The herald., 1894-10-08
THE WORLD WILL Be MELTED.
A Seventh Day Adventist Ex-
plains His Beliefs.
The City of Hundred Tents On
Pico Street.
Ascension Robes Are Purely SYMBOL
GALA Literal Belief in tho
Prophecies of the Bible.
Christ's Coming.

y
had been spesking with Eighth ward
freedom OF expression.
But ss he is Seventh Day Advent
ist OF gentle type. he mildly stated his
dislike to the playful manner in which
the doctrines Of the society are guyed by
those who are not members.
1t is clean little city of white tents
and serious people out on Pico Heights
where the society is now holding South
ern California csmpmesting.
The certainty and gravity with which
they await the second coming of Christ
is startling to those who wander around
the military-like encampment and
have not been expecting the event upon
which the Adventists set such store.
There are between 300 and 400 people
men, women and children-now In
camp, and they come from all parts of
Southern California. There are between
ZOO and 1000 persons belonging to the
society In this part of the state.
The camp meeting began last Thurs
day and will continue until next Sun
day.
The members do not, as 10 has been
iOr during the time they are holding
know the day or the hour of His oom-
ing, but il it should take place during
the week they are ready.
Their camp is the perfection OF neat
ness, and as one of the tsnets of the
society ia cleanliness and attention to
hygiene, the visitor IL pleasantly i'm
pressed as he walks up the streets be-
tween the rows of symmetrically ar
ranged tents. In each one of the hun
dred tents are members, most of them
with their families. The city grocer and
tradeaman have quickly appreciated the
situation. and their wagons are prompt
ly on hand. They are perfectly willing
70 take Adventist coin.
One of the noticeable features OF the
camp is the number of children on hand.
They are of all sizes and there are many
pretty girls in camp. Ii one were to
speak of the matter in jocular manner,
ID could be said thst the members, feel
ing that they are heirs to @ glorious
future, are especially desirous of having
as large families as possible, to Join in
the reward which they feel is theirs,
The days in camp are apportioned to
varioua devotional exercises, and reg
ular programme ia carried out frorn
"rising bell" to "silenoe" at night. The
meetings are not marked by the fervid
oratory characteristic OF ordinary camp
meetings, but well-trained speakers ex-
pound the peculiar doctrines OF the
society in q dispassionate manner.
Among the prominent leaders of the
saeiety present iH Elder L. O. Mcclure,
president of the state conference.
In Southern California there are
chdrohes at San DISCO, Santa Ana, San
Pasqual, Norwslk. Centrslia, Pomona,
Pasadena and Santa Barbara.
1t wss something over 20 years ego
that Elder j. NJ. Loughborough was
sent out from Michigan and organized
the frst church in California. Since
that time it has grown slowly, but the
members seem to be very proud OF their
achievements in the way of building up
q big publishing house in Oakland, a
college in HeRldsburg and sanitarium
at st. Helena, Nspa county.
The total membership has grown to
about $4,000, mostly in the United
Statea, since 1914, although there are
organized churches in Europe, missions
in New Zealand, Australia and South
Africa. The membership is also ins
creasing in South America. There is
college at Capetown in Africa, and mis-
sionsry work 10 being done in Maahon-
land and Matabsleland.
For the benefit of those who may not
be familiar with the doctrinal beliefs
of the Adventists, Mr.. Bartlett very
courteously explained them yesterday.
The observance of Saturday as the
Sabbath is the first noticeable peculiar.
ity of the society. Their Sunday begins
at sunset on Friday night and ends at
sunset on Saturday night. The sanction
for this observance is derived from the
twentieth chapter of Exodus, requiring
rest on the seventh day."
The leading pelief OF the eociety is
the personal advent OF the Savior-Boon.
When asked about how coon, Mr.. Bart
lett said that the day snd hour could not
be specified. 1t is based, however, upon
the thirty-fourth verse of the twenty
fourth chapter of Matthew: "Verily, /
say unto you this generation shall not
pass till these things be fulfilled"
In explanation of this belief il was
said that it ia an actual physical time
that is mentioned and that the genera
ton meant the lifetime of those now
living.
Various passages of scripture were
read to show what will take place ac-
cording to the Adventists, when the
event for which they wait takes place.
The righteous are to be taken up and
the wicked destroyed, the devil is to be
in bondage ON the earth for a thousand
years, and at the end of that time the
wicked are to be raised. The world 10
to be burned up, and a new world is to
take its place, in which the righteous
are to live in bliss. There will be living
when Christ comes O class referred to as
the IA, 900, who will be translated and
never see death. The earth is to be
made desolate by earthquakes and the
judgments of God. A literal fulfllment of
OF all these prophecies, which are found
in various portions OF the Bible. in the
books of Daniel, Revelations and else
where, is depended upon. The Advent.
lists claim that already all the prophecies
upon which they build their system
have been fulfilled and are in process of
fulfillment, such as the supernatural
darkening of the sun in 1880 and the
falling of the stars in November, 1883.
After the 1000 years referred to the
New Jerusalem descende on earth and
Satan is loosed. He and tie wicked are
then burned up to ashes, the earth melts
and the new one is formed.
Referring to the assertion that the
Adventists have ascension robes all
ready for use at the proper time, Mr..
Bartlett said that such was ridiculous as
to the Adventists OF the present day;
that the term is symbolical and refers
to Christ's Righteousness. But he in-
sisted on the literal fulfllment OF the
n a ha in