The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-20
NARTHA'S VINEYARD CAMP MEETING.

Immense Gathering-Tho Cottages and What
They Look Like-Heretios, Ice Cream and
CiSars-Rigid Enforcement Of tho ResuIa.
tlons-The Opening Proceedings.
MARTHA's VINEYARD, Mass, August IL. 1860.
camp meeting is, after all, q pleasant affair."
more especially 50 in the Vineyard Grove. Com
bined with the healthy religious feeling which per-
vades the social element Is by no means dead. In
fact following the doctrine OF st. Paul. there Is evil
IDENTITY time for every thing, from Psalm singing to
eating peaches, large quantity of which, BY the
way disappear daily. though the luxury certainly Is
counerbalanced by the vocal exercises which take
place. Beyond question: gatherings Of this kind
becoming popular, not only because OF the holy
aspirations instllled into the mutitudes that con.
gregate but also on account Of the peaceful enjoy
ment by which they are usually characterized.
Every human being who comes here is not saint
but there is no knowing what may become OF him
sions not unusually occur, ana, on the whole camp
meetings are attended with happy results.
Tnirtythr years ago the Martha's Vineyard
Camp Meeting Association first began their religious
paratveiy small SUM- At the COMMENCEMENT only
little tents were brought into requsition and the
| good Methodists unostentatiously went through
| their religious proceedings with zeal and persever
| ance Years few by and the association became
rich and powerful, with fun sway over delightful
retreat. With the exception OF bIlel interval of
few years the association has held Its annual meet
igs here since 1885, each one being larger than its
numbered by thousands The property has become
valuable, and people like 1t accordingly, for setting
Il IS s Is
advantages OF the locality land they are numerOusl
| were soon known, aud strangers visited 1t as a
| watering place. building upon choice lots their
| summer residences, OF limited dimensions to be
sure but nevertheless SUFFICIENT TO meet all the re-
quirements OF the place. Attracted by the large
concourse OF relgonists that annually assembled In
the grove to perform their religious exercises others
not entirely actuated by holy sentiments, came also
| to spend the summer. Entertainments were appar
entity being made upon the territory OF the assoc
alton set apart for sacred purposes, until finally
somewhat stringent measures were adopted, and at
length q high wooden fence now enclose the holy
ground Outside That boundary the inhabitants are
not by any means characterized by any impiety.
Tue Grove IS pretty place It's attractions are
after year it has increased in popularity, and now
ranks high among the favorlte places or summer
unsurpassed by any OF the Kind either in point OF
construction, neatness or uniformity The ground
set apart for those participating In the religious exer
cises OF the camp meeting extent OF about
thrtyhve acres which Is handsomely laid out, sur.
rounded by most uXurant foliage, through which
the dazzling rays of the have but little chance to
| penetrate. There are, however, large number OF
oottagers even within.the "fence, who do not min
gle with the religious thr0ng, but merely reside here
FOR summer enjoyment. 1t Is little village IN Itself,
full OF winding passages, avenues and streets, to.
gether with number Of squares. There are proba-
bly, not less than four hundred cottages within the
enclosure some OF which are spacious and conn.,
| pare favoraoly with most buildings OF similar
! kind al other watering places Unquestionabiy the
arrangements, appointments and general style or
architecture are handsome and cheerful, and at once
create most favorable impression. Visitors como
from all parts OF the sanity State, but particularly
| from Boston, While motley groups hail from Proy.
dence, New Bedford and the surrounding districts
| generally. Although large number OF the cottages
| are framework there are also hundreds OF ordinary
| tents, put up according to circumstances. me
boarding houses form great feature OF the concern
| IL would be unjust to call them "shantles," but
| more novel structures could not De found, every
| ono with huge and tempting bin OF fare placarded
| outside. But the lodging houses are as novel In
| their interior as their accommodations are slim and
meagre
| The proceedings will not commence until this
| Monday evening" when the camp meeting OF the
| association will be regularly commenced. There are
now about 5000 persons on the ground ana 1t Is eX
pected that this number viii be largely augmented
The rules OF the association are most stringent no
cigars confectionery ice cream being allowed to
be sold Sundays aud In other respects the regu-
! lations rgdly enforced. Prayer meetings have
already been commenced.
| Chief Justice Chase senator Sprague and the Gov.
ernor Of tue state are expected toward the c'ose Of
| the week.
Influence of the Weather. An Immense Ga th r.
| ing Expected-uarvcst for the Trndevs--Cou-
| tinuation of the Proceedings.
| VINEYARD GROVE, Mass, August Is, 1889.
The adverse character OF the weather has for the
past day or two thlnned the congregations attending
the open air services though the preaching is still
prosecuted With stentoran vlgor by host OF elders
gloomy aspect pervades the Grove, for with brief
ened-perhaps not the ardor OF the campists''-but
| assuredly the expectation OF numerous visitors.
Tents.roos are dripping while their occupants huddle
together for the pursuit OF their religious exercises.
Croquet is for the time abandoned and the delight.
full promenades by the light or the cottage lamps
are no longer enjoyed. To.morrows sun, however,
may brighten up the prospects.
Towards the close OF the week the present popua-
ton OF the Grove, which might be estimated at 0oO
Will be doubled and on sunday an impressive de-
monstrati0n IL anticipated. Most OF the Methodist
churches In the surrounding district Will be closed
In order to allow the several congregations an op.
portunty OF being present the occasion It should
be mentioned that the boundaries Of the Conference
include the State OF Rhode Island that part Of Con.
nectlcut lying east OF the river. about one third
| the State OF MASSACHUSETTS,, which embraces Cape
| Cod and the Island OF Maftha's vineyard. LARGE
number OF districts are represented, and nearly
every tent on the ground has suspended at the en-.
trance the name OF the locality from which the oc.
cupants hail. The manner In which the ground as
been arranged Is handsome, though the beauties of
the place entirely natural, no attempt having az
yet been made TO adorn or decorate the promenades
houses throughout the island and II is
| not improbable that the association Will
change Its annual quarters, voluntarily, OF course
| they at present occupy. The rapid progress made
| by the association Is somewhat surprising Not
! corncd beef and beans, bread matches ana other
necessaries to subsst on for the camp week. At
present scores OF improvsed boarding houses tempt
| the stranger with their decaces and take him in.
Moreover, every branch or trade from the bootback
TO the tonsoria artist the huxser to the warehouse.
man. OF every calling. Every convenience Ia at
hand, every requisite In the right locality. Here at
one important stand placardr with letters crooked
as the owners ebony nose and slantlng as his shin
Ing iorenead announces the interesting intelligence
that you can procure q basin, soap, water, comb,
toothbrush and towel for the small sum of I'VE cents.