New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-19
A MARYLAND CAMP-MEETING
WORK IN THE LORDS vINEYARD-THE scENEs
ORA NIGHT-TIIE METHODIST CHURCH ho"ih
AND SOUTH.
lPROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT


ia the custom Of many religious sccts and notably ao
Methodists 10 leave for time their costly tenp'S " "o
ci,ies and their humber sacuaries in towns ana villages
and 90 ont into the woods give Themselves up TOT yS
together to earnest and constant deVOtioh' hhu W
70 nersnode the unconycrted OF the truth OF the fah
Perhaps II ia because they feel that the groves W.
Gods frat temples" and know that the leafy aSoS VI '
forest lead the thoughts Of men toward DeaFo Doo'
than the most impressive architecture, and That 'no mar
monica NJ nature awaken devotional feelings IN the so
nore readily than "organ tone or clang OF OeI' boW
ever this may be, the custom some"hat Iaiicn ' -,
use in the North IA stl well observed here III tlo 'ou
Every year, in the heats OF August tho ai"io'
OF tho Lord move out Of town and CITY, anu oi
canp in the woods to wage with increased vlsor inc o
htte ay,inst ain They come by hundreds to the ar-
noipted spo old men and youths, matrons ana nadchs
children and babos in with tents ana camp oq
page with cooking utensils. beds and PROVISIONS III" VII"
good store OF ths weapons OF the faith-ther opc' anu
hymn books InvigOrated by the fresh AR OF te ooui'
try aud inspired by the powerful magnetism Oh many
minds gathered together for single purpose they n
new meaning in the old truths. they sing the o 'os
with new enthusiasm and pray the old prayers win ne"
fervor The effect of this intense concentration Oh 'o
Thought and viii Of "a multitude upon single iuoa ~
necessarily powerful and many thoughtlesS SINNER ou
20 the spot by curiosity, finds his conscience a"hhenou
and conviction pouring in upon him in an lrresl''ioe
food and goes away repentant ana happy tna' no n'
found rest for his souat the campmeetins'
The arrangement Of these camps Ia nearly always ho
same The tents often three or four hundred In NUMBER
are pitched in regular lines so as to ncoSe hoiio"
square containing the preachers stand bnlt Vi Iuoo
boards and seats Of the same material Tor TWO OF teo
thousand people The spot chosen ia always IN "oo'
and the trees furnish the roof for this outdoor chuch
Reside the tents of the congregation there are usually
several boarding tents where coarse and cooKed loou
ia served at moderate price, and three OF ioi i 20
prayingtents, where the prayermoetins5 ana expert
ence-meetngs held and where there IL preaching
when the weather ia inclement few families own ther
tents and bring the furniture with them, but most
people hire these articles from persons who drive proht
able trade by renting them, charging so much Ior
tent and stated price for floor, bedstead Dedus cha
&c The expense of furnished tent capable oil accom-
modatng from two to four persons ranges from SS 10 10
and the duration Of camp Is usually irom ten DAYS u
two weeks.
It's no pleasant idle holiday in the country that these
pous people expect when they to the camp. The
children may rOmp through the woods and young lovers
may steal away to green AMI shady hooks TO tell each
other the same old sweet story that the birds are warb
ling overhead but the older and more serious know that
there ia earnest work hand From daybrcak until late
at night the preaching praying exhortng and singing
continues with but short ntcrmssions At O'clock be
the morning miss have lifted the bell rings for rS
ing, and at the morning prayer-Ineetng DeShs ana
lasts till breakfast. Another prayermecng Is held at
g. and third at the altar in front Of the pulpit at TO-
=,
o'clock and there experience meetings at and in
the evening To go through all this day after day to sit
hard bqckless benches TO nee on the ground By the
half hour at time; TO sing at the top OF ones
voice; TO labor with the unconverted; to lose
sleep and eat poor aud scanty fare, is no light work
The ministers and the good men and women OF their con
gregations who endure these tolls cheerfuly know 1t Is
10 recreation they have for They look upon the
campmeeting the time when the Lord calls the
aborers to the vineyard and they work faithfully TO
gather in the precious harvest Of souls.
The interest OF the days proceedings at the camp cul
inmates the night service. The scene Is then highly
dramatic. The fckering light OF pine-knots, burning
upon raised platforms covered with sand, deepens the
darkness OF the surrounding forest and as the blaze
mounts up partly dies away the earnest faces OF the
great throng OF worshipers plainly distngsa-
BILE in every and emotion and none are lost in
semobscurity The steady lamps about the pulpit
show the long of blackcoated preachers sitting in
solemn state under their rough board canopy The
cleaning white walls OF the encompassing lines OF tents
bound the view upon all sides The tones OF the preacher
mingle strangely with the droning monotone OF the
"katy-dids" in the trceops and the soughing of the
wind among the leaves The sermon is or short Duration
The people who have been occupying the front seat are
requested find places elsewhere TO make room for the
Upon the ground about this bench straw has
been strewn during the day great sOlemnlty falls
upon audience. All know that the supreme effort Is
now be made and that 1t viii be seen what fri-
ton il to bless the abOrs of the day tall minister in
priesty black with stock and collar Of Catholic pattern,
takes post upon bench in the front Of the audience
where lac stands during the rest OF the service like the
captain of the host. Half dozen others como down
from the pulpit and place themselves around the enor
nous bench. Now all is ready to begin. plaintiyc
hymn IS sung, fervent prayer made and the minister
standing the bench exhorts the pentents to come for
ward to the mercy Three men, two women, youth
Of fifteen and two little girls OF ten and twelve years
spOnd and knee in the straw, bowling their heads upon
the bench strong hroated man in linen coat leads
of with the hymn
"oh how love Je.u,i
on on how low love low. Jesus Jesus
He died on Calvary"
and all the audience join In the midst of the singing,
heartrendng groans and ptifu sobbng heard from
the mourners bench and high above the music and the
weeping and wang rise the shrl screams Of one OF the
little girls who sinks upon the ground and VIRTUES as If
in commissions mOthery lady the poor thing,
puts her head her breast and fans her. The
Of the child seem the other to redoube
their groans cries and lamentations and to increase the
ervOr and power OF lungs OF the singer The song ends
the child seemingly in half ethargy, she ceases her
cries. and is led away to tent giving occasional sob
as she goes The the bench says "The Lord has
saved another sOu Glory TO the LOrd Brethren let
sing the Doxology," that grand old hymn;
Praise God from whence all blessings flow"
goes up TO the dark sky from thousand thrOats More
mourners come forward. The ministers knee beside
them and whisper words OF comfort In their ears Kind
brothers and sisters fan them for Is very suy and
great drops OF perspraon minge with the tears upon
their cheeks Praying singing constantly alternate
The hymns lugubrious and now joyful. Now
they tell Of the horrors OF sin and the punishment of the
damned, and now of the happiness Of the saved. The
excitement increases The confusion OF groans shouts,
cries and sobs singing and prayefu nvocations Is indie
scrbable Draw little out of the throng into the woods
and one would think that terrible accident had hap
pened to the audience, grievously woundng some and
Grazing others. From time TO time mourner finds com
fort and leaves the altar with streaming eyes but happy