Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-24
A TENT VILLAGE.
Seventh Day Adventists Began Their
Annual Campmeeting, Friday.
Tents Pitched Near State House Prominent
Speakers From Abroad Expected.

For several days past the work of erect
ing campmeet,ng tents has been in pro-
gress on the Hallowell road, Just below
the State House. 1t is the event of the
annual gathering Of the Seventh Day
Adventists of the State of Maine, but not
all, for many allow the inconvenience of
attending to keep them at home Never
thelcss, quite a village of believers has
been erected, "still there's more to fol-
low" Speakers from the Western states
VIII be here, tomorrow, whose names and
addresses will be announced later.
Arrangements have been made to give
the readers Of the Journal report OF the
doings of this meeting, each day, and
brief outlines Of many OF the sermons,
which will be delivered by some of the
able men Of that denomination.
In view OF this 1t may be interesting to
the readers Of the Journal to know some
thing of the belief OF Seventh Day Ad-
ventists. A member of the denomination
sets forth their views as follows
They have existed in this coun-
try as denomination about so years
They take no part In setting definite time
for the second Advent, but hold that we
cannot tell the day or hour, but that we
can only tell when 1t is near. The seventh
day is observed because that is the only
day the Bible upholds. Sunday keeping
is wholly an institution Of the early church
and the Catholic church at that. For the
early fathers so often quoted as authority
for that day we're the early promoters of
points of faith held by the Catholic church
alone. The Protestant platform consists
in holding to the Bible alone, as guide
to life eternal. The Catholic church says
the Bible and the church are both required
as rule of faith The Seventh Day Ad-
ventists like consistency, hence they cling
to the Bible alone and do not attempt to
prove any point as necessary to the
practice of Christianity, which point is
not upheld in the sacred word Of God.
ant world at large, Of Inconsistency, Sin
keeping Sunday strictly and denying most
other festivals appointed by the sane
church" This is we'll founded accusa-
tion, and one which will stand the test of
investigation.
"In 1914 william Miller stirred the coun-
try with the proclamation that the second
advent would take place that year. Will
liam Miller In his understanding of that
prophecy was right in regard to the time,
but was wrong in regard to the nature of
the event and its location. The prophecy
said the sanctuary should be cleansed at
the end of the twenty three hundred days.
The sanctuary is located in Heaven, and
its cleansing consists in the looking over
of the records of human life recorded there
and in blotting out the sins of those who
have made confession. This period Is
called the investigativc Judgment. The
Psalmist says, "From Heaven the Lord
behold the earth and looked down from
the height Of his sanctuary. Thus it can
be seen how william Miller and his fol-
lowers fell inc the error Of thinking that
the world would come to It's end In 1914.
Thinking the earth to be the sanctuary,
they thought the cleansing of the sanctu
airy would involve it in the purifying by
fire which taks place at the second advent,
hence they thought the second advent
must take place in 1914. Seventh Day
Adventists never set time, therefore never
need to make similar mistake.
Elder J. E Jayne, the present president
of the Maine Conference, has charge Of tie
campmeeting. Elder p. b. Osborne OF
Pittsfeld, arrived, Thursday, and Elder
M.G. Huffman of Auburn, somewhat
earlier. Elder H. C. Basney Of Michigan,
is present and will assist In the work.
Last evening at $50, the people as
sembled in the large tent, and after sing
ing hymn, prayer was offered at the
commencement of the Sabbath, which
is customary with this people
At 7.30, a very stirring and beneficial
sermon was delivered by the president, of
the conference, Elder J. 4. Jayne. He
read first the trial of Christ by plate in
Matt. xvii: 1887, and then chose his
text, the 22d verse, "What shall do then
with Jesus which Is called Christi