Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1853-01-27

ces are stronger, its tents are tastier, and
on, far better than all that, its patrons are
the Every cream of Christians, and the quin-
tessence of hospitality. Commend me to
Bethel Camp-Ground always as a place
for enjoyment, physical and spiritual.
1t was not many years ago, that I was
traversing the hills in that vicinity, in
search of some rare specimens of crin-
olds, that could only be found thereabouts.
Myiwallethung heavily bym side, for the
crino5dea abound all through that range,
and my steps were perceptibly shortening,
as [ toiled up the hill which separated me
from my boarding house, when l was over
taken by horseman, who, as soon as he
approaced abreast ofme, dismounted, with
onta question, and asked me to ride and tie
with him. The proposition was so bluntly
made as to leave out all possibility of re-
fusal, and 1 at once acceded to his request
On we logged together, and before l knew
what I was about, l found myself giving
him a somewhat tedious report of my
days labor, even to the preciseness of
specifying the peculiar species gathered.
He heard me patiently through
laugh at.myself now when [ think of it
and then, with the most singular earnest
ness, if l thought such labor redounded
to the glory of God Although taken all
aback, as the sailors say by the oddity Of
the association, yet | was not ill-read in
the arguments of Buckland, Silliman, and
Paley, and I replied that divines of the
greatest eminence consider the study of ma
ture as the study of the first revelation of
God. Rewas struckwith theremark, hack
neyed as it was, and labored to draw me
urther out; but feeling some difidence upon
this branch of my profession, I declined
further debate and changed the handle Of
the conversation into his hand. He took it,
and it, was then all about ] Jesus Christ and
His religion, and how much thatreligion, is
needed in the world, and how well every
kind of talent fits in the spiritual temple
not made with hands, and q great deal
more to the same purpose. Arriving in
sight of my boarding house, he asked me
in a most humble and winning tone if
l would join him in a Wayside prayer
and as could not, for the life of me re-
fuse, we knelt together, and he prayed for
"the learned and interesting stranger"
that he might be led to the foot of the
Cross, in an early day, and find, with
vision sharpened by faith, that the revela-
ton of grace" far exceeds "the revelation
of nature" in its displays of the wisdom,
power and love ofGod. We parted, then
neither having inquired the name or res
idence of the other.
A few days afterwards the Bethel camp
meeting commenced, and I did not fail to
be there. l arrived Just before sundown
Saturday evening, and before any reli-
gious excitement had commenced. The
meeting opened as usual on Friday by a
sermon at night On the next day the
custom requires morning sermon, and
another at candlelight; while upon the
Sabbath not less than three are expected
by the crowded audiences that cover the
camp ground on that day.
The scene, as 1 approached it, was
highly interesting, and my notebooks
are crammed page after page with memo
randa that fairly sparkle with such lead
ers OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of colorS-
clear heavens-Solemm5ty, &c, Sc, but it
has been better described in the series
styled, "Needless from my Needle book"
in M Makin's Courier, than could do it,
SO desist. As | rode up, l was met at
the gate of the camp-ground by crowd,
black and white, who asked the privilege
to entertain me and my horse with as
much earnestness as hack-driYers on a
steamboat wharf. Resigning myself to
one with whom [ had some previous ac-
quaintance, took a lounge with him a
round the enclosure, and then it was time
for supper. This bounteous meal is Of
the fesh-pots of Egypt, being mainly com
posed of hQg-mcat, (pardOn the title, we
see no vulgarity in it here,) in all shapes
of cookery, mutton, beef, and hecatombs
of cold chickens. The sermon was preach
ed hu n third-r ate man ali the heavy cal |