The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-08-27
Methodist Camp Meeting at
Ke,snebaIME.
Portland District.
FOURTH DAY.

AT half-paSt five the bell called the people to
the stand for morning prayer-meeting. The
clear, crisp morning air was sweetened with
the sound of praise and prayer. 1t was pre-
cious season, and near the close of the hour the
altar was filled with seekers, and glorious
victory was experienced.
The interval between breakfast and the pub
lie prayer meeting at the stand was filled with
PRAYER meeting at the tents. all interesting and
profitable some gloriously successful.
The prayer meeting at the sand opened with
prayer-earnest, devout, heart-stlrrlng, pow
erful-by Rev. Mr.. Pickles OF Berwick, Nova
Scotia.
Rev Mr.. Thomas Of Mountfort street, Port
land, followed in prayer full of JUNCTION and
melody, appropriate and beautiful Rev. j. II.
Pillsbury succeeded him.
The Presiding Elder then related an affecting
incident of his army life, which drew tears from
all eyes and fervent responses from many
hearts.
Thirty minutes were then occupied in "half-
minute testimonies" These were precious bits
of clear condensed, compressed Christian ex-
perience. Some persons looking ,s!s on rom the
patton" but though there was much efferves-
cence, it was of that kind which is not followed
by reaction. Many hearts will carry the glow
of these seasons through whole year, and be
better, far better, for it. Ninety-five of these
testimonies were compressed into the time
specified.
The Presiding Elder then invited those who
desired to find salvation to come into the altar,
and many came forward. Prayers were offered
by Rev. Messrs. Trask, Foster, Chase, Davies,
and others, ministers and laymen.
The prayer meeting continued until the hour
for preaching service, which was introduced
with a voluntary by the choir, after which the
9th hymn was sung, and portion of the I'd
chapter of Joel read, Scripture lesson by
Rev. A. s. Ladd and Rev. w. Il. Foster offered
prayer.
Rev. S. R. Bailey of Chestnut street, Port
land, was introduced and spoke on Sam, V.
chap, verses 1 to inclusive: "And the Phils-
tines took the ark of God and brought it from
Ebenezer unto Ashdad. When the Phiistines
took the ark of God they brought it to the
house of Dagon and set is b. Dagon. And
when they of Ashdad arose early on the NOR
row behold Dagon was fallen upon his face to
the earth before the ark of the Lord, and the
head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands
were cut off upon the threshold; only the
stump of Dagon was left to him. Therefore
neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come
into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of
Dagon unto this day. ,,.,.....
The speaker said that opposition to God has
existed and will doubtless continue to exist
in the universe. This opposition has assumed
various forms, as one after another of its phases
of attack have been met and defeated by the
hosts of God. 1t was so in Noah's day, and it
would seem that this victory might have been
final one; but the opposition has continued.
Sometimes, indeed, there have been dark days
to the church, and the enemy has sometimes
seemed likely to triumph, but Gods resources,
unknown to his enemies, have always been
shown inexhaustible. And SO it will be to the
end of time. Gods hosts will continue to be
victorious. This opposition is manifested in
three aspects:
1Sk- Tn, n Iowa Of usv -, IL, =.
opposition to Gods people; and this latter is
perhaps the most prominent and persistent
form of opposition to God The Philstines
were persistent in their opposition to God s
people, and they have been regarded as type
of God g enemies They had reason for their
opposition. 1t was question of life or death
with them. They were in possession of the
land which God designed for his people, and
God commanded the leader Of his people to
destroy them. 1t is not necessary to trace their
history. Suffice it to say, they are the type of
Gods enemies, and their idol the symbol of
that opposition. And he is fitting symbol.
At first merely fish, desire for something
nobler to worship led to the superinduction of
a human form. The head symbolizes intellect,
the hand power, the fish body sensual pleas
ure. Men accuse Christians Of being narrow
minded, chimerical and visionary. Is it true?
They have claimed to undermine Christianity
by philosophy and science, and the church
have sometimes trembled as Israel did when
the ark of God went down into Philistia. They
need not tremble. Not "Ichabod," but "victo-
tory" is written upon the future of the church.
We need not 60 to science for proof of saliva
ton; in our hearts we have the proofs. But
we need not fear to meet our enemies on any
ground, whether of faith or reason, of revela-
ton or science. r' 0
Christians trembled before geology. We
need not discuss the time,-whether six literal
days or six periods of indefinite length. Gene
sis and geology agree in showing six periods in
creation. Early astronomers denied the posi-
bility of Joshua's miracle of making the sun
stand still, because the sun and the heavens
revolve around the earth. But modern astron-
omy has shown that only this little earth eed
to stand to effect the miracle. But, moreover,
modern astronomers tell us that little change
in the application of the laws of refraction
would effect it.. ..+ .
subject at considerable length and with mark
The forenoon services were prolonged very
little after the close of the sermon, which was
itself somewhat prolonged.
The congregation was very large, and in the
main very attentive. Jl
.-5llie arG AFTERNOON. l- ~
usual time. The seats were filled long before
the commencement of the services, and much
of the standing room was occupied. -
The service commenced with the reading of
the 326th hymn by Rev. Mr.. Boyd, Free Bap-
fist, of Biddeford. Rev. G. A. King, of Au-
sisting of selections from Heb. I, 2 and 5, was
read by Rev. s. f. Wetherbee.
Rev. s. f. Wetherbee, of Biddeford preach
ed on Joshua "a: Is: "And if it seem evil to
serve the Lord, choose ye this day whom ye
An abstract of this very able sermon would
do it but imperfect justice, and we therefore
omit it altogether. -.
The services closed with prayer by Rev. A
8. Ladd of Waterville.
The following named clergymen of the Free
Baptist denomination were on the ground this
afternoon, and probably many others of other
denominations whose names your reporter
could not learn: Rev. Messrs. Cook of Brown.
field, Boyd of Biddetord, True of Saco, Smith
of Kennebunk, Butler of Bethel, Smith OF
Brunswick, Mason of North Berwick, Stock
man of Pittsfield, N. III.
just at the close of the services the mourn
full intelligence of the suicide in Biddeford, Of
Mrs. Center, wife of Rev. N. D. Center, of that
place, superannuated preacher of the Maine
Conference, was received.
The crowd this afternoon has exceeded any.
thing ever seen upon this ground. So say
those who have attended here for twenty
years. The number is estimated at eight thous-
and.
This afternoon reconnaissance was made by
detachment of troops ulder command OF
Rev. w. B. Bartlett, of Saccarappa They met
the enemy upon the open space on the oppo-
site side of the public road from the camp
ground, held their ground with a running fire
of singing, prayer and exhortation, during the
whole time of the public service, and retired in
good order without the Joss of man, having
accomplished the object for which they were
sent.
The man referred to yesterday as having at
tended camp meetings more than "Camp
Meeting John" is Mr.. Eben Emerson, of Bid
deford, staunch old Methodist of the old
school.
Tho order to-day has been remarkable, con-
sidering the multitude upon the ground
Among those who volunteered their services
Yesterday in aid of officer York, the name OF
officer Hatch, of Portland, was inadvertently
omitted. Mr.. York has to-day been assisted
by officers Hatch, Bracket and Hill, of Bid
defOrd, and Hatch, of Portland
AT the BiddefOrd depot this morning. a boy
whose name your reporter could not learn
fell under car while the train was in motion
and was rolled little distance before the
wheels. He was rescued by officer A. L.
Hatch, of Biddeford, who deserves great credit
Tor his prOmptnesS and nerve.
A small boy, son of Mr.. Parsons, of Kenne-
bunk village, was quite badly bitten by dog
this afternoon. He was cared for by his father
~ EVENING SERVICES.
The 9th hymn was sung, and Rev. J. o
Thompson, of Pleasant street, Westbrook, in
troduced as the speaker for the evening
Mr.. Thompson spoke from John, ", 10:-
Herein is love,-not that we loved God, but
that he loved us, and sent his son to be the
Precipitation of our SINS" The services closed
with Mr.. Thompson's sermon.
DIGNlFIED.-Judge Barnard of New York on
taking his seat in chambers last Friday morn.
ing made few extra judicial" remarks in.
tended for the ears of reporters. He said that
the man who made the statement in the New