The Australian Camp Meeting (1894)
I was searching for information in regard to Lorelle's forefathers and their work for the Adventist Church. I found the following very interesting snippet about the adventures of Lorelle's great, great, grandparents and their son Fairly Masters. I showed Lorelle the article and then she read the next article speaking about the first camp meeting in Sydney for 1894. A previous camp meeting had been held in Melbourne in January of the same year. We noticed the rational used by the leaders in Australia for holding the camp meeting. It was was based directly on the feast principles of the books of Moses. It is clearly started that these were not arbitrary commands but for the spiritual development of the people. It is also very interesting that the dates for the camp actually overlapped the true Feast of Tabernacle dates for that year. The Adventist Camp was from Oct 19-27 while the actual feast of Tabernacles was from Oct 14-21. Following are the two articles.
Bible Echo Sept 17, 1894
ON the 8th [Sep, 1894] Bro. and Sister Masters with their son, Fairly, sailed for India, where they intend to engage in missionary labour. They are from New Zealand; but Bro. Fairly Masters has been a student of the Bible School during the three years of its existence, and Bro. and Sister Masters have been in this colony nearly a year. Their departure for India is an event of great interest to us; for, although many workers have been trained for home fields since our work in the colonies commenced, these are the first that have gone from Australasia to a foreign country. Our best wishes and earnest prayers accompany them to this new field. We trust our readers will hear from them occasionally through the ECHO.
THE AUSTRALIAN CAMP-MEETING.
As STATED in last week's ECHO, the Australian Conference Committee has decided to hold the Australian camp-meeting for 1894 at Sydney, New South Wales. We are not prepared at this writing to give as full particulars of this meeting as we had hoped to be. Those who are making arrangements in Sydney have been unavoidably delayed, but we are expecting to hear from them in a few days.
The camp-meeting proper will begin Friday night, Oct. 19, instead of the 18th as stated last week. This meeting will be preceded by a workers' meeting of about ten days' duration. This will enable us to get everything in readiness for the camp-meeting.
There are many reasons why this meeting should be held, and why we may look for most excellent results.
When God established His people Israel in the land of Canaan, He knew the temptations that would be brought to bear upon them, and as one of the safeguards against their being led into apostasy, He established three annual gatherings at which they were to meet together for praise and worship, to recount His mercies and His deliverances, and to encourage one another in the way of obedience. His command was, " Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord God." This command was not arbitrary; but it was an all-wise provision to meet their spiritual requirements; and although the journey was long, and they were surrounded with warlike nations, this promise was made to them, " Neither shall any man desire thy lands when thou goest up to appear before the Lord, three times in the year,"
At the present time there is the same necessity for the children of God to separate themselves for a time from the cares and' perplexities of every-day life at home, and to assemble together to praise and worship God and to study present truth and present duty. At a general convention the members of several churches meet together to devote a week or more to worship and to study, and at our annual camp-meetings the representatives of all the churches in each Conference assemble in a modern feast of tabernacles. There are great advantages and special opportunities for spiritual advancement at these gatherings: 1. Because persons of experience in Christian life can here relate to one another what God has done for them, and thus encourage and strengthen one another for future conflict ; 2. Because at such gatherings several teachers of experience are always present to give valued instruction, encouragement, and warnings; 3. Because the worshippers, separated for a time from the regular cares and perplexities of every-day life, may here, for a season, give themselves unreservedly to meditation and prayer, the study of the word, and public worship.
There are many educational advantages to be enjoyed at these general convocations, which to those persons who wish to become labourers with God in the work of uplifting fallen humanity, will be of inestimable value. Instruction will be given regarding the church and the purpose for which it was instituted, its privileges and work, and the responsibilities of its officers and members. The tract and missionary work will also receive much attention; the workers will be instructed how to improve the privileges and opportunities that are opening up before us so marvellously. The Sabbath-school work, the Christian-help work, and other lines of Christian activity, will all receive consideration. Therefore we say to our brethren, Prepare for the camp-meeting; begin at once; work in faith, and let as large a number as possible receive its benefits. Let the officers of each church give early attention to the selection of delegates, and to the encouragement of families and of individuals not chosen as delegates, to attend for the good that they may receive, or may do to others.
More concerning the Sydney camp-meeting will appear in future numbers of the ECHO. AUST. CONF.
