The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-08-19
IN A PEACEFUL CAMP.
Seventh Day Adventists Here Again
Their Camp-The Extent of Their
Work.

lneir Safnp- ne Extent Oh lnelr
Work.
While there are at various places In the
south and east of the country at the present
time great military camps, wide spreading
cities of white canvas. every tent In which
shelters anywhere from one to a dozen or
more of the smaller guns of war and the
brave boys to whose care they are consigned,
Owosso citizens too may look upon nina
ture white city but this time 1t is camp OF
peace.
Since 1868 when the first camp and con-
ference was held by the Michigan Seventh
Day Adventists at Wright near Grand Rap
ids until the present time, this sect has held
its annual conferences on tented fields, and
for the last two years the camp has been
located on the field between Caledonia Park
and the Corunna road where the little city
of canvas has become familiar sight to
Owosso citizens and visitors.
All last week workmen were busy getting
the tentage upon the ground, laying out the
camp. and erecting the tents themselves
The work continued until we'll along this
week though practically complete by We'd
nesday, the day before beginning the regu-
lar sessions of the conference.
With the exception of single wooden
structure used as sort Of commissary store
and dining hall, all of the shelter is pro-
vided for by tents and the provision seem
-, anln Nhn
a large number of the smaller tents though
there are many which are the private prop
erty of the campers. Nearly all are of
uniform size, about 12x16 feet, a fact which
adds much to the attractiveness of the
whole camp Besides these small dwell
ing tents the conference owns two forty
foot round tents which are devoted to the
childrens' work, one of the same size for
kindergarten work, and another forty foot
er for keeping the straw dry which is pro-
vided free to those who desire it, A tent
40x60 feet seating about three hundred fifty
is devoted to the youths work and to divis-
ion meetings. The big auditorium is a
regular old circus tent for size. 1t is a
three master and Is capable of seating three
thousand persons. 1t Is this large tent
which gives a unique appearance to the
whole camp-unlike a military camp be-
cause of its presence, unlike circus ground
because of the military-like regularity of
the smaller tents, but withal pretty sight.
When questioned as to the reason for
holding to this camp form for the annual
conferences instead of assembling them in
some large hall or ample church in one of
the larger cities, the explanation was ad-
vanced that it was found that much more
representative attendance could be secured
in this way; that delegates who would feel
unable to attend otherwise can come and
spend the ten days or more here and COM
bine conference and camp meeting in one
when they would not feel able to bear the
expense of spending the time in one of the
larger cities. The camp meeting furnishes
them with an opportunity for revving theil
religious faiths and incidentally is in itseli
by its very nature vacation and outing fol
many who would otherwise have no such
rest Besides this state camp, which by the
way also embraces the province of Ontario
three local camp meetings have already beer
held this summer and fourth soon will bs
held in Wexford county.
The Adventists in the state number abou
seven thousand five hundred, divided among
one hundred forty churches ranging II
membership from ten persons to two hun
dred, the larger churches being in the prin
ed into twelve districts to which minis
ters are supplied In the winter, the plan.
being somewhat different In this respec
from that of other churches.
The conference is officered by an execu
} tive committee elected by the conference 1t
! self, the presiding officer of both executive
committee and conference being their presi
dent. Owing to the loss of their presiden
during the year, Rev. j. d. Gowell, of Hes
peria, who was chosen as its chairman by th'
executive committee, Is at the head of tn,
organization and he will doubtless be elect
, ed president. Other members of the execu
, tive committee are, w. r. Matthews, o
lonia; A. o. Burrill, of Detroit; and K. II
Root, of Coopersville.
The regular sessions of the conference
began yesterday morning at 1890 and las
, until next week Saturday night. From the
number of tents already engaged the atten
dance is expected to be the largest it ha
ever been and will probably exceed thre