Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1857-08-28

Camp meetings and their Influence.


Under this caption IN article appears in the
journal of the 2lst, which with permission /
desire to review. The author thinks such meet
ngs were originated to promote " the Christian
reli gion," and for 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 ga law for the prohibi-
ton of Camp Meetings" Let us look at his
facts, his reasoning, and the cure he recon-
mends. We premise first of all, that he is neither
M enemy to christianity, nor bigoted opponent
Of Methodism. 1t is not his wish to strike q
sister church by claiming only 10 denouuce the
abuses of one of her favorte institutions. He
honestly wishes to reform. We shall review him
not, then as an enemy, but rather as a 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 Jubilee" phrases that
would seem to have q specific application that
can refer only to the Red Lion Meeting; while,
on the other hand, he proposes q statute prohibit
ting Camp Meetings, MS remedy fol the evil
depicted and deplored. II 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 He
begins outside and penetrates inwards First,
there is q strange conglomeraton of hui
manity"-the blind, lame deaf dumb, rich,
poor, old, youHg illiteate, learned, sick, dying,
living and dead-mingled proiniscuously to-
gether." That there should be a great deal of
confusion is not surprising. But that this pic
ture of the outsiders Is somewhat hyperbolical
the author will hardly deny. did he ever see
the sick, dying, living and dead in one conglo-
merate mass at 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 well as at home. Let us fol-
low our friend b rs he approaches " the preach
er's stand" and hear what he has to say if " the
ministers's clamorous voice" does not drown his
Here some promenade, some recline in tents
some are seated 10 hear, and the preacher strives
to be heard but there is such q "clatter' that
" few" either listen or hear. Here again | APP
prehend is some hyperbole. Thousands listen
and hear too. What next is unrolled in the
panorama s'Some are cheating and others are
being cheated, many who are in attendance are
the dregs Of society; many timid young man,
and many we'll disposed maidenl" we forbear
to repeat the statement; the paragraph is shock
ing. The writer says " Such is butts flint pic
Of the injury which these meetings continue to
perpetrate in Delaware" Is the author certain
that what lie alleges are facts, and that they are
effects of which Camp Meetings are the cause
He goes on to say, ''that not few under excite
ment become deranged and fit themselves for the
Lunatic Asylum" s'N0t few" that is manu.
When Always be sure you are right IN your
facts. "Many find on reflection, that their
heated Imagination has resulted in their deu-
Sion" Is this well attested fact? "Presby-
terians, though strongly opposed to them, 20
there for frolic, for amusement to see and be
seen." Wonder if this can be so. If 1t be- il
is not very creditabe 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 eyils 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 vir-
tuous lifef l apprehend the writer Of the
structures, in his zeal to Stay giant, has mag
nihed evils so far beyond the truth of facts that
his reformatory labors will be in vain.
word on his logic. And first we say, that
differences drawn from dubious premises must
themselves Sc doubtful. If "Bs" premises are
not admissible IL his alleged facts either I'M
true or exaggerated, then is the inference, tina it
is the duty of the State to prohibit Camp Meet
ings, not legitimate. Again, proper distinc-
ton Is to be kept up between the cause and the
occasion of an effect If such meetings are the