownsberger

THE college year opened, according to announcement, Aug. 5, with a good general attendance. We are glad to see so many familiar faces among our students, and to resume the labor and pleasant associations of another college year.

The number at the Students' Home is now double that at the opening one year ago. Our family at that time numbered sixteen; it is now thirty-two. Our attendance would be much larger still were it not that the camp-meeting, to be held at Oakland, is so near at hand. We hear from many that expected to be present at the beginning who are now waiting until after that meeting. The work of preparation for that occasion demands their assistance, and to be able to leave home accompanied by their parents is a consideration that is gratifying, to say the least.

The students are cheerful and enter upon their work with earnestness. The teachers also have never been of better courage at the beginning of a year than now. They already see indications of greatly increased prosperity for the college during the coming year, and expect a special blessing of the Lord upon their labors. S. BROWNSBERGER.