The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-29
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS.
State Conference and campaigning at Wa
Observation-Disclosures of Their Faith.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WABASH, Ind, Sept. 28-The denomination
of Seventh-day Adventsts, now quite we'll
known in this State, have this year located their
annual conference and camp-meeting on the fair
grounds within our city limits. Their meeting
proper begins this evening. During the past
week workers meeting has been in progress.
with about $50 persons in attendance. Instruc-
tons have been given in the various branches of
work by Elder Underwood, Of Ohio, and Elder
Starr, of Chicago About eighty tents we're
erected before the rains of the past few days be-
gan to fall, and to-day the canvass city
among the green trees, with the rays
of the bright SUI upon it, pre-
sents beautiful appearance. The large
general meeting tent is 60x90 feet in size, and is
comfortably seated and tastefully decorated with
notices and evergreens. AT the rear of this
tent is the reception tent A glance at its com
Portable arrangements, easy chairs etc. sug-
gests most suitable place for aged persons, and
mothers with small children to enjoy the meet
ing, and for this purpose alone. we understand,
1t is erected children's tent, fifty feet in
diameter, is located in another part OF the
ground. There is an atmosphere of peace and
good cheer on the ground. Every care has been
taken to keep the sanitary condition good. The
ground is as clean as rake and broom can make
IT, Iue campers are coming IrOm every part vi
the State, and a most successful meeting is ex-
pected.
The piey of this people does not run to loud bois
ferrous demonstrations fanaticsm but they all
pear sober, quiet and earnest. Their social meetings
are especially good and spirited 1t was learned that
they are all temperance people radically They be-
eve IN planness of dress, and carry it out in their
practices, though they insist just strongly taste
and neatness in appearance They very Jealous
for their faith and evidently think that they have
hiS Tho ariti
or their faith that they keep the seventh day for
the Sabbath. They very peculiar about this, and
do no manner of business upon that day. They stout
y maintain that there is authority in the Bible for
the observance of Sunday but that the ancient seventh
day which God gave in Eden and placed in the Deca
Iogue should still be observed by all Christians
They believe in the literal, personal coming of
Christ in the clouds of heaven the second time and
they maintain that this event is nigh at hand
1hey refer to about dozen different chains of proph
eey all pointing to this the last generation. But
they are very careful to state that they do not set any
posed to this idea Of setting time: but think that
can tell when the day is They also believe in
the sleep of the dead in the literal resurrection at the
second ADVENT They also hold that the wicked, after
they are raised from the dead will be entirely de-
stroyed, burned up They say that this will occur
when God shall purify the earth by fire. at the day of
judgment. After the earth has thus been purged
from the curse. they hold that Paradise will be
stored on the earth and that the righteous will then
held by John Wesley, by all the early church fathers
and by many prominent ones since. Their work
denomination began in great weakness forytwo years
ago, in Washington. N. H., but it has grown steadily
and quite rapidly of late.
AT the present time they have twenty-eght
gained State conferences. covering nearly all the
States and Territories in the Union. Besides this
they have lourishing missions in Scotland England
Norway. Denmark. Sweden, France, Switzerland Ger
many. Italy, Australia, New Zealand, and the Sand
wch Islands. They have converts in South America
Russia Africa and in fact in nearly every part of
the world. They have $50 organized churches They
have 800 ministers, and about thirty thousand fol-
Las bn anti atiO mise
about S4OO 600 for the various branches of the work.
They publishing twenty-five different periodicals
IN the various languages such English. German
French. Swedish Danish Italian, Rournanian etc.
They have seven publishing houses with a combined
capital of over half million dollars.
They have at Battle Creek Mich, hourishing col
lege, capable of accommodating 500 students
They have another college at Healdsburg, CAL with
regular attendance Of over 200 also new academy,
From these schools las year were sent out, as mis-
sonaries in the various branches of the ca Ise
200 workers.
This year they will hold about fifty large State
camp meetings like this one. Many of the1a, how
ever, will be much larger Their strongest confer
ences Michigan, Iowa. Minnesota and Wisconsin.
In the last two years they have established city mis-
sons in Boston, New York, Philadelphia Buffalo, Chi
cago New Orleans San Francisco and in other great
cities of this continent. They have similar missions
in the various parts of the Old World and in Aus
tralia. where hundreds of young people, especially
young ladies, are taught by practical experience how
to go out as missionaries hold Bible readings. enter
families, and do missionary work among all classes
Being very jealous self-sacrifcing and thoroughly
organized and united in all their works. they arc rap
idly making themselves felt as rising denomination
in all parts Of the civilized world. Everywhere they
are known q peaceabe. honest Industrious, good
class of society and their Influence is always tho
right side of every moral reform and social question