First SDA Camp Meeting In The Southern Hemisphere

The little city of Napier was a beautiful place, the resident portion of the town having been built on a series of high hills overlooking the sea. Ellen White,WV 294.3

W. C. White, and Emily were taken to the comfortable home of the Doctors Caro, not far from where preparations were already under way for the camp meeting. They were to be entertained there for the full time. A two-wheeled horse-drawn rig was made available for Ellen White's use in getting to the meetings.

Arrangements had been made for her to speak Sunday evening in the Theater Royal, and she presented her favorite theme, “The Love of God,” to an attentive audience. The next three days were devoted to getting ready for the meeting. Two large tents were pitched. Notice had been sent to the churches weeks before, but the response was poor, so plans for a dining tent and a reception tent were dropped. Only a few family tents were pitched. It was expected that the restaurant in town could serve whatever food was needed.WV 294.4

However, by midweek boats and trains brought delegations from the churches, fully doubling the number expected. The camp meeting planners faced a minor crisis.WV 294.5

From the time plans were under way, Ellen White had urged that this first camp meeting must be a sample of what future camp meetings should be. Over and over she declared: “‘See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.’ As a people,” she said, “we have lost much by neglecting order and method.” She commented, “Although it takes time and careful thought and labor, and often seems to make our work cost more, in the end we can see that it was a paying business to do everything in the most perfect manner” (Ibid., June 6, 1893). For the people to go uptown for their meals would, she pointed out, “break into our program, waste precious time, and bring in a haphazard state of things that should be avoided” (Ibid.).WV 294.6

The camp was enlarged; more tents were procured, a reception tent was fitted up, and also a dining tent.WV 294.7

The food provided was plain and substantial, but plentiful. Instead of the dozen people first expected, about 30 took their meals in the dining tent.WV 295.1

The first meeting in the big tent was on Tuesday evening, in advance of the opening, and Stephen McCullagh spoke. On the first Sabbath afternoon Ellen White was the speaker. At the close of her address she extended invitations for a response, first from those who had never taken their stand for Christ and then from those “who professed to be the followers of Christ, who had not the evidence of His acceptance.” The responses were encouraging. A hard rain had come up, and the big tent leaked in many places, but this did not bother the audience, for the interest in “eternal matters” was too deep to be affected by the surroundings. As the rain continued, George Starr gave precious instruction and exhorted the people. The meeting continued until sundown (Ibid.).WV 295.2

Sunday evening six were baptized. Monday was devoted to business meetings.WV 295.3

The messages presented at the camp were very practical, with Ellen White joining the ministers in their work.WV 295.4

The camp meeting was scheduled to close on Wednesday, April 5, but boat transportation was delayed, and so meetings continued another day. A meeting for literature evangelists followed over the weekend. Mrs. White remained for still another week in Napier; she and associate workers visited families and churches nearby. But much of her time was devoted to writing.WV 295.5

Two or three weeks after the camp meeting was over she wrote of its success to Harmon Lindsay in Battle Creek:WV 295.6

Our camp meeting in Napier was excellent from the commencement to the close. Several decided to observe the Sabbath for the first time, and some who had left the church came back (Letter 79, 1893).WV 295.7