Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-09-13
From Zion's Hoarald.
AMP MEETING SCENE.

~ a.
crip,ion of camp meeting incident from
!. the Ku;cscr5octer. How finely, it will be
seen. the preacher took advantage Of the
laaoing OF the fawn into the enclosure o;thc
camp ground. as Il shelter from the pursuit
Z of;he vol, and with what beau v, 'earncs;-
S ness and c!oquehce, be seiZe,.upon that III
3 c;dcnt 10 VAIN SINNERS 10 8 flee to the fold
Of God
DiScmbarking at Cincinnati, set oil
3 on foot to explore the cavern Of Kentucky
andIVirginia. Travelling later one evening
Than usual. los, my way ir ;ae midst OF
: one of those extensive forests, Which sill
skirt some of those western cities. After
wandering about for some time, on tuning
u precpltous ridge which obs;rucied my
course; / came suddenly upon one q!
these singular;gathesings ofthc church ma,
lant, called camp meetings. Before me
s:re.cl.cd grove Of tail pines beneath
whose dark foliage, andins:riking contrast
with the same, pitched numerous waite tents
embracing level area Of several acres in
exen', entirely, devoid Of undcrbtus'I, and
carpeted with the falling tressas of nc over
hanging .bougbs.~ Ga one siIe Of this cncio
sure, several feet from the ground plum
lodge. quadraugulary formed Of rough
boards nailed to tie trees with the pulpit in
front. aud benches around the SIDES, for the
eilcrs and the rl:niStefs who were to at-
dress The congregation: From this spot TO
various points in tie enclosure, stretched in
.d;vcrging lines. tie straight poles Of lofty
hines, iclied for the occasion, across whose
prostrate length, with The interspace dhere
and there "a long drawn aisle were laid
the rude seats of those, hardy worshippers.
Innumerable lamps. were suspended OF all
sides Of the encampment blending their
Pickering light with the glare OF pine torch:
es from the several tents where the even
ing's rerast was in preparation, while MIL
hons. of fire flies shot like ilny mcteors'
along the dark openings ofthe surrounding
forests, and the eyes of the sieepcss stars
looked on. as if 10 wKnessthe deyoJons OF
that prinneval temple.
AS paused to survey toe wonderful
scene, the wild howl Of wolf rang through
tie shudderiag air, and moment after, a
ilwn passed me, and bounding into the en-
closure, droppd down exhausted in one
Of the open aises. This singular in
stance was succeeded by dead Silence,
which was presently interrupted by the
voice OF the speaker. who had just iin.,
is.led the last discourse Of the evening, and
was about reading the concluding hymn.--
Welcome said the aged man, with com.
passionate emotion, welcome, poor, wea.
ried and persecu,ed wanderer, to the refuge
and resi- We seek moi here in vain! Yc did
we'll to fee hither from thy ravenous pursu.
er, for thereby have yoar days been length
-cned, and ye shall yet range through the
green places of the wilderness, where the
the hand Of God bringe!h lor;h the tender
herb and the pleasant water courses, even
for creatur9, such us ye. Pilgrims of the
world, continued he, turning 10 his flushed
auditory, shall the beasts that perish be W.
ser in their day and generation than ye,
=. who are fashioned efer the image of the
Allwise? Flee to the fold Of God! The
wild pigeon shrinks 10 her covert at the
scream ofthe wood hawk, and The roebuck
bounds feetly from the ycll OF the panther,
while We, who are cncompassed with many
foes, having eyes. see noi, and ears, hear
not or heed not the voice Of the prowlcr.
Wot We not that ye, Ike that poor pant g
hind, were hunted up and down in this dark
wilderness. of the world. Flee to the fold
of God! Doth no; temptation haunt your
footsteps from the rising of tho sun to the
going down thcreof Doth not remorse
Cart his fiery arrows into your bleeding
hearts at every turn! Doth not conscience
smite We with.i,s avengng sword whenever
We turn deaf ear to the still small voice j.!
Flee 10 the fold of God! Do no, the cares
of the world, lis vanity aud vexalion Of
spirit surround ye, when ye rise' up ard
when We dream dreams? Flee 10 the fold
of God. Is not death the ever prcsen:
shadow Of your cart lincss, and doth not
the Prince of the power Of the air-the
mighty Nimrod of your priceless souls
trace your gully souls along, this pilgrim.
AGE of sin =? o flee then fellow sinners,
Zee TO the fold Of God, wherein ye shall
!, find a refuge and q rest.
Vain were the attempts TO depict the
scene which followed the peroralion. The
sighs and groans. the sobs, the hysterc
shrjchs of the terrified females, and indeed
the convulsive shuddcr Of the whole assem-.
= by, leave to the readers imagination
or, memory ifhe has ever Witnessed spec
taele so thrilling. Afr the first barst o:
feeling had little subsidized, the ire nu'ols
We, not unmuslcal voice Of tho late speaker
was heard chanting that striking hymn:
Stop, poor sinner stop and think,
Before you farther go;