The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-14
TIE ROCXAWAY CAMP MEETING.

doing 60 the Camp and WHAT Is TO be Seea
There-Physicai Culture VIZ. Christianity.
FAR RoOKAwAY, L. l., August IL 1868.
What singular steamboat landing Is that at Far
ROckaway, which is almost pushed into the inlet
every time the steamer swings alongside and what
curious sight il Afforded TO the visitors to the camp
meeting after they have got ashore A low. nat
beach Overhung by sedgy grass and reeds. q placid
Inlet dotted with little green patches OF rushes Q
sandy road creeping down over an almost imperccp-
tible rising ground to the jetiy, twenty dapida.ed
vehicles drawn up alongside the highway, with an
equal number OF dilapdated Jehus in attendance
bawling This way for Rockawayr Ask one OF the
drivers how far it Is to the village and he win tell
you. "Two miles aud haf;' and, thank
full that there IL chaperone in attendance,
one embarSs in rafting. creaky wagon and
starts, whittier the driver only knows. Two hundred
yards from the shore scrubby cedar and oak woods
spring up on either hand and, shuilling over O
sandy road, through scenes OF this description for
about ten minutes the little white spire OF u church
appears and In brace OF minutes more you are at q
hotel stoop Four out or i've persons tell you they
have mot beard OF any camp meeting about hore"
and the fth SAYS II Ia "a short walk down the road
there After walking what may lie fairly reckOned
ground il and he tells Won II is about three or four
miles out, in Abe Hewletts woods. Visitors have
the privilege OF walking this distance II they choose:
or perhaps, may dnd some willing tn drive him
out TO the camp, but II certainly Is not less than q
four mile stretch, over roads ankle deep with sand
neat and handsome villas Of many of New York's
prominent men.
10 at last reached, and 10 found to be beautifully
located In pretty copse OF outrageous oak aud
cedar with rlcn cushion OF turf beneath Eight or
betoken the neighborhood OF the campers. Some
monotonous singing attracts the ear, and proceed
Ing IN the direction Of the music tent Is reached in
which about twenty persons are seated ct o table
eighteen Of them being colored persons The latter
are committee OF the Union Congregational
(colored) Church OF Brooklyn under whose auspices
the meeting Ia being held aad their pastor the Rev.
MT Brown, !. IN charge OF the camp: Several Of tho
ments. and short distance from the tent In which
IL found the COMMITTEES, rough pine platform
slight roof. In front Of and about five PAGES dts
tant nom this structure also temporary PLANK
seats for the accommodation OF worshippers, tho
oificating clergymsn and aymen occupying seats on
the platform. Although this Is in fact camp meet
ing OF colored reiigoniss not more than twenty per
sons OF that race have been present at any meet
ing, the attendance being mainly confined TO white
persons OF all ages and both sexes. Services
Quoted generally by Mr. Brown twice or thrice daily.
and at the evening devotions 90 many as 200 or
loo persons have been on several occasions
present. though Il Is decidedly presumabe that
The majority OF tbsso attend merely from
motives OF curiosity, scandal or the nty
a moral or spiritual nsinre which generally draw
visitors to camp meetings. This meeting was or
gained on the 9Th instant and will be continued
until the l'th, MONDAY next Thus far but little
spiritual good has been sccompshc aud In his ex-
hortations the pastor In charge has several 0cca
greatly the absence OF the working or tns
Holy Spirit in the hearts and minds Of his hearers.
The fact OF the matter II thlsthe camp meeting n
100 near lively little seaside bathing place, and
the hdbitties OF these ablutionary resorts do not
generally frequent their fsvorts haunts for the pur
pose OF attending camp meetings in their vicinity.
The idea OF holding camp meeting uear Rockaway
beach Is Theoretically very good az the visitors to
the seaside thus have the opportunity OF acquiring
physical and spiritual vigor combined. Bus
practically II fails. The United states, the
Atlantic the Ahambra and other hotels, besides
boardsrs and transient guests, and The season has
been probably one OF the busiest that Rocksway mas
ever experienced. Most OF these establishments
run stages to the camp In the evenings for the 40
conimOdatlon OF guests, and the guests relish the
IDEA very mucn, but these guests know very weH
that they go to the meeting merely "a they would go
70 sh0w-to see 1t, 10 gossip, to nirt anu run
ABOUT. some seven thousand persons nave tnus Tar
visited the grounds, And on the evenings ana on tno
sabbath large crowds are usually present. It's
very frequent occurrence that these persons pasa
me DAY IN sailing on the inlet, diving into sns SURE
riding over the many pleasant drives IN this neigh
norhood, 60 to camp meeting in the evening. ana
thence at ten O'Clock at night TO mop ~ one %
other OF the hotels. Heigho so we Roi