Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-08-14

TIE Camp Meeting ne ar this place, commenced
on Friday the 8th inst, and continues up TO the
present time. The site Of the encsmpneut is
abou, one mile South Of our town. in beautiful
piece Of land belonging the heirs Of Miller.
We have occasionally attended the services, and
IN no instance whilst there have we failed TO hear
sermon Distinguished By great power, pathos and
eloquence. The meeting has been well attended
tbroughout--ths crowd occasionally excessive. as
on Sunday morning--stiIl excellent order has been
uniformly maintained, and solemn and impress
sive religious feeling has characterized The whole
proceeding.
We cannot resist transferring to our columns,
for the qualification Of our readers, the following
graphic and beautiful sketch OF one Of those meetings
which the Rev. Timothy Flint has furnished US in
his History Of the Valley Of the Missi,sippi:-
None, but one who mas seen, can imag.
inc the interest, excited in district Of
county, perhaps, fifty miles in extent, by
the awaited approach Of the time for
Camp Meeting; and none, but one who
has seen, can imagine how profoundly the
preachers have understood what produces
effect, and how they have practised upon
II. Suppose the scene TO be, where the
most extensive excitements and the most
frequent camp meetings have been, du-
ring the two past years. in one of the
beautiful and fertile valleys among the
mountains Of Tennessee. The notice has
been circulated two or three MONTHS
On the appointed day, coaches, chaises,
wagons, carts, people on horseback, and
multltudes travelling from distance on
foot, wagons with provisions, mattresses,
teats, and arrangements for the stay of
week, are seen hurrying from every point
towards the central spot. 1t is in the midst
of grove oftbose beautiful and loftytrees
natural to the valleys OF Tennessee, in its
deepestverdure, and beside spring branch,
for the requisite supply Of water.
The ambitious and wealthy are there,
because in this region, opinion IS all-pow-
erful; and they are there, either TO extend
their influence, or that their absence may
not be noted, to diminish it. Aspirants
for office are there, to electioneer, and
gain popularity. Vast numbers are there
from simple curiosity, and merely to en-
Joy spectacle. The young and the
beautiful are there, with mixed motives,
which it were best not severely to scruti-
niZe. Children are there, their young
eyes glistening with the intense interest
of eager curiosity. The middle aged
fathers and mothers of families are there,
with the sober views of people, whose
plans in life are fixed, and wait calmly to
hear. Men and women of hoary hairs
are there, with such thoughts, it may be
hoped, as their years invite. Such is the
congregation consisting of thousands.
A host of preachers are there, some in
the earnest vigor and aspiring desires of
youth, waiting an opportunity for display;
others, who have proclaimed the gospel,
as pilgrims Of the cross, from the remotest
north Of our vast country to the shores of
the Mexican gulf, and ready to utter the
words, the feelings and the experience,
which they have treasured up in a travel
ling ministry of fifty years, and whose &C.
cents, trembling with age, still more i'm.
pressively than their words, announce,
that they will soon travel, and preach no
more on the earth, and there. Such are
the preachers.
The line OF tents is pitched; and the re-
ligious city grows up in few hours I'M
der the trees, beside the stream. Lamps
are hung in lines among the branches;
and the effect of their glare upon the sur
rounding forest is, as OF Magic. The
scenery of the most brilliant theatre in
the world Is painting only for children,
compared with it. Meantime the multi
tudes, with the highest excitement Of So
clal feeling added to the general enthusl-
asm OF expectation, pass from tent to tent,
and interchange apostolic greetings and
embraces, and talk fthe coming soIem-
mites. Their coffee and tea are prepared,
and their supper is finished. By this time
the moon, for they take thought, to ap.
point the meeting at the proper time of
the moon, begins to show its disk above
the dark SUBMITS Of the mountains; and
few stars are seen glImmering through the
intervals of the branches. Tho whole
constitutes temple worthy Of the gran
deur OF GOD. An old man, in dress Of
the quaintest simplicity, ascends plat
form, wipes the dust from his spectacles,
and in a voice Of suppressed emotion,
gives out the hymn, OF which the Whole
assembled multitude can recIe the words,
and an air in which every voice can
Join. We should deem poorly Of the
heart, tina! would not Thrill, as the song
I is heard, like the Sound of many waters,
echolng among the hills and mountains.
/ Such are the scenes, the associations,
and such the influence of external things
upon a nature so 'fearIully and wonder
1 fully constituted, as ours, that little effort
is necessary on such theme as religion,
urged at such a place, under such circum.
stances, to ill the heart aud the eyes,
/ The hoary orator talks of God, of eternity,
a judgment to come, and all that is I'M
pressve beyond. He speaks Of his lex
IpeIlences, his tolls and travels, his perse.
cutions and welcomes, and how many he
has seen in hope, in peace and triumph,
gathered to their fathers; and when he
speaks of the short space that remains TO
him, his only regret is, that he can no
more proclaim, ia the silence Of death,
! thn ,,,arc;os oG htS aruriGeI Y e1ppmPr