The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-26
THE CAMP MEETING AT FLUSHING.


THE CAMP MEETING AT FLUSHING.
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Scenes md Incidents Of a visit-Tbs Crowd
and the Preaching-Breaking Up OF the
Meeting.
OF all the congregations In which tho gregarious in
stincts of lead him to take part present sc
many strange features and odd contrasts as the as
sembly generally designated rs a camp meeting; and
however strange, unique and incongruous gathering
Of this description may be when organized governed
and arranged by white people all is remarkable points
partakng Of this character exaggerated distorted
and increased when tho occasion that of coored meet
ing The one recently held in the vicinity Of Flushing
L. L. and VIII ich having been commenced two weeks ago
closes this morning with appropriate ceremonies has
been no exception 10 this general principle, but has
rather served from Its inception TO its closing
said Yesterday being generally known the last day
OF the meeting there was OF course, greater attendance
than usual and representation Of what was then and
there will give fair idea Of the general conduct OF
the affair Notwithstanding the interest that felt
and had bern manifested on the previous Sunday
the Flushing Railroad Company ran none but the regular
crushing on the cars and great deal Of wait
ing at Hunters Point the part Of numbers who had
anticipated better accommodations Having finally,
however, obtained q means Of transportation, and
through the beneHcence Of Divine Providence mot
been to reach Flushing IN safety the Sos
to the camp found themselves upon dsembarking from
the inv in maze Of the strangest and most
amusing looking ot Of vehicles which surrounded the
Depot. bearing almost uniformly the inscription ITO
the camp ground" They OF all sorts. sizes, and
OF the original contrivanco the neghborug far.
having s!dentiy, In spirit OF acqusitiveness
worthy Of descendants OF the Pilgrim Fathers, impro
vssd their market wagons into omnibuses and by nail
ing rough boards from side to side, furnished
accommodations for attending the meeting, such
might suppose enjoyed by the contemporaries Of
Sas 81
generally dapdated that IL seemed safer TO trust those
whose construction for the purposes TO which they were
thai day devoted was more recent. Notwithstanding
the generally forbddEg style Of these equpages they
speedily filed by the crowds who, just landed
from The cars, route TO camp meeting, and
scrambled in Irrespective Of race or color With con-
tempt for it's distinctions that would have delighted the
most avowed RADICAL When thus crowded together
were disposed to morales, they world have fur
nished mean parallel OF tho common level upon
which all when travelling in search OF spirit.
ual tnngs; but the appearance Of many pretty
face-white Of courss-shinns cut in bewching love.
illness from the dark background OF its sable companions
distracted all such sober thoughts and suggested the ne
cessty Of following rapidly ss possible But hows
To ride was-weli disagrecable. WakY What was The
distance, 'Three miles" said the driver OF caravan
who wished the Inquirer 10 step IN. "A mile aud
haf" answered disinterested party, who had ridden
there in the same trap previously Considering that the
afternoon when light breeze stirred the eafy tops Of
the trees-which, extending their spreading branches
the avenue down which the crowds were hurry
ing promised shadet was thought best 10 walk aud
cordngiy this mode OF ocomoton was adopted The road
passes through section OF country IN thorough cutva
AuOrnod on eitacr Dy
many instances by groves Of weeping willows tree
which abounds in this part OF Long Island. II seemed
~ If It's usual aspect was one OF quiet but this was
much disturbed yesterday In addition to the
conirivancss for carrying passengers which came luni-
berng along, laden down with human freight so closely
packed together be in many josiing
others headsofen apparently however to the salts
faction OF those thus jostlng-tha Is where they were
young and OF opposite sexes-the coored people of New
York had, evidently with view TO astonsh the
country folks, turned out In grand style. Cabs
$50 calledl, baroacneA light wagons, sulkeys and
others OF tho fashionable "traps," came dashing
along the road at Q rafting pace, drawn by splen.
did locking steeds, while the driver deliberately
got up With white vess showing oil his dark complexion
imitation OF practsed jockey and with skill that
excited tho admiration OF his Class Of freight the
highest point Even the sisters were not behind In
this display OK fashionable accomplishments a. more
than ono OF them down the road, reins In hand
With n style and dash most astonishing. There were
others, however moro sober, whose minds seemed
wholly ongrossed by the religious occasion 20 which
they proceeding, and situations partakng OF these
sentiments were exchanged Hymns too, intoned
and the Flooding foot traveller was informed by crowded
carts which passed him the road that the inmates
were .bound for the now Jeru salem tho inference be-
ing that he had better have ticket In that convey
ance. Reaching point IN the road within sound
OF preaching going on In the camp, the crowd
lano which runs alongside OF the Flushing
Cemetery. The terminus OF this lane-for here
was the entrance TO the ground-sscmed chaotic
mass Of wagons, carts, CARRIAGES ornnibusss, mon,
women children whites blacks and other constituents
nearer approach resolved the confusion into some
sembancs Of order the various wheeled platforms and
being drawn up with IN attempt ~
lAry each side Of the road leaving marrow pathway
between for the passage Of bipedai vStor Immediate
y upon emerging this avenue the nrst OBJECT In
view VA canvas saloon. bearing In gold letters tho
announc . Hotel Airesno With further in.i.
Leaving this aud containing with the stream Of people
~ho Of all coiors and shades aud di, srsed AZURE
pressing forward, careless WHITTIER seemingly, only
anxious 70 ges two booths roughly constructed OF
pine bcsrds passed in front Of each Of which
asssmblsd . promiscuous crowd Of Thirsty riioieur,
wh0 frsnficaV calling far Eoy
ten ccnts glass charged, with sometimes request
the part Of the presiding genius whte, to ows the
came more apparent dusky forms being seen reclining
10 front OF tens or moving about inside From OF
we'll rashing forth. hat In hand, his bald pate
shining with the most unctous Eraca. On emerging
from The tsnt he commenced dancing and ges,culstng
In the mcst frantic manner, though he had seen
vision, while those arcund held up their hands with
pious auazctnent In q few moments he bscsns calm
aud returned 10 hts Canvas home. After o toriuous
passage among the throng Who flsd every avenue Of
approach and much turning about and stumbling over
the unks CT ilsr trees past nu merous booths where
coffee cakes pies aud other delicsces displayed
the cnvcus gaze OF Numerous pccsn miles, for the
refresh OF them and their elders the platform was
reached This was The great centre OF attraction the
more seriously disposed and inqusirve of tue con.
erccatlon, who collected here 20 the num-
Der Of abont trc thousand listening the exhots
Of sister Dufci who wss holding forth loudly and eO
Gently upon The principle Of salvation Tho scene not
whs,andng us sroesqas features vas not without lite
Guess Tbs beautiful grove OF ccdars whose
tsIi ,ranks stood almost upright pointing the way TO
heaven shorn OF foliage ta almost top where
With nterlockcd branches they spread canopy over
this vas. asssr,blsgc; tho wrapt appearsrcc OF the
eoored worsbppers, their earnest seeming devoon the
excited voice az the speaker sounding with starting
sauesnc,s through tue aisies OF the fores the
rostrur and above s the patches OF Summer sky
between the interstices ri tho trees sufficient
show The broad blue dome under which they stood all
eombpsd rive sosemnitv 20 che occasion ana svoks
deep srse ssi.vsecss The sister having
1rssd sae esundsd polite invasion 70 All prsssni %