The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-08-13
Camp Meetings.


on the banks of Red River, in Kentucky
Two brothers by the name of niece, on,
a Presby yterian and the other Methodist
being on religious tour from Tennessee
where the former was settled, to a plac,
called the "Barrens," near Ohio, stopped
at settlement od the river to attend ;
sacramental occasion with tho Rev. Mr.
M'Greedy, Presbyterian. John niece
:hc Methodist, was invited to preach first
and did so with great liberty and power
His brother, and Rev. Mr.. Hoge, follow
ed him, with sermons of remarkable effect
The spirit was copiously poured forth up.
on the people, and produced tears of con-
triton and shouts Of joy. Rev. Messrs
M'Greedy, Hoge, and Rankins, all Pres
by.erans, left the house, but the niece,
were too powerfully affected themselves
to flee: under circumstances of so much
interest john was expected to preach
again; but when the time arrived, he
arose and Informed the people, that the
overpowering nature of his feelings would
not allow of his preaching, and exhorted
them to surrender their hearts to God.
Cries and sobs we're heard In every part
of the house, and bespoke the deep emotion
Of the assembly. The excitement was
indescribablo,
When the noisa of this extraordinarg E
movement reached the surrounding coun-
try, the people rushed to see what these
things meant, for they had never heard
of the like before. By this means the
meeting house was Immediately overflow.
ed. What could be done ? The people
were anxious to hear, and many were
profoundly concerned about their souls.
To resort to the field was hardly canonical,
but there was necessity laid upon them
1t must be done, or the inquiring multi
tudes must 60 unfed. Reason prevailed,
and an altar was erected unto the Lord
in the forest. This gave new impulse
to public interest, and many came from
every direction, with provisions and other
neccssaries for encampment, and remain
ed several days, dwelling in tents. 1t
was wonderful occasion. Sectarian dis
tinctions seemed to have been forgotten
in the general concern for the prevalence
OF spiritual religion. The services were
conducted by Presbyterians, Baptists,and
Methodists, whose only rivalry was to
glorify God, and serve the people.
The result was unparalleled, and sug-
gested another meeting of the kind, which
was held on the Muddy River; and still
another, on what was called the Ridge,
both Of which were attended by immense
throngs. By prudent estimate, it was
reckoned that one hundred souls were
added to the Lord" at the last.named
meeting, to say nothing of other benefits
From this unprecedented beginning,
these meetings were extended, increasing
in power and usefulness, under the special
direction of Presbyterians and Methodists.
Because of this union Of sects in their
support, they were called general camp
meetings. But they were general in
another sense-in the public interest
taken in them. 1t is said, that the roads
leading to the grove where they were
held, were literally crowded, and that
ontire neighborhonds were forsaken of
their inhabitants. A Presbyterian min
lister calculated that there were, at least,
twenty thousand persons present at one
meeting held in Kentucky. But did not
60 from religious considerations. Curl
osity had large agency in bringing out
many. Some, however, went to pray,
and not few to mock. But many of
the latter were arrested by the strong
arm of the Spirit, and returned to adorn
the Christian profession, by well-ordered
lives. About three thousand, at one
meeting, fell upon the ground, like Saul
of Tarsus, under the power of God among
whom were several Presbyterian ministers
who, according to their own confession,
had hitherto lived "without hope in the
world" "The formal professor" says
the report, "the deist, and the intemper-
ate, met with one common lot, and con-
fessed with equal candor, that they were
destitute Of the true knowledge Of God,
and strangers to the religion Of Jesus"
At length, however, the Presbyterians
gradually retired from the field But
the Methodists, seeing that God owned
the means he had thus providentially or
iginated, carried them into other parts Of
the country, till they became general in
the connexion. With more or less
efficiency they have been continued to
the present time not. however, without
opposition on the part of some good peo-
pie, and misgivings with many others in
regard to their expediency. Some have
deliberately concluded that they had
better be abandoned. They see, or think
they see, so many evils connected with
them, they believe the cause will prosper
better without their agency. Others,
and we judge a majority of the Church,
sincerely believe them to be important
means of grace which it would be great
calamity to lose. But little has been
written on either side, and tho meetings
have often fallen far short of the character
and influence that should attach to them.
This has arisen from various circumstances
too numerous to name. But it may not
be improper to say, that they have some
times been too contiguous to each other,
SO as necessarily to be small, and deficient
| in suitable ministers to conduct the ser.
vices. Experience, no less than reason
teaches, that Christians enjoy these meet.
ings most. when they cost the greatest
sacrifice, and exclude them from the
world. A small journey of fifty miles
in private carriage, is a pretty SURE
pledge of profitable meeting while
those expenseless trips which are made
in an hour, and without preparation
promise little, if any, real advantage
The former requires an effort, and with
draws one FROM the care and perplexitie'
of ordinary business but the latter doe
neither to any profitable extent. Besides
the largerithe territory embraced in tn
meeting the greater will be the accumu
lation Of talent and Christian influence
and, therefore, the greater the probabilit.