The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-11

Last Day Of the Big Annual Camp
Meeting
The Largest and Host Successful Gathering
Of the Kind Ever Held In South
ern California

The Seventh Day Adventists camp
meeting, which has been in progress at
the corner Of Grand Avenue ands Twelfth
streets, since October 31st last. closed last
evening. The meetings are feature OF
the Seventh Day Adventists, and the one
Just closed was the largest and most sue
cessful from a spiritual standpoint ever
held In Southern California. In a gen.
eral way. it may be stated that every sec
ton in Southern California was repre-
scented, some families coming from as far
north as Fresno. while others came from
San Diego, and still others form San
Bernardino, Riverside and even the des-
eyt country. Most of the visitors from
outside points came in their farm wag-
ons, ana these vehicles added not little
to the picturesque effect Of the camp.
The conference furnished the large au-
dience tents, with forty tents to be rented
to the members. These were not near
enough, but supply was secured in this
city, and all who desired to remain on
the ground we're accOmm odated with neat
canvas tents. The camp ground was
neatly laid out In strests, with the tents
all mum bered, and strict sanitary regula.
tons were adopted for its government.
No smoking was permitted on the
grounds, and loud and boisterous taking
was not allowed. The average attendance
during the meeting was about 400.
The following leaders OF the church
were In attendance during the meeting:
Elder Mcclure. president of the confer
ence, Oakland; Elder r. S. Owen, pasto'
of the local church; Elder W. +. Knox.
also Of Los Angeles. but in charge of ths
San Diego district; Elder B. Howe. also
Of Los Angeles: Elder J. G. smith OF
Santa Barbara; Elder ThuIston of Ven
church paper, The Signs OF the Times,
published at Oakland: During the meet.
ing three regular services have been held
each day at 1880 q. m, 2:30 and 7:3O y.
M. Besides there have been uumer-
Gus informal meetings and short talks
between times, while the evenings have
been devoted to social visits, renewing
old acquainrances and making new ones.
At the morning service yesterday Elder
w. +. Knox delivered strong address
on The True Sabbath as Compared with
the False, main taining that the seventh
day was the true biblical Sabbath and
not the first. as is now generally cele-
bratsd.
Elder NJ. G. Wilcox was the speaker at
the afternoon meeting, taking for his
subject Religious Liberty and tho
Dangers That Threaten Our Country.
Like all Seventh-day Adventists Mr.. Will
cox believes in absolute freedom and lib
erty in all religious matters, and is op.
posed to any. regulation BY the state OF
any of the affairs OF the church. He said
that in 1892 the United States govern
ment took a step backward when the in
itiativs was taken in religious legislation.
In effect he said that In 1892 the United
Trinity church oil the question OF the
contract labor law, had declared that this
was q Christian nation. In the same
year congress officially made the first day
of the week the Sabbath by passing the
Sunday-closing law in reference to the
worlds Fair at Chicago. This law had
been signed py the president, and thus
the first step had been taken By the
three different departments of the gov
ernment-the judicial, the legislative and
the executive-in religious legislation.
Mr.. Wilcox said that he was proud that
California had no Sunday law on her
statute hooks. and no hoped it never
would. leaving the citizen free to worshi p
Gud IN his way and at his own time. Mr..
Wilcox then paiu high tribute to the
founders of the government and to
Abraham Lincoln for the posltion taken
by these great men on the question. and
gave numerous instances of persecution
to which Sevsnth-day Adventists had
oeen subjected.
At o'clock Mrs. Matte Mhxon, from
the medical and surgical sanitarium at
ST. Helsna, CAL, deliv cred an interest
ing address en- Dress from Hygiene
Standpoint.
The night meeting closed the exercises,
when short talks were made by the elders
and love feast was INDUCED in By the
members. Many left for their homes last
night, and the remainder will follow to-
day.
Briefly stated. the Seventh-day Ad.
ventists believe that the time is near at
hand when Christ, accompanied by the
world. They do not fix any definite time,
but think it is now very close at hand,
and claim that the Bible prophesiss are
about to be fulfilled,