The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-05
CAMP MEETING AT SING SING.
Grand Gathering OF Methodists ut the Old
Camp-Ifs LOcatiOn-The Arrangements for
the Season of 1865.

Grand Gathering Of Methodists at the Old
Camp-ifs LocatiOn-The Arrangements for
the Season of 1865.
Yesterday Sing Sing was enyened as il annuaIIv
is, by scores OF blooming lasses rosy-cheeked as q
peach; rOmpng youths full OF vitality and the spirit
OF freshness; men and women, devout and sincere
MethOdists-a to minge In the opening exercises OF
the camp meeting OF the New York Conference held
here yearly for over third OF a century, They came
with tents, with household furniture and all the
necessary articles 10 live In the open air for ten days
hence. Not far from the town-about q mile and
half-is the old camp ground 1t is In the midst OF
grove OF tall hickory trees that shade 1t completely.
and upon two sides Of 1t range OF picturesqueiy
wooded bluffs rear their heads as sentinels to the
enclosure small brook glides sweetly through 1t.
falling here and there little distances, forming beau
tiful miniature cascades. The arrivals yesterday
from New York and vicinity found to their great
pleasure that many had preceded them, and that the
encampment already contained some three hundred
tents their unique and perfect arrangements speak
ing forciby for the taste Of their occupants was
q busy day-tent raising tent arranging aud tens
Deautifying.
No more perfect spot than this could be selected for
such an object. 1t is peculiarly quiet, and when
some distance from preaching and prayer meetings
is almost startled by its quieness by ones own
one who wishes for retreat whittier to steal from inc
busy world and its distractions and dream quietly
away a time and mediate awhile, there Is no more
The ground IS held in trust by Board Of officers
whose election is provided for by special legislative
act and this year 1t Is composed as f0llows-Pres
dent, John Mclean; vicePresident, stephen Merit;
Secretary, E; H. brown; Treasurer, Joel sammis;
il. APPLICABLE, James ". Barker. Egbert Remnant
Theo. Gallagher, VIM. Ryer, John Pearsal VIM.
the remaining members. These are divided during
the season OF encampment into five committees
comprising the Poce Improvement, Tent, Con-
veyance and Finance Committees upon whom de-
volve the really onerous duties that daily occur
The arrangements everywhere are capital, and
have been dictated by great taste. The tents are
arranged on Central East and West avenues and
the streets radating east and west from them. The
stand for the minister's with several other houses OF
unique architecture, have been erected for years
| and are permanent. Around the principal stand
appropriately designated the circle" are seats capa-
| bic o. accommodating 5000 hearers, where three
times daily i'll pleasant weather, fully that number
preclude open worship services will be held IN
large tents erected for this purpose. Prayer meeting
tents are also abundant, where at any lime during
the intervals OF preaching such as are disposed can
| meet in suppcatiun. Moman's handiwork is every
where visible in the tents, some OF course, being OF
| greater dimensions, more profuseiy so. One with
the least stretch of Imagination could fancy that he
| was within his own parlor, as Brussels carpets.
| bouquets wonderfully help out this fancy The
camp in its entirety is associated In the mind with
ideas of order, OF quiet OF SOBER Wen established
principles of long usage and reverend custom.
The religious services yesterday were not OF such
an extended nature as Will be observed hereafter,
but at three O'Clock In the afternoon and again at
evening Rev. Mr. Kirk, Of Brooklyn; Rev. Mr. Apple
| gate, Of New York, and Rev. MIR. Babcock, OF Man
| chester. n H., preached to large gatherings. Be-
sides this several prayer meetings were held, IN one
| Of which Mrs. Ex-Governor Wright eloquently ana
appropriately spoke to many OF all ages. v. Hart
+, Pease is Presiding Elder i'll charge of the meeting
with Rev. Mr.. w. ii. Ferris as associate
The police regulations are efficient ten MetrOp0ll-
tans, under charge Of Sergeant Osborn subject to
the direction OF Mr. 4. H. Brown one or the trustees
Of the encampment looking out for interlOpers and
wrong doors. In few days the force will be aug
mented, and again hereafter II necessary.
The late trains last evening brought many arrivals,
| who hurried to the ground The sky, although not
very clear, was serene, and nature about the Old
| camping place wore that rich livery OF summer
| one always associates with serenity. The trees
| were In their fullest emerald; the leaves OF
| some Of the smaller kinds glistened as the
| few remaining drops OF water on them
caught the rays Of the departing sun. ''rhe small
birds taking their farewell banquets," and 10
the smaller children. In the lulness OF their
| revelry each like the other futtered, chrped and
lrolicked from tree to tree from tent to tent and
| then to their beds. soon after the song OF hymns
echoed about the grove, and then prayers from
tents, more fervent than others, and the first
| regular meeting day OF the Sling sing Camp Meeting
| OF 1865 was vending its way down Hle gallery OF
| time.
will thousands augment the number already there.