Weekly Delaware State journal, statesman and blue hen's chicken. (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-18??, 1857-08-28

Under this caption an article appears in the
Journal of the Dist, which with permission |
desire to review. The author thinks such meet
ngs were originated to promote 4" the Christian
reli gion," and for q number of years accom-
plished their object but that they now - 10 far
more harm than good" The proper remedy for
the evil he judges to be :" law for the prohib-
ton of Camp Meetings" Let us look at his
faets his reasoning, aud the cure he recon-
mends. We premise first of all, that he is neither
an enemy TO christianity, nor a big0ted opponent
of Methodism. 1t is not lis wish to strike a
sister church by claiming only to denounce the
abuses of one of her fayorite institutions. lie
honestly wishes to reform. We shall review him
not, then as an enemy, but rather as fellow
laborer.
In descanting on his facts we have this diff
Guilty, we cannot always tell whether he refers
to the Red Lion Meetings specifically, or to Camp
Meetings throughout the State. For instance,
he speaks of "immense numbers" " vast null
titude," and a "great jubee;" phrases that
would seem to have specific application, that
can refer only to the Red Lion Meeting while,
on the other hand, he proposes a statute prohibit
ting Camp Meetings, as remedy for the evil
depicted and deplored- 1t may be, however, he
supposes there will be an annual recurrence of
the local evil without law covering the whole
" Diamond State" We presume then, the facts
alleged are only such as characterize the great
jubilee" They certainly are startling lie
begins outside and penetrates inwards. First,
there is " strange conglomeraton of hu-
manity"-the blind, hme deaf dumb, rich
poor, old, young, illiteate, learned, sick, dying
living aud dead-mingled promiscuously to.
gether." That there should be great deal of
confusion Is not surprising. But that this pic
ture of the outsiders is somewhat hyperbolica
the author will hardly deny. Did he ever see
the sick, dying, living and dead in one conglo-
merate mass ut Camp Meeting! We shall not
dispute about the slaughter of fowls and the de-
struction of embryo CHICKENS, nor about the kinds
of vessels employed in bringing water from the
springs, as the people must eat and drink at
Camp Meetings as we'll as at home. Let us fol-
low our friend as he approaches " the preach
et's stand and hear what he has to say, if the
ministerss clamorous voice" does not drown his
Here some promenade, some reclinc in tents,
some are seated to hear, and the preacher strives
to be heard but there is such 'clatter' that
'' few" either listen or hear. Here again ap-
prehend is some hyperbole. Thousands listen
and hear too. What next is unrolled in the
panorama "Some are cheating and others are
being cheated, many who are in attendance are
the dregs Of societyi many timid young man.
and many a well disposed maiden !" We forbear
to repeat the statement; the paragraph is shock
ing. The writer says Such is butt faint pic
Of the injury which these meetings continue to
perpetrate in Delaware" Is the author certain
that what he alleges are facts, and that they are
effects of which Camp Meetings are the cause
He goes on to say, "ihat not few under excite
ment become deranged and fit themselves for the
Lunatic Asylum" ''Not few" that is MANY
When Always be sure you are right IN your
facts. "Many find on reflection, that their
heated imagination has resulted in their delu-
sion." Is this well attested fact? "Presby-
terians, though strongly opposed to them, 20
there for frolic, for amusement to see and be
seem" Wonder If this can be so. If it be, ii
is not very creditable to Presby terian friends
What " direful consequences follow other than
those named, we may scarcely guess" But they
are summed up in the sentences "The utter
ruin of our best and most promising citizens /;
the abandonment to dissipation of many of those
who had previously led sober and yirtuous lives,
the destruction Of health" and many other ter
rible eyilsl Is all this susceptible of proof?-
What good citizen was ever ruined utterly by
going to a Camp Meeting? Who ever frit be-
came abandoned to dissipation at Camp Meet
ing, who up to going there led a sober and yir-
tuOus life2 l apprehend the writer of the
structures, in his zeal to STAY giant, has mag
nifed evils so far beyond the truth of facts that
his reformatory labors will be in vaiua
A word on his logic. And first we say, that
differences drawn from dubious premises must
themselves BE doubtful If "B's'' premises are
not admissible, if his alleged fncs either un-
true or exaggerated, then is the inference, that it
is the duty of the State to prohibit Camp Meet
ings, not legitimate Again, proper distinc-
ton is to he kept up between the cause and the
occasion Of an effect. II such meetings are the