Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-09-07
The Northport Camp Meeting,

b AHtss LDtiOR
One week ago to-day LETT Ellsworth for
the purpose Of attending the annual Camp
Meeting at Wesleyan Grove In Northport.
Unlike the few proceeding weeks OF storms
and tempcsts. the days set apart for the
Feast of Tabernacles'' proved to be In the
highest degree propitious.
On reaching Belfast. l found everything
and everybody wearing an aspect which
seemed to indicate that the week OF weeks
had arrived. Teams of all description were
to be seen hurrying to and fro with an I'M
petus which betokened that their occupants
were intent on reaching the encamp men.
in season for the approaching services
Crowds of humanity surged through the
streets aud lanes with an animation wlIicn
showed that something Of unusual interest
was on the taps. Hotels overlooked with
guests. and many were obliged to seek for
entertainment at private houses. and at
places where refreshments were sold.-
Steam boats. sail boats and row boats ply
ing back and forth between Northpor, and
the cities and towns Of the Penobscot val
ley. gave to Belfast Bay lively appear
ancc. Indeed it seemed as though the ides
of some great festival had come. The stir
and hustle Of the grcgarious multitude con-
tinued through the week. and it would be
no exaggeration to compute the number Of
the visitants at the Camp Meeting at twen-
ty thousand. People m ade their Pilgrim
age thithcr from every section of the State,
and many were there from distant parts Of
the country. 1t is surprising to see how
many there are who make thci- calculations
u year in advance to be present at this Gel
ebrated religious conventicle. Some come
from questionable motives, whilst others
arc brought hither from the pur-st purpo-
ses. Many come to curse. and return to
pray: and it is quite certain, that At Camp
Meeting the good may be made better, and
the bad made still worse-just as their nat
ural proclivities incline them.
The Camp Ground is situated OH Orman
Dickey's Bluff. three miles south of Belfast
and is easy of access by land or by water.
The first meeting held on the Ground was
in lS49. thirty acres of land having then
been purchased for the Association for $500
and arranged in a manner suitable to sup
ply all the convcnienccs required.
The number Of tents erected this year
was about II, all being canvass. save two
or three. which are made of boards. These
tents are arranged around a circle in the
centre of which are seats fronting the
preachers stand. Outside Of the aforesaid
circle. is semi-circle of tents. and as the
number of booths increases. they will be
added to this newly begun circle until there
are two circumference of tents. 4 wide
avenue extends through the ground. and
from the western entrance Of 1t the people
approached the avenue by land, willis,
those who come by water enter from the
eastern opening OF the avenue. The police
regulations are of SO strict a character a,
to enforce excellent order within the re-
qnired limits, where the religious exercise.
are held.
The services observed are those that per
tain to the stand, and to the tents; tn,
former consisting Of preaching and praye
nv the ministers, and the latter of exhor
tation and prayer. chiefly by the lAity.-
Excellent singing Of course is included il
the above exercises.
The services commenced on Mon,la,
evening Ang. 9th, and concluded On tn,
following Saturday.
The preaching at the stand, evinced OIL
the part Of the ministers a singleness o
am-that Of presenting the Gospel to tn
cOnsciences Of men as the source Of saliva
ton. They sought not to captvate thei
hearers by using smooth words. and pleas
ing sentences, but, they seemed alone t
speak as though they wished to impress up
on their auditors the Importance If obtain
ing salvation through the combination @
faith and works, and to this end they use
plaiuncss Of speech. and avoided rhetorical
display. Some Of the sermons heard de
livereL, were. however. as elaborate an
r eloquent as an aesthetic taste could desir
to hear. The services in the tents were
an interesting and fcrvid character. an
} touched the key note Of the Gentleman
year Of American MethOdism. A view {
the encampment by night. when altar-lik
fires illuminated the large avenue with i,
surrounding tents, and shone upon the val
concourse Of people assembled, was a seen
which long lingcr. in the memory Of tn
behOlder.
On Saturday morning tent after tent wa
struck. and by night nothing remained ,
that sylvan village save those appurtcnar
ces. and features which are of a permaner
character.
The meetings throughout were well al
tended; scores were added to the list
the converted, and the Camp Meeting I
1866 will long be remembered for the ha
lowed associations that cluster around i
, J. l.. l..
GIVE hupe those persons who wer
misled by the Hancock Journal and e
. Prcjudiced against Mr.. Pike will, now thu
the Journal supports Mr.. Pike, go and i
likewise. 1t will be seen that the Journ;
10 satisfied now. and those persons that 70
lowed it in this opposition should be ais