Morning herald., 1839-09-18
,uethoai.m-T The Philosophy Of Camp
Meeefngs

camp meetings Inc secret Oh the great erect pro-
duced by descriptions Of these matters is, that
they perfectly accurate in their most minute de-
tails so far as they CO. There is nothing extenuated
nor aught set down in malice but they form faith
full Of the scenes that occurred at and
m the vicinity Of the camp ground, during the time
of holding the meeting They not garbled, or
dressed up suit the taste of sect or of another
but they pourtray things as they are, were-the
folly and the vice, alike with the wisdom and tree
piety-and hence their effect the great mass Of
meet with mere one-sided statements, and these
colered to suit certain clique.
We like to see the great majority of the thinking
public take deep interest In all these matters. We
pleased to the spread Of pety meet with the
support Of those who capable Of sustaining the
same to triumphant issue, through good report and
through evil report 1t argues well for the Of
4rae religion throughout the world, and the spread
Of the only correct religious principles, in spite of
all the attempts making by dsspotic priesthood
and crafty fanatics, to perpetuate system by which
none but their own sinister views can be carried
out, and thus bring disgrace upon the sacred cause
Of religion
Religion, fairest maid on earth
As meek as good who drew her breath
From that bsst union when IN heaven
Pleasure bride to Virtse given
The scenes that took place at the recent Great
Camp Meeting of the highly respectable body oi
Methodists give rise to various valuable reflections
Manv things were calculated to benefit the of
religion, and on the other hand many calculated
to injure it most materially. And much as we ad-
mirs the beauty Of holiness and purity Of devotion
to the sempiternal source of all true wisdom, we
must as rational and ccountable beings good cti
zens and lovers Of decency and decorum, condemn
many of the scenes which occsrred in connection
with the late great camp meeting at Sing Sing.
There were scenes sanctioned there, that would
cause the chief &C in them to be arrested In this
city for disturbing the public peace AT the public
preaching all was well conducted, though the talent
displayed there in preaching was OF the most loafer
like order. We never heard so many men speak so
little TO the purpose during five consecutive days
But Turing the preaching many OF the poor deluded
half crazy fanatics were yelling and screaming and
disturbing the bnlk Of the congregation who were
-rderlv quiet attentive and well behaved; and de-
serving OF praise at least for the sincerity Of their
intentions, II not for any thing else
We ght multiply instances in which absurdity, |
foiy and vice seemed TO bear uncomfortable sway at
the late Camp Meeting, but or two viii suffice.
We would rather pity than condemn the follies Of
our fellow creatures. But whsn we saw notorious
pickpocksts in the act Of prayer, surrounded by
score Of beautiful and innocent girls when We saw
a notorious blackeg and gambler exhorting sinners
TO repent; ignorant scoundrels attempting to teach
the truths Of the blessed Gospel which they were
unable 10 read negroes black as the ace Of spades
miagling promiscuously with lovely white girls; |
pIay actors usurers, and extortioners descanting
upon the beauty holiness and the blessings Of char
ity asd bene volence and heartless vagasonds pray
,h. ~. ~ all rad wi
istence they would Afterwards deny, and mocking
their Maker with solemn sound upon athoughtess
tongue when we saw all tkis and all Of it did ses
We should be unworthy the and form Of hu-
rnanity il we did not utmost exertions TO put
stop 10 this wholesale and horrible system of bias
phemy and iniquity, and endeavor to reform IL alto
gether.
The simple state Of the is this. The Metho-
dist religion, so called, as established by John
we.ley-and as he intended it should be perpetu-
ated-is a beautiful and commendable form OF re-
lixion The religion of John Wesley possesseda it's
leading characteristics purity, simplicity and SINGER
ity The Methodist form Of religion, practsed by
some OF s clergy and professors in the present day,
s totally different from the pure, Pious and unpre-
tending principles Of Wesley, and requires a
thorough reformation.
Wesley and Whitfield were very extraordinary
men; aud being raised up expressly for the wsrk TO
which they devoted themselves, produced vast
amount cf good in the world. They had the merit
Of simplicity and sincerity Of heart and soul to
tain and them in their labsrs Of love- and
preached Christ and him crucifed, not because II
was fashionable not because they would rather talk
than work, not because they could thereby acquire
larrer portion Of this worlds goods and gains, but
because they loved the Of true religion for its
own sake and worshiped the blessed founder Of
Christianity in purity Of spirit and sincerity Of soul
Aad of this complexion should be the clergy Of the
Methodist persuasion at the present day, and such.
trust, ,hsy will be ere long Bat Of majority Of
the present race Of preachers il may be said,
Tae brckla,f throws his tro~ei BY
Ars now huilds mansions in the sky
Tae cobbler, ,ouchd with holy pride,
tliugs h. cid shoes snd last aside,
And nov dsvoutly sets about
toobing ~ souis that ne'er out
The baker now aprescher grown
Finds man lives hot hy bread alone.
Andnow his customer. he feed.
With prayers, WITH sermons grosns, and oreeds
T.e tipman, moved % warmth within
Hasmers the gopel jast Theta;
weavers inspird their shutes leave.
Sermons aud Amsy hy ymas wssts.
BARRIERS nreapd will leave the CHIN
To trinn and shave the within
The Waterman forgsts his wserry,
And opens . celestial ferry
The brewer bit by frenrys grsS
The MASKING foI the preaching tub
Resigns those waters u explore,
ktrhf aNsul youf nOr uNFes