Smyrna times., 1869-08-18
For the Smyrna Times."1
THE CAMDEN CAMP.

Mr.. Editor Il suppose you would feel quite
lonesome but for the remembrance OF the Gam
den Camp, which is so thoroughly kept up by
your correspondents. have read, with inter
est, the articles in your paper, hoping some
thing would be said that In the future would
tell for good touching this question. l do not
believe the camp to have been a success for
several years past l mean such a success as IS |
warranted by the promises OF God-such !
success as usually crowns the efforts at smaller
campmeetings and protracted meetings. Fifty |
ministers ten days, and sixty souls prOfessed
conversion, or reconverslol, when we ought to
have expected hundreds out of the eight or
ten thousand persons who were present. Many,
very many, years of darkness and sin are yet
in the future If this is grand success.
do not think that speaking of its failures Is to
thrust at Methodism; on the contrary, 1t Is be-
cause We feel an abiding interest in the pros
perity of the NJ f. Church that we write, and
can fully adopt that language, For her my
tears shall fall, 1Or her my prayers ascend. "
Bat when we think of fifty ministers, and hear
one earnest, working preacher" who had
worn out his voice, begging that one out OF the
Marquee, filled with those of all grades from
the humbest on trial, to the giant intellect, to
come and assist at prayer meeting and there
by remove the shame" and stop the religious
waste, and yet they sat and lay unmoved, ex-
cept as disturbed or interested by some inno
cent tale, or the sound, tickets, brethren, for
supper" We say when we witness these
things we dare not hold our peace, lest in God s
wrath he make the very trees to cry out -
and then had they not better be ''peach trees?'
We feel sure that no Christian would under
value the redemption of a soul; and yet, it
should not be forgotten, that while the church
calls together large cOuncourSe OF persons,
the adversary comes with them. If it were a
ball, horse race, or a dance, which is gath
ering of his own, and at which there are no
) checks to wickednesS and vice, This oppOsers
not supposed to be suitable guests) there would
be no necessity for his Majesty vigilance but
he is present on the campgrOund, and while
the people of God are idling away their golden
moments, he is busily engaged undermining
and planning the overthrow and eternal ruin Of
the souls whom they have, or ought to have
in charge. And if the statistics could be shown
: either by 1T" or DR.. c., the result would
be fearful one, and if the actual neglect o.
duty allows as many to be lost as will be saveC
! out Of the number converted, ask where il
! the success? We would not justify ~ in the
o use of any language that would underrate Ou
p Glorious MethOdlSn, or its efficient ministry
: or the blessed results of properly conducted
. campmeeting but that the language contained
= the truth, none but those who failed to lOol
j failed to see; and the only way to prevent sucl
a state of things In the future is, that minis
ters go there with the motto work" Tn
g preaching is the smallest part to be performe,
n on campground, and if those who do tn
IT preaching do not evince their desire to see an
whom the the Good Spirit may draw let int
g. the hight which they have proclaimed to be il
(, the Gospel, by lingering about the altar le
~ those who have not worn themselves down wit
l. the labor of the last hour, say to ;he churc
1t come and rallying around the mercy seat
they will find the laity, thus beckoned on, dc
ing their part, following their proper leaders
&c and thus glory will come down, their souls t
II greet - and Camden camp will have redeeme
d, herself L.