Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-09-16


The long agony is over! The camp meeting has
closed for the season! and saints and sinners now
on their way home, alike weary and worn ont by the
exertions OF the last few days. l correct in
giving this the S5th year of Methodist Camp
Meetings in this country. The first held in the
year 1904, in Bishop Sherwood's grounds, at Tuck.
ahoo, on the Bronx river, in the township Of Yon.
kers in this county. Two years before this the
Presbyterians held camp meeting near the same
spot.
The meeting this year has gone off remarkably
quiet, owing to the arrangements Of Mr.. Clark, OF
Sing Sing who cleared all the Devils booths and
tents off the holy ground, and made Satan pitch his
tents in the highways and byways, by the road side
There were great many persons, male and fe-
male, excited; some with religious feelings, some
with fast driving, with the heat of the tents,
some with praying and singing, some with eating
and drinking some with wine, and some with brandy
but only three persons intoxicated, and heard
only one brawer; man named Smith was lying
down senseless the edge Of the camp ground; two
loafers reeled through the ground about sun down
last night, but were quickly put cut; and one low
disreputable brawler named j. Moffat, most scan
dalously endeayored to raise riot, and disturb the
evening preaching These are the few disgracefu
exceptions to otherwise tolerably well ordered
affair; and, Of course, where there are such mum.
Der of persons collected together, there always will
be a few such disgusting characters. The mass,
however, am bound in justice to say, were peacea-
ble sober, and, probably, sincere and wellinten-
toned
| am here to give ysu faithful account Of what
have and hea I'd, and not to draw differences, or
/ should say that the amount of evil resulting from
these Camp Meetings far outweighs the good; but
that is for time TO tell Of Let proceed to details;
and the history Of one day is the history Of the
whole. will give you faint outline of the dongs of
yesterday. Soon after 10 o'clock on TIE previous
evening the whole Of the immense of human
beings had gathered themselves to their respective
tents or homes. Not a straggler was on the ground
at midnight the members ofthe police and vigil
committee, going their respective rounds TO
that none Of the goats inadvertently strayed the
folds where the young and innocent lambs
nestled together. The at this time was pecu-
larly solemn and imposing; five thou, and human
beings were clustered together in that small wood,
lying for the most part upon straw cut with the
piou, physical exercises Of the day, and buried
WERE in deep and heavy slumbers. The sky was
cloudess and the stars shone with unusual briliian
CIV upon the tranquil Al the foot OF the hill
clear gurgIng brock, rushing swiftly Ger its rocky
bed broke on the stiffness of the night with the de-
licious music Of nature; in the distance could be
heard the retiring wheels Of stray carriage, convey
ing its noisy burden to their beds in a neighboring
village: from the broad bosom Of the Hudson, seen
distinctly through the clearing up occasionally
the hoarse monotonous from the steam pipes Of
the passage boats ascending and descending the river
From tent to tent could be heard the hum Of human
voices, murmurng their midnight prayer, and in
or two instances rich bursts Of human harmony broke
forth in those soul-stiring lines,
asalvat,on o Salvation!
The gladly solemn sound"
Such the sounds till short time after mid
night when, to appearance, each was buried in sleep
and ali was silent as the grave. Long before the
bright sun began to lace the east with crimson, the
hum Of human voices announced the approach ofmorn
ing. Then ensued a carious scene. Such rustling
and shaking amongst the straw! pious young and old
loafers could be seen crawling out Of the ends and
sides Of the large tents, brushing the straw from
their clothes pulling up their shirt collars, pulling
down their breeches and yawnins and stretching,
looked still more ludicrous they crawled ont OF
their straw beds, where they had been hudded, dur
ing the night, head and heels, by the dozen. The
straw was cntang led in their bosoms the pettcoa
their legs, AVID every where; and many were the
laugh able they rcsorted 10, for the pur
pose Of shaking the straw from their limbs and gar
inents. After this necessary movement, a whole
posse Of them would take down the hill to the
brook and wash their hands, faces, and some their
feet. when they could do 50 unseen. Then they
would join hands and walk up the hill, singing
Who's going .long with
Up 10 Jordan. up to Jordan.
Who's going slong with u
HaleluJsh! Glory"
On reaching the tents again, taere was generally
small PRAYER meeting; in the interim, there was all
sorts Of movements and cries on all sides. "You
joe YOU niger, get another bucket OF water aud fill
de tea kittle for de good brothers; guess dey hum
pry wild long prayer meeting" Mother, have you
seen my side combsp IL do declare, our Sarah
said she put me mp flannel petticoats and here's
only ONE "Now brethren and sisters. let us begin
the day by praising God" eco ahead. Jem, and
hitch that black "a the qggon, and 20 down 10
Sing Sing and get some more cider, and ask Sim
Tornpkins 10 send up a couple Of his hams" IN b.
-Tompkins cooks the best hams in the country. }
"Now, brother Harris, call upon God 10 ill the
dear sisters full OF all good things "Aunt Martha,
1 want breakfast so bad" "Glory to God, who has
brought "a through another night" "Sam. will you
shave me when you get through that gentleman y
- Here comes our pedlar." "What do YOU buy, la.
diesi buyl pins and needles! hair oil soap "Let
me have sixpenn'oth Of hair oil and side comb
Eyes Miss "And me six pence worth of air lille !"
Now. dear brothers, you that believe in the pro-
mise, come up to the pool Of Sloan and be made
clean" Eve been down to the brook and cleaned
! nv feet" "Does that kettle boill" Eyes" aCut
some more bread and batter; there's two preachers
going TO breakfast with us" "Here Won. Barber.
| sam: have you got any brandyl" "Nor' ANY
/ rum or gins" ." No, but got some alcohol: dat do
ard some no de Colon. Ha, Ia, ha, dat good enough
| for white trash to drink" " Now, let US all prav