The Portland daily press., 1871-08-14
The Methodist State Camp Meeting ut
~ Richmond.
CAMP GROuND. Auo 10 1911

TO the Editor OF the Press
AT the early morning prayer meeting yester-
day morning Rev. DR.. Pomeroy, OF New York,
made brief address, which was received with
much enthusiasm. Last evening, previous to
the lighting of the lamps and the general
prayer meeting, social meetings were held in
the various tents, and children's meeting
was held in the West Waterville tent, under
the direction of Mrs. Drake, OF Boston, who
made beautiful address to the children, in
which she related several touching and pa
thetic anecdotes, and urged upon her young
hearers the necessity of early seeking the
Savior. At about half past o'clock the peo-
pie gathered at the stand, where the testimo
MES and songs of praise were continued until
nearly 10 o'clock, when the entire party re-
paired to their tents, and the exercises of the
day were finished.
During the evening service the grove pre-
scented novel and picturesque appearance;
the trees in various parts of the grove shed a
faint and subdued light over the assembly,
while far up in the heavens the innumerable
stars looked brightly down through the over.
hanging tree tops The shouts Of praise ut
tered by single person near the stand were
caught up by another on the outskirts of the
circle, until finally the entire assembly Joined
in the chorus and made the welkin ring with
their united efforts. ..- -
The night passed quietly away, and rising
early we took stroll through the silent en-
campment. A few OF the lanterns were still
burning, and strove to dispute the ascendancy
of the god of day, whose earliest beams were
just beginning to be dscernable in the Eastern
horizon. The woods were vocal with the music
of the birds, chanting their matutinal hymns.
At length the bell was sounded, and one by
one the occupants of the tents came forth to
resume their deyotions. Here and there in
numerous tents was heard songs of praise or
the voice OF prayer, as some family or assem-
bly, commenced the worship OF the day. At
about O'Clock prayer meeting was held in
the Augusta tent, which was very largely at
tended, and where a large number of testi-
monies were offered. This was followed by
similar meetings in nearly all of the other
tents, until the sound of the breakfast bell in
terrupted the exercises.
At half-past 10 o'clock public services were
held. The sermon was delivered by Rev. John
Marsh, from Ezekiel 36:25-"Then will 1
clean; from all your filthiness, and from all
your idols, will cleanse thee.' The speaker
commenced by abiding to the glorious charac-
ter of the subject, and proceeded to define the
difference between regeneration and utter
sanctfication. God, by legislative act, par
dons sin by the power of the Holy Ghost, and
thus the works of regeneration is commenced
But there still remains in the heart the seeds
of unrighteOusness. You are not perfectly sat-
isfied with your state, you desire more pow
erful manifestation of the divine will Some
have said that we cannot at once attain to a
maturity of divine grace. We do not mean
maturity of divine grace when we say that we
are wholly sanctified. We only mean that we
are pure in heart When we say that a per-
son has reached a state of specification we do
not mean that he is wholly, siness, but only
that all the natural and evil propensties of the
heart have vanished, and the heart is purified
by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit
The sermon was an exposition of the doctrine
OF specification as held by tine Methodists.
During the noon intermission another inter-
esting childrens meeting was held in the
West Waterville tent, and also the usual social
meetings. The interest, ad of decreasing,
seems to be steadily ON the increase
The sermon in the afternoon was by the ia
nous Rev. Benjamin Pomeroy, of the Troy
Conference, who is noted for his original man
ners and sayings and his startling but uncul-
tured eloquence. For the last thirty years he
has constantly visited all the more noted camp
meetings, and has assisted largely in their
work. He is the author of several religious
works. The text was taken from the Lords
Prayer-"Thy will be done on earth as it is in
Heaven. The speaker commenced by allud-
ing to the numerous examples of model Chris
tians to be found in the Bible and comparing
them with the fashionable christians of to day,
abiding in his own original way to the differ
ence between the two classes. Remarking in
regard to the manner in which persons are re-
ceived into the fashionable churches, he said :
They are not required to answer yea in re.
response to the question as to whether they re-
bounce the pomp and vanties of the world,
but merely nod their plumage." If we ever
reach Heaven there must be bond of sympa-
Thy between Heaven and us, by means of |
which we shall be; inevitably drawn thitheri |
There is no getting to Heaven; in the nature |
If the case it is impossible Gods will is arbi-
rary, and there can be no Relation or deviation /
rom n. Since have embraced this view of |
'hings the word of the Lord had double power
with me- The elements OF Omnipotence has
put little to do with saving us. If God cannot
bring us to obedience with his laws there can
be ne help for us. The greatest problem in the
history of the universe is the provision for the
of the human mind. The mind
must not only be happy, but it must possess
ulness and power; without which the wants
# hun an nature cannot be met. sometimes
rembe at the thought of my existence; to
hink that have been born to an existence
,hich il never to end; and l wonder at the
city trifies and fashionable frivoities with
'hich so many full grown men and women
muse themselves. In the day Of judgment
nd amid the terrOrs of eternity, what Will be
neir fate? But if am faithful to every chris
,"u uuty know that shall be saved at last
:. ~, ,ons as we are unwilling to surrender our
WIZ anu destiny wholly to Jesus, SO long shall
We remain unhappy and unsanctified. Too
many seek to enter the church mere,v for Tho
purpose OF advancing their own intoros., 81
hen go to the world for their pleasure y
evere rebuke was here Administered .. A..
women of American for following in matter.
Il dress and fashion what the speaker called
faxxr Ia - |