Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-09-16
For The oNforl Democrat.
Bethel Camp Meeting.

Bethel Camp Meeting.
Thmiy ATTENDED ne fra day on a-oosai Of
he E'ociioR-PrparaiioHs ~ Tptiay-
OpHing ScrmoH-PrcaiiHg Hd1-Eas
WsGiAr-Cdno Meaiagi IN Gcncrai.
BnuEL, Sept II, 1850.
The Camp Meeting Of the Methodist
Church Of the Oxford County Conference.
commenced it, annual session in the grove
near Bethel Hill, on Monday last. II hav.
ing been rather injudiciously called on the
Gay Of the annual election. but few person.
wer, present. on the first day. and hut
small commencement was made. The NON.
her. Of the Methods, Church are generally
ardent Republicans, and are 80 we'll aware
Of the Importance Of the questions at issue
between the two political parties Of the
country, that not even the important occa.
sion OF the commencement, Of their annual
nesting. could keep them from the polls.
There were some fow exceptions. It is tro,.
hut those who dil their duty at the polls.
Monday. AIN SUR will much better enjoy
the meeting. The cheering reports ~ the
election which were coming in on Tuesday,
must necessarily eIhilerate their spirits and
mako them better prepared 70 cnby IN,
meeting. noticed several persons present
who have heretofore voted the Democrats
ticket, but who this year have jpinei tho
Republican ranks. and II they do not got
religiously engaged before the meeting clo.
.c-. shall he very much mi.ilken. Iear.
Ing the slave driving party is only casting
out the devil, and renders an individual
Ct subject for religious instruction.
Tuesday in tho forenoon. visited the
grounds and found the people busily engag.
ed in erecting their tents. aud fitting theta
up for comfort and convenience for tho oe.
cauon. | counted fourteen which were
nearly completed. and several others VIZ,
just being commenced. Some o. them vrr'
very large. moro than forty feet long, AMI
capable Of converting large number Of
persons.
A large boarding tent for the convenience
Of transient persons, !. kept by Mr.. A. Of
liver and J. ). Chapman.
In the afternoon. Characteristic sermon
was preached by Rev Mr.. True. Of Stone
ham. After these exercises, prayer meet
lngs were held in the several tents until the
time for the evening meal
Tho presiding minister this year ]. Rev.
Mr.. Robinson. and from his appearance
should Judge him to be well qualified tor (. @
position. which IL by no means an enviihis
one, and requires a man Of peculiar quaif.
cations. Such meeting. arr always attend
eli by all sorts Of characters. drawn toec'h.
er from earnestly, or some other Gauss
equally frivolous, and tho person who can
keep such a nbblo in suborlInatlon, must
bc one we'll qualified to preside.
From prcson, appearances, should judge
the prosPec, fair Tor good meeting. Tho
weather is fine. but may not continue 80.
Though there are many evils necessarily
connected with this drawing together of
heterogeneous masses, yet | 90 in for Camp
Meetings. There are evil, connected With
all the great undertakings in the world, yet
| believe tina, IN Camp Meetings as in Other
similar enterprises. tho amount OF good
achieved greatly oyorbalances the evil. The
church gets awakened, the bad are made no
worse, sometimes better. and often the per-
son who comes rcviliug, goes homo praying.
Then, there is a charm. an almost mex
prcssible dcligh, in meeting to worship God
" in Ills own frst temples, and the CON.
munica,ion with Heaven seems more direct
than from the circumscribcl limits Of "a
church.
Then there Is charm about the soul.
stirring music which the occasion usually
furnishes. An able writer ha. SAID that tho
sweetest Of oil music is tina, Of the human
voice, and there is more pleasure cor m' in
hearing the groves made vocal by singing
these spiritual songs, than in hearing TO
bcs, instrumental music in the world.
lNDu.