Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-08-02
For the Spectator,
"Camp-Meetine,.v


| Messrs Editors The lovers of peace an,
good order will appreciate the motive which
prompts this communication. Far back in tn
early history Of this country, wien ita popula.
ton was sparse, and churches few and far be.
tween, necessity prompted the large and pro.
miscuous assemblages at certain places, for re
ligious exercises, known as "Camp.maetings n
Families removed to such places In thar wagons
and either used them as places In which to lodge
or erected temporary huts or cabins, to be used
during the continuance of the meeting. This
was at period of our history when the people
appreciated such opportunities, and to greater
or less degree protted, it may be, by them
That day has long since passed away. Churches
have 30 multiplied everywhere in our Valley, a,
least, as to do away with necessity for such as
semblages. The Methodist denomination wa.
the first to introduce them, but for some years
past they have yielded to an enlightened public
sentiment and abandoned them. The character
of the crowds which were drawn together, made
up in great degree of all that is most repulsivt
in society, and from great distances very often
fastened this feeling of opposition and prejudice
against them. The mischief done on such occa
sions very far over balanced any good. The
Sabbath has been almost entirely ignored, the
peace and good order of society violated by
drunkenness, profanity, fighting, huckstering
lewdness, and in short, by the preparation Of
almost every crime. The families of those en-
camping on the ground, especially the females
have had such an amount of drudgery and labor
to perform in cooking aud providing for the en-.
tertainment of their many friends and acquaiu
tances, as to make it next to impossible they
should enjoy any OF the benefits of public wor.
ship. The neighborhood selected for such a
meeting, regard it with anything but feeling of
comfort, and always desire it shall for the future
be abated as nuisance. Contiguous land hold
ers suffer in the throwing down their fences,
tresspassing nitheir fields and crops, robbing
their orchards and hen roosts, corrupting their
slaves and ignoring their rights of every kind
The business of the Courts is much increased
and conscientious grand juror finds much to
engage his attention. l
In view of this state of public sentiment and
the results of Camp Meetings, as we read their
history in the past, you will feel surprise, Messrs.
Editors, to learn that an effort is on foot to in
stitute them again, on the part of some OF our
Methodist friends. / say some, for / feel well
assured, but few of them enter heartily into the
idea. One Of their clergy with incorporate zeal
insists a Camp Meeting must and shall be held,
'altho' devil should be found behind every
tree" to use the language which dame Rumour
attributes to him; am aware she is sometimes
mendacious, but in this instance che approxi-
mates very closely, presume, to the truth. He
urges, too, that it be held hard by church Of
another denomination, when, doubt not, other
situations might readily be had, where no con-
ilct or interference with other denominations
could be feared. Should such meeting be held,
may we not hope that the amount Of good may
very far oounterbalance the evil, aud in such an
event no one will more heartily rejoice than
CONSERVATORY