New-York tribune., 1868-08-11
SING SING CAMP MEETING.

The camp-meeting is an American institution,
and until its introduction by Methodsts from America
had no existence among Christians in any other country
It's origin is admirably sketched In the history Vi
Methodism" by the Rev. Abel stevens, Ii d. OF that
Church Its beginning entirely accdehta' perhaps
ProYidentia 1t dates from the State then Iertor oi
Arkansas in the year l799 and the first meeting was hu
by the Methodsts and the Presbyterans. other dcnOm
nations also participating. Campmeetings were helu
city of churches but because il was found that they
drew large masses OF people together, and were
productive of much good both TO members OF
the church and TO the unconyerted. For several
years the Presbyterians and Baptists kept up
ib practice OF the annual encampmeut bat finally they
abandoned II 10 the MethOdists who have since had
monopoly of institution, which Is gaining rather than
losing In public favor daily. IL Is now thrtysx years
since the Mehodsts OF NewYork City and vicinity began
20 hold camp meetings upon TINS ground ana thirty ye
since they bought IT, A whole generation have been
brought up from childhood in the annual practice Of re-
sorting hither for this feast OF taDerhaclee AS cOhse
0uence these people feel strong attachment TO the spot
dd IL bns py bacome CUSTOM with many pitch their
tents several weeks in advance OF the meeting anu 70 re-
charming rustication. In this manner cOsdeIaDe vi
lage had grown up here in the grove TINS year pcoo
meeting opened Religious services often conducted
among these visitors aud 80 the work begins before the
ANON tbe most marked characters in the list of labor
ers i'm the PRAYER meetings are Dr. W c. Palmer OF New
York and his wife. Mrs. Palmer is known thTousuoul
this and England as an evangelist OF great power
aud usefulness. AS author, her numerous Noluce '
prOmOtIve of the doctrine Oi Holmes, Us heiu ~ ,D
Methodist Church. have probably had greater gre M sa,e ]
those of any female writer who ever lVed IN AelCd'
and greater than any other devotional works OF ths uS
very different, yet strongly marked character, 10
BOSTON COrbett of Wilkes Booth memory lie Is short
undersized man. OF compact and powerful fale apPdi
entity about 80 years OF age black goatee ana mStdchc
hair straight black, fine. parted IN the MIDDLE anu anu
combed behind the ears Seen only above the DcaIu hs
face would by its feminine contour and the sQneSs OI
his dark eyes, be taken for that OF woman Yet III that
mild face and eyes sumbers unconscious dauntlcss-
ness and ever prompt moral courage. -,
Naturally of the highest order or reasoning Icu-
tes and sure Of being called fanatic by all but those
who know him best he is Of the shrewdest OF men,
and of the most infcXibe cOnsclcntiOusness lie Is
shouter by instinct aud his sudden sharp: explosive
Amen sartes his neighbOrs like the crack OF ile ana
tells when he Is anywhere on the ground As MIile
this he H praying as for life in the prayer meeting at tue
stand and as the people rise DR. Newman states tnat four
souls were converted under that prayer His prayer hS
"A ylce.lIke grip IN it, like his fist Ihere are seYeIsi
ladies' OF them wives OF minister's on tls EIpuH'
WHO would be particularly mcntonabe but Tor the IN
volatility OF private life. But their valuable laOoIh IN
the pray er meetings amply vindcae the rights OF woman
TO labor with her brothers IN the Masters Work; . . -
old silver trumpet" demands a word III IS y
genuine trumpet, OF solid silver % inches long ana OF
elegant figure and great purify ana SOnOIly OF tOuc O
its Tube s engraved the inscriptions Blow ye the tfuiu
NET I'm Zion and sound an alarm my holy mountain.
This trumpet Is much older than this campmeeuug III
has beeu blown to sound the prOclanatOns or many oil
the veteran heroes OF MethOdsm ON TINS ana FORMER
campgrOuuds. Daniel Oatrandcr Peter T.. SaudlOIu
steUben Martndae Nathan Bangs and host OF the de
parted have marshaed the armies OF lsTael az us ps
s tone loses nothing By age, but gathers rchhess anu
Are with all tho stirring memories OF years that SPEAK III
IL clarion call And what Is remarkable, the same agel
trtnueter whose breath filed s throat then, DoWs
suU with as clear a ring ever. His name IS "ilHam
Springer.