The Portland daily press., 1886-09-02
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIsTs.
opening of the Meetings at the Camp
Ground In Deering.
DEER1NG, Aug, 81, 1886.

DEERING, Aug, 81, 1886.
This morning the camp ground preSehteu
n confused appearance, for express Teams
from tbe early trains had deposited TRUNKS
tonts and household furniture in various
n1aces and men, women and children were
running TO and fro, seeking permanent
nlace of abode. The newcomers, however,
nroved to be active workers, and the cotton
village rapidly increased its borders
The ladies have manifested mueh 'as'o ~
| decorating the speakers stand IN the larse'
pavilion where public services VIII DC nei0'.
! The woods have yielded their treasure VI
ferns. mosses, evergreens ana VINES anu
skillful hands have arranged lestoons Vi
green earlands of flowers, ana o6ner uecoia-
tions making the interior OF the canvas
church very pleasing to the eye. Inc WORD
ssWelcome'' over the entrance gives the pub
lie an invitation to visit the place
A large arch over the entrance to the
Grounds attracts considerable attention. lit
is covered with evergreen, and bears the
words IS. d. A. Camp Ground" The let
ters ON the arch are made of white eyerlast-
inc flowers. The conductors ION the horse
cars are often requested by passengers to in
terpret the mystic letters, S. d. A., and the
following exclamation is often heard. ''Sev-
enth Day Adventistsl o, yes, the people
who keep Saturday for Sunday?
A tent has been pitched, in which special
meetings will be held for the benefit OF
young people.
No arrangements have been made for
boarding tent, but the grocer and baker will
visit the ground every morning and evening,
and supply the wants of those encamped.
The rain in the afternoon tended to damp
en- the enthusiasm of the people somewhat,
but not enough to step operations entirely,
for work could still be done beneath the
canvas, and the ladies kept bravely on pre-
pairing decorations and attending to house
hold duties, while the men laid plans and ar
ranged matters in general.
In the evening the hearts Of the campers
were made glad by the arrival of Elder
George |. Butler from Michigan, president
of the S. d. A. General Conference.
As the shades of night drew on it was
manifest that many families were with
out shelter, as the rain had prevented the
erection of tents by those who came on the
afternoon train, but the hospitality Of the
people was at once made apparent and homes
were freely offered the homeless.
DEERING, Sept. 1.
This morning the landscape looked gray
and dim, and "a mist came out of the sea-"
but later the great sun shone forth in all his
beauty, sending thrill of thanksgiving
through all hearts. The work ofpitehing tents
went steadily on all day, and by o'clock
the people were ready to hold a session OF
the Maine Conference for the purpose OF
appointing committees and transaeting BUSH
ness pertaining to the campmeeting. The
following churches were represented by del
egates: Hartland, Norridgewock, Canaan.
Somerset, Milton, East Washburn, South
Woodstock, Monticello, Houlton, Brunsi
wick, Portland, Deering, Cornville, East
Fryeburg and Crotch Island The Maine
Tract and Missionary Society held business
meeting at o'clock.
Elders Hersom, Goodrich and Barnes are
among the new arrivals. Elders Burrill and
Webber have been on the ground for several
days, experimenting operations.
The New England Organ Company kindly
furnished the campmeeting with one of their
beautiful, sweet-toned instruments free of
charge. This will be manipulated by a
skilful musician.
As the time drew near for the evening SER
vice, lamps were lighted in the pavilion and
among the trees, and the strains of the or
gan rang soothingly upon the air, calling in
quite an rS aHdepese e to listen tQ the opening
speaker took for his text these words: 'Here
is the patience of the saints" Rev. 4;l2,
and applied them to the church living on the
earth Just prior TO the second appearing of
Christ, using the connections in proof OF the
assertion Patience was declared TO be tine
act of waiting long for expected good, with
out discomfort. A brief sketch was gwen Oh
the history of what is known as Mllefrlsnl,
its rise, progress. etc. The passing OF the
time in 1874, and the repeated setting OF Time
hv certain fanatics since that period, were
all cited as circumstances calculated 10
bring discouragement and reproach TO those
who believe in the personal, literal appear
ing # Christ This experience Of the Ad-
ventists was referred to as something ealcu.
lated to develop patience, and then Drle1
view was taken of certain passages OF Scrip
ture, which seem to show that Just before the
end of all things terrestrial wlckednesS VIII
nrevail in the earth, but little faith be mani
tested in the Bible, and Christianity be at
discount. The actual condition OF the world
was then noticed, and the present age de-
clared to be one of aDostasy, crime, unbellef
and darkness. The speaker then made a
thrilling appeal to the brethren, counseling
them to be sober, to watch, and by special
humiliation of soul to keep the truth OF God
before their minds. The case OF the hus-
bandman who believes that the seed he
plants will grow, was taken to illustrate the
kind of faith necessary in the last days. The
point was made that time of patience i'm
plies time of trial. and time of trial calls
for firmness, hope, stability and humility.
The sermon was intensely practical, ana
well calculated to stir up the minds OF the
believers by way of remembrance, and to en-
courage and strengthen those who might DC
faltering in the faith. Seventh Day Advent
lists do not believe in setting definite time
for the Lord to appear, yet they teach that
His coming is at hand, and hrmly believe
that what to many seems but an idle fancy
will vet be found to be one OF the dreams
that will come true; hence the burden Oh
their preaching has Tor lts key-note the
| thought beautifully expressed by Jean lnge-
| low:
"Lift up thy voice, o, earth, prepare thy song,
| 1t shall not yet be long.
| Lift up, 0, earth, for He shall come again.
| Thy Lord. and He shall reign and
He shall reign.
Thy kingdom come"
| The ringing of a huge bell at o'clock au-
nounced the hour of retiring and after that
| quiet reigned in the encampment
| Elder Haskell, missionary lately return
| ed from Australia, is expected tomorrow.
Elder Uriah Smith, editor of the Review
| and Herald, was among the new arrivals to-
day, and will address the people tomorrow
forenoon at 1890.
4 CAPTAINS CLAIM.
Complaint in RockIand that Our
Government Does Not Protect It's
Subjects.
| ROckland Courier Gazette