Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-09-07
EVENING STAR.
CAEP-NEETIgG
Correspondence Of the Evening star.l
FAIarAx, Va. Sent 3 ls5;

AAA.f ~; fa+1 oSIt' d, IS10
| AS have often remarked, Jour experience
Of Virginia camp-meetings would be incom.
piete without having witnessed the finale, AID
consequently brief summary Of incidents and
! events Herewith connected, may not be out
! of place or uninteresting.
1t would be IN vain 70 Gtte1pt Crsphic de-
/ scIIption Of the last night upon the camp
| ground, for the reality is far beyond my poIs
| ers Of expression. Neither do / design n in
stitutc an inquiry as TO The general efficacy of
| camp-meetla z; as a means for the further
| ance Of the great cause Of religion, nor 70
make comparisons between this and other
modes Of worship; suffice it to say, however.
that the custom is time-hOnOroI aud conse-
Grated by n thousand tender and hailoyed
associations, which twine around the heart Of
youth, and still strengthening with the expe-
riences of manhood ard old age, which must
! ever render it a season of joyful anticipation,
notwithstanding there are some evils connect
cd with il.
The social virtues which so e,ninentiy char
| acterize the good people of the "Ancient Do
minion' are here, as elsewhere. cultivated 10
great extent, the beneficial effects of which
are u promote and perpetuate feelings OF har-
mOny among individuals and communities
Many are the delightful souvenirs of the past
OF friendship, love, and sppiness-indeIli-
ply Impressed upon our memories, which will
ever be source of pleasure. But am di-
gressing
Imagine the hour at IL D. M and that you
and are among the number OF congregated
humanity, within the circle Of tents that en-
compass the preachers stand and the altar. A
hundred lights are glancing among the stately
forest trees, which stand in silent majesty as
relics of the past, casting dim uncertain sha-
doTS without the area, where faint the light
m Q-a.., .al . n....-
TO, and all beyond is wall of irnpcnetrable
darkness.
Ihe effect Of light and sha le upon the over
hanging foliage is beautiful beyond descrip-
tion. Nyriads Of tiny leaves are glistening
and cleaning like silver in the bright fire.
nSht, some IN close proximity ard stretching
lar away Ia the dim distance until lost in faint
and Shadowy outlines. At intervals, can be
dlscerned through the foliage, masses of dark
blue sky and family glimmering stars while
the moons pale beams are scarcely discerna-
bic In contrast with the bright glare of arti-
fetal lights, all combined, produce a scene Of
enchanting beauty.
The forces of Heaven and the powers of
darkness are hero marshaled in hostile array,
each regarded by their respective votaries
with an admirat:0n most profound and sincere
Tried and time-wOrn veterans of the Cross
upon sn hundred camp grounds, who expouud
the truths of Holy Writ so 81 t. tell with tre-
mendous effect upon the carts and cOnsciences
OF men-in a word, who preach as only Meth
odist preachers can preack-are the principal
agents employed by the former
The latter with all the fearful array of hu-
man passions uncontrolled, end all their dey-
liish accessories AT will command-the poison
Gus wine cup, sapp!ng the found ations CT life
and beauty, and changing Heavens nublest
creation into demons inc8lnate; and also gay.
beWitehins creatures, with laughing eyes and
roSey checks, aud useless fattery, to cheat a
cTcdulous world into the belief Of happiness
these, with all the host OF willing instruments,
and the array is truly fearful
Among this numerous assemblage what
groups OF laughing girls, and blooming ma
irons, and staid and sober men. and thought
less youngsters, and quiet old maids By
what a multiplicity of interests and purposes
are they actuatedf Each in pursuit of tie
fckie goddess, Happiness, WHO so often con-
triVeS to elude our grasp! What worlds cf
thought, of misery, ami happiness are here
concentrated! What combinations of virtue
and vice, p!ety and profanity, love and hatred |
Irritation and cO1ueiry. preachers and people
altogether congtomerati0n OF things too mum
erCus to mention
Let US approach the altar confused
murmur cf crieS. shrieks, and groans and the
words of wel.-known hymn comminrled. rise
on the night air in striking contrast with the
solemn stiffness that pGTv6des the surrounding
forest. The peculiar circumstances of time
and place combine t. produce in the mind of i
casual observer mingled emotions Of ave /
and wonder.
We now approach the spot where Afric's /
sons and daughters are assembled mass OF /
dusky beings, to the number of one hundred /
or more, are prOmi5cuGusiy crowded together 4
with most profound disregard 10 all inconyc-
mences CT time and space, and are singing |!
and shouting and praying in their own peeu-
liar manner. Beings OF strong sUscept;bilities. \
and ardent bat uneultivated imaginatiors i
some of their rhetorical figures are strikingly /
peculiar, as for instance: THE Bible is my /
engineer" )" " Look at de people at de bar Of /
God;'' and " Locr and quick
Hours pass slowly by, and day is fast ap-
preaching. The ground presents desOate
appearance, except that here and there are
struggling groups, looking pale, wan, and ex-
hausted in the morning twilight, and cold and
shivering from the effect Of the night dews |
rapidly vanishing away TO the tents to sock
refreshments for the coming day.
In haste, yours rs ever, NILSSON.