West-Jersey pioneer., 1865-08-12
CAMP MEETINGS,


The encampments held by the Methodist
Episcopal church have become so entirely a
permanent institution in Southern New Jersey,
ana attract SO largely the whole community
that they demand more than passing notice
from the public journalist. They owed their
origin in the United States TO the Presbyte-
risns in Kentucky, and were continued by
them for period of time with considerable
success. Other denominations adopted them,
and soon the groves of every State were made
sacred by the services of religion. For diff
ferent reasons, all the denominations except
the Methodists abandoned them, and from
that time they have been considered as be-
longing peculiarly TO that branch of the church
of Christ. The first reason for their institu-
tion. which was the want of suitable church
accommodations, soon disappeared, but the
Methodists, believing that they found in them
a strong incentive to higher spirituality of life,
decided to retain them from what they sup
posed to be their own intrinsic value. The
arrangements of camp now, as contrasted
with earlier days, show marked improve
ment. There, a rough stand in the woods for
the occupancy of the preachers-rough wag-
ons with coarse coverings in which the owner
both slept and ate, and moved-rough boards
for seats when they could get them, and logs
when they could not-a few tents OF primi-
tive construction, composed largely OF blan-
kets, sheets and carpets-provisions OF the
plainest kind, cooked the previous week, and
a load of fat pine knots for the evening fires,
constituted nearly all that was deemed essen
tal. People who came upon the ground with
out such accommodations, were freely tender
ed share of the food for their support, and
of the straw for their rest. The gatherings
we're large, and frequently attended with
great demonstrations of great religious power,
and numerous conversions to religious
life.
Much of this early simplicity has passed
awav, and a state ofthings corresponding more
with the aspect of the times has taken its
place. Boarding now surrounds the encamp-
ments, in which the people live as luxuriously
as in many of our hotels. Ice creams and
reIouauu uinr.sv thoi- aAaliAs s~aue"oe
throughout the frame. Tea and coffee flavor
the air with their aroma, and tasteful tents
afford both seclusion and comfort to their in
habitants.
With many people they may take the place
of the other summer resorts, where pleasure
was sought, and health recuperated, afordiDg
as they do, both of these essentials, and pos
g.. g.. Isr~s1
renovation. Their influence upon the fervor
of the church is very marked. A week is de-
voted exclusively to religious worship-other
cares are thrown aside, and the entire ener-
under circumstances both novel and impress
sive. The preaching is almost exclusively of
an exciting character-the prayer meetings
are led by the most ardent members of the
society; the experience meetings find their
participants in the most cultivated spirituality
of the Church; and one or other of these inf
uences is acting constantly upon the per-
sons who attend camp, making it almost
impossible to avoid fuller religious life as
result.
TurnersvilIe, under the suprintendency of
Rev. Mr.. Dobbins-another at Pennsgrove,
where four or five thousand people congrega-
ted-and where many of the people tented on
the ground the week beforehand-held under
the efficient and genial control of Rev. Mr..
Whitecar, assisted by Rev. Mr.. Morrell, and
another, under the same suprintendency, is
now being held at Pittsgrove, to be followed
by still another at Asbury, near the shore of
the sea.
At Pennsgrove, the first evening, had q
sermon on songs, in the next by Rev. Mr..
Tullis, interspersed with singing. On Tues
day morning, preacher from Phla.; in the
afternoon Rev. Mr.. Baker, from Bridgeton,
who delivered a beautiful sermon. In the
evening, Prof. Moffet, on Wednesday morning
a surprise present Of one hundred and twelve
dollars was made to Mr.. Hickman, after which
a sermon on holiness oy Rev. j. Stockton,
Philadelphia on Thursday morning, Rev. A.
Atwood; in the afternoon, Rev. Mr.. Cook
man made thrilling appeal to the people in
the evening Rev. Mr.. Osborne preached on
holiness. On Friday Rev. Mr.. Bartine preached
a beautiful and powerful sermon; in the after
noon Rev. Mr.. Vansant, of Camden, delivered
an ornate production, concluding in the eve-
ming with sermon by Rev. Mr.. Norris. Fri
day night was almost entirely spent in meet
ngs; and on Saturday morning, with fearful
eyes and swelling hearts, the camp broke up,
and the members left for their various homes.
The results OF the meeting were, probably,
hundred conversions, with large increase of
the religious feeling of the Church.
THREE AT TH.-During last week the
wife of farmer living near Quinton's Bridge,
her liege lord with three little re-
at one birth. We congratulate
the worthy farmer on his prospect of having
family speedily gathered around his domestic
board. Long may he be as abundantly blessed
in basket and in store. At this rate the town.
ship will he able to fill up her quota in the next