Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-08-18
d 4oite giterature.
From the Cincinnati Times.
THE MANAGES SERMON.
A CAMP MEETING INCIDEN1
BY INVISIBLE GREEN, ESQ.


|. The Duck Creek Camp grounds. near
| Cincinnati, are noted among those reserved t
for Methodist Rural Meetings. Their Pc
culiar location, and favorable adaptation
! for that purpose, induced the Methodist
congregations of the adjoining city to lease
them for term of years, and hold tnem
sacred to that peculiar institution OF their
church. By this arrangement the most
eligible lots were rented to persons able
and willing to improve them, and the re-
sult-was the erection of between one and
two hundred rough two-story tenements
surrounding the preaching grounds, and
which are annually reftted and made COM
Portable for temporary occupancy. Thisis
permanency to the Camp grounds. 9th
erwise, the Duck Creek Camp Grounds IS
pretty much like all other Camp Grounds.
Beyond these permanent tenements are
rows of white canvass tents, with their beds
of straw spread upon the ground, and store
chests of carefully prepared provisions in
---ess;Saa,,:s;; :; the large boarding tents, with
their immense tables, and "bunks" OF loose
straw the farmers tents, consisting OF beds
of market wagons, with the usual coverings
and the rustic outdoor kitchens, from
which the smoke is ever curling up through
the green boughs overhead.
The meetings are generally held in th'
month of August. Lying quite near to
oreat citv, the attendance is always yer.
large. In the year 1856, some four hun
dred families were located on the ground
] during the entire meeting, and on the Sab
r Lotl, fbo visitors were estimated as high a
i eioht thousand. It was on this day that
), startling incident occurred-so startlln
d tbat # can never be forgotten by thos
g who witnessed it. The large attendanc
d having been anticipated, it was arrange
: that six sermons should be delivered dl
ripa the day from the main pulpit, viii
7, others were to be made from temporar
ot stands in different parts of the well-shade
8 Grove. Except three short intermlsslol
h for meals. the whole day was to be occuE
ct ed in Divine service. By this means
Id was hoped, the Gospel might reach the
- ofavcrv nerson who visited the Camp Me-
'e ing on that day.
n Anene the families in attendance, "
ty ono by the name Of Smith, who occupied
Die spacious tenement directly in the rear
the pulpit, and in full view OF the wh
rs, CONGREGATION. It was an old Method
family. The elder Mr.. Smith was a c.
vert of the eccentric and famous Lorel
Dow. and having been previously "
Nv wicked man, atoned for it by afterw
!, It becoming humble and pious membe
1el- the church. His wife gladly followed b
md and the two devoted themselves to
mn cause of Christianity.
II. They were blessed with several child
tho whom they raised with care IN 'the "
LII oftruth !" These children all grew
and spi1ns and became ornaments OF the Chu
: nf wifi one exception. That exception
,on+ the Youngest Of two sons, who at an e
aoe eyinced dislike for the practices
,anv Christianity, and despite all the affec'
i Of ate efforts of parents and friends, wand
4 90 in the broad road of immortality a
mot approached maturity, he became Snore
uonr more addicted to the popular vices OF
,t;on day. and became at last moral STAIN
lJod society. shame to those who loved
Me- and the ablack sheep" of his family
suc- blossomed into manhood blasphen
outb rake and drunkard.
and A year or two before the camp-me
annv above alluded to, this young man
Nc Me- broughthome one evening insensiblyy d
, and The next morning found him the yict
Aoor terrible fever, brought on by his Sc
q the inlulgences and extrayagant course
; let IOf that fever he was, after many
that days. and much tender care by his
eal;ze tiyes, cured, but it left him raylng
sixty ac. a frightful lunatic. So fearful we
rrame mad efforts, it became necessary to 9
) enc, him in Lunatic Asylum, to keep hln
: ebont ea nerpetrating mischief on himself and
! - slan ers m He remained there until within
a,hosa weeks of the camp-meeting, when
-racod .,o came sufficiently restored to be retur
.brofb- broth the custody of his family. He was
~ A. sane. but he was mild and obcdiel
onocbs under those circumstances ne was
~, snd with the family to the cannp-meetl
nod the utmost vigilance being exercised oy