The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-20
nlisfel|onD.
From the Vermont Christian Messenger.
Camp Meetings.

umns Of the Northwestern Christian AdeO-
cate
The season for these feasts Of tabernaclrs
has come. The tribes are gathering.-
They have beard of i: at Ephra'ch and found
it in the field OF the woods. We are glad
to hear the signal for the rally. Long be it
ere this progressive age shall pass from
camp.meetlngs
There is something truly inspiring III the
scenery - the spow-white tents, or rude prn-
tive structures the hearty greetings, the
sweet songs, the gathering thousands, The
green. n.wood arch, ringing with the song car
oled by a thousand voices Ay, we feel that
we worship God in the temple of his own
building.
Should We in The worlds riptr yoars, neglect
Gods ancielt sanctuaries, adore
Only among the crowd and u ier roofs
That our frai hands have rails d?
We see no good reason. We said there is
| something inspiring in such scenes. Why do
ministers usually preach bctrer at camp-weet
inss? Why is there SO much extraordinary
power in prayer?
A truce to this. Let u take up some
practical suggestions. Camp meetings are
sometimes defeated by unfortunate location.
They are OCCASIONALLY pu. where there is no
wood. and not much water, for we are st ong
believers iu much water, on or near the
camp grounds, and we are inclined to thinA,
much for the same reason that John the Bap
tist led the people to Exon. AT other Times
gronnd is selected upon W ,ch it is a most
impossible to preach or to sng. There are
occasiona y radical detects n preparation
IN tents, puplts, etc.
To have good camp-meetipg, the strength
OF the charge should camp on the ground.-
1t sbenld be a mass meeting OF the Church.
The fare should be generous, but simple, and
easily prepared It is sin and shame to
compel females to spend this moiety OF the
time in cooking aud serving ,'abes. In addi-
tIon to public services, t'eg@ ohoud be time
devoted to social meetings, tent prayer meet
ings, &c. But The private duties of religion
should not be neglected Each one should
find some opportunity, daily, to read the
wold OF COD, pray in secret, and for close
selt.exarniuatlon.
The singing at camp-mcetirgs requires
much prudence. No man should be alose ed
to lead who is not revival Methodist. No
man should be allowed to sing his fugue
tunes his opera music, Or to flourish through
his dcmi semi quavers. No! We want
good old stirring tune, full of melody, full
of soul-tunes in which the congregation
can joip. Welovc to hear upon the eucanp-
mcnt occasionally thrilling religious chorus
but would abolish those seuseless d,tiies which
some roll of with such gusto Things are
they (the dittics, not the singers) having nel.
ther divinity or sense. Reform them alto
gether. Let US have good manly siglng,
such as Wrestling Jacob, 'Ill praise my
Maker &c., together with our hymns of PEN
itence, perfect love, rejoicing and praise.
And now We venture. with some trembling
to touch anotner topic ; VIZ, the preaching
for camp.meet'ngs. The camp ground is Il
att e-ield-a time OF special conflict. Now,
lor mercys sake, let no officer come forth
with drowsy message wulcn, instead Of
railying shall set the host to sleep. No
give us martial gospel No metaphysical
disqusitions now-no paIavering abont sub
iectlve and oojective-to gingcrIy handling
of sugar-stieks no Aowery essays hung
tc the text tor the sake OF crowliny them
into tue pulpit--no dry controversy-no
ioaing WITH efete qaes'ions-no clabora-
tons Of the abs sArlltles OF Gnostics and Ros-
icrucians. No we want to sec how near
we are 10 destruction. Show us Sinai in.
stead of Parnasus-point us to Calvary no;
to academic groves. Law aud Gospe'
that old phrase expresses what we want
what those need who crowd IL @>@secrated
grove We want the central truths OF the
sospel-the very heart of the plan of saliva.
tion.
We sometimes hear good people speaking
on camp ground of A. preaching the big
sermou,' B. firing the big gun,' or G. was
not afraid to come after G. on account of the
great Sermon &c. Such remarks represent
the ministers as a set OF contestants for publiv
honor, to transform the pulpit into an Olym-
pic arena, and the men, who have solemn or.
dination VOWS upon them, into mere wrestlers
or giadiators- the prize the award OF the
crowd Ii this were SO, some one should
|! weld with brawney am, whip OF small
cords and drive them forth, and make room
for honest men Let such remarks cease
forever. They tend to infame an unho'y
!, ,mhit;on in the hearts of men who should