Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1843-11-04
From The picayune Of Tuesday.

THE CONVICTION CAMP MEETING.
A desire to inform the public Of passing
events, and perhaps motives Of recreatlon,
induced us to visit the Methodist Camp
Meeting, held near Covington, TINT closes
to-day, and which has been in session for
a week. Ii will be acknowledged by all,
that in.thesc meetings there is much thai
seems extravagant--much that is oaar<;
still, tho sincerity and the desire to the pi-
Gus Of those who take n part in them, no
ono can question. Without, therefore,
passing an opinion on the acceptabil'ty OF
The Supreme Being Of the rules or obser-
yanccs of the Camp Meeting, we shall pro.
coed to describe it. 1t was formed on the
" Western kank nf the clear and OBVIOUSLY
winding river Bogae Faiiia, about a mile
from Coyington. II formed a square,
three sides of which were enclosed by
sheds or tents; the bank Of the river made
tho fourth. The main camp, or meeting
house, stood in the centre Of this square.
II was an eblong, shingled canopy. supper
ted on wooden pillars or piles. There was
a roughly constructed "desk'' raised ut
one end, from which the preacher address
ed the multitude, and benches for the pi-
Gus were placed at regular distances from
each other. The spot chosen was a pine
bluff. The contre part had been cleared
of its timber, but the tall pines still stan
ding on the margin of The transparent
stream, were reflected in its waters in all
the beauty of their green and golden au-
tumn clothing.
1t was made a boast by the friends of
Gen. Harrison, in 1870, that the "latch
string" of his door was never pulled n
that genaine hospitality was one Of the
bright attributes of his character. Now,
this is a virtue to which MethodIsts at
Camp Meeting lay peculiar claim. They
never pull in their latch strings for they
have none 20 pull in-thcy literally keep
''open hnuse," and nil are welcome to par.
take of their generous BOARD We, among
Others, were the recipients of their liberali.
ty in this respect, for which we entertain
q due sense of Indebtedness.
Whae. the Camp is in session, the
whole time---except the few brief hours de-
veted TO sleep and that ordinarily allotted
to taking foods spent in religious exer-
else. Al early nsorning the horn sounds
10 call the vetares of the faith to worship.
They continue at it until it istirne to take
the matin meal; they resume it after
breakfast, and continue ii till dinner; they
meet again in the afternoon, dismiss again
for supper, after which they continue in
worship till midnight, and some remain
even longer II is at night that the scene
is most impressive-there is then an en-
thnsias,ic and often a wild sublimity in it.
Fhe impassioned gesticulaiions and bois.
ferrous eloquence Of the preacher, the fran.
tic ssheut for joy," or The deep moan, be-
speaking conscious sin of the repenting
and spirit-inspired members-ihe concert
cadences Of a hundred voices, breathing,
in sacred song, half grief and half glad.
ness.
4Here maidens are signing, and fragrant
their sigh
A. The flower Of the Arma just Cpd by a bee
And precious their tears as that rain from the
sky,
Which turns into pearls as it tails in the sea-
The glare Of the camp fires, the more
chastened light of the silver moon and gol
den stars, as their rays insinuate them
selves through the tree-tops, impart 10 {
Camp Meeting at night a character a
once picturesque and imposing.
Among the ministerial brethren at tho
meeting the Rev. Mr.. Nicholson stood
pre.eminent. We heard a discourse from
him on Sunday which was truly edifying'
The subject was Justification by Faith
He treated it logically; his language wa
always correct, and sometimes eloquent
never descending 10 frothy declaration o
innpt metaphor.
The colored class TOO, had their preach
ines and their prayer meetings. If rell
gion, or what was meant for such, were
subject to excite our mirth. We could Civ
q report Of their proceedings at which
cynic could not fotbeaI to smile, But lie