Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-26
ADyENTISTS, CONFERENCE.
A Real Feast of Tabernacles-1s0 Tents
and 700 Campers.

and 700 Campers.
| EDS. REcoRD-UNIoy Knowing that your
journal has very large circulation in the
interior of the State and elsewhere desire
| to give its many readers some idea of the
denomination of Seventh Day Adventists
and of this annual State Conference and
camp meeting, which may interest some of
them.
The camp is pitched in Oakland, occupy
ing four vacant blocks of the city between
Twenty-eighth and Thirtieth streets, near
San Pablo avenue, and is of easy access by
two lines of street cars within three blocks
on either side. The whole four blocks are
inclosed together, and each block is sur
rounded with eucalyptus trees, which are
not only ornamental, but afford shade and
break the wind. The weather, however, is
all that could be desired.
A large tent, 60 by 100 feet, is used for
preaching and other gatherings. This is
carpeted all over with burlap cloth, seated
throughout with comfortable seats,
well lighted and kept comforta-
bly, ventilated The pulpit is in
the west and the main entrance at the east
end. There is an almost continuous round
of seryices-prayer meeting at $50 A. NJ.
family prayers in the small tents at s, social
or experience meeting al 8, preaching, con-
ference or Bible reading at 1890 some
general meeting at P. NJ, missionary or
some other at 5, and preaching at $50.
There are eight prominent ministers pres
emit. II. Waggoner, editor of the Signs Of
the Times, j. n Louborough st. John, Cor
liss, Healey, Briggs, BaIlou, Jones, ard
others of lesser note and experience. To
an outsider the preaching, though novel, Is
interesting, and seems to accord with the
Bible in every particular 1t is also very
interesting to observe the large audiences OF
this Jealous people The seats are all oc-
cupied at the evening services and on Sun
days throughout the day. Besides the
regular seating capacity OF LOO great
many more are accommodated by the
campers bringing their camp chairs when
ever necessary, and rs the walls of the i'm
mense tent are raised, crowds sit around
the outside and listen to the earnest preacher
as he warns his audience of the necessity
of SO ordering their lives that it may be
well with them hereafter. The Bible is
their creed. and the Ten Commandments
are made the particular rule otlife. The min
listers teach that sin is the tranSgresSior OF
the law. " that this law is the Ten Command
ments. which say that " the seventh day
is the Sabbath The fact that they keep
the Sabbath of the Bible is the chief dis
tinguishing feature of this people, though
they are also different from most denomi-
nations of Christians in that they believe
in the soon coming of Christ the second
time to the earth to gather his faithful peo-
pie: that we are now in the last days; that
when a man dies he is dead all over his !
spirit goes back 70 God who gave it, and
if lie has lived a cody life he will come
forth at the resurrection, but If he has lived |
wickedv and disregarded Gods law, he
will be utterly destroyed, or be " as If he
had not been - that those who stand the
test of the judgment will live and reign !
with Christ on this earth after 1t shall be |
purified by fire and the curse under which |
it and the human family now rest is re-
moved.
OF course only a very limited idea can be
given of the belief and practices of people |
in newspaper article. But for apparent
carnesness and self-deniai for their religion
commend me to the Seventh-Day Advent |
lists
These people are gathered from all parts |
of the State. The meetings commenced on |
the 18th instant, and continue till the 30th. |
There are abou; thirty churches in the |
State. scattered from Siskiyou to San Diego |
with Il membership of about l, 200. The |
whole denomination numbers some 10000 |
There are Conferences IN most OF the North |
ern and several of the Southern States, as
well as several in different parts of Europe, |
and missionaries scattered throughout the |
world.
The headquarters of the work, SO to |
speak, are at Battle Creek, Michigan, where |
they have an immense tabernacle. college |
one of the largest Sanitarums in the world, |
and printing office, where every kind OF
printing is done and denominational papers !
in many languages are turned out in inn !
menSe quantities, beside books, tracts, etc !
The Pacific Press, in this city, belongs to |
the Seycnth-Day Adyentists, and is incor- |
pOratei 1t also turns out all kinds of
printing in great quantity, being one Of the |
most complete establishments on this coast /
They not only DO printing, but binding, |
stcreotyping, elcctrCtyping, etc. The Signs |
Of the Times, a weekly UNCONVENTIONAL |
paper, has an edition of some 10000. |
These are sent out to every nation under
the sun to propagate the doctrines aud
warn the world Of what is impending in
the near future.
These seem to be a trustful and happy
people. Most Of the campers do their own
cooking, but if any wish TO avoid this there
IS large tent fitted up as a restaurant,
where they can procure good meals for .
cents. There is also a provision stand,
where most kinds OF food and fruits are
sold 1t is the most complete camping
arrangement | have ever seen anywhere.
Respectfully yours W. 5.
Oakland, September 23d.