Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-21

| VINEYARD GROVE, Aug. 70, 1917.
| To the Editor Of the .Spy:-The readers of
| your paper may be interested to receive facts in
reference to this unique and wonderful city Of
cottages. In reference to the place as it now is
| no language can give an adequate description.
| The first camp meeting held on this ground was
| 10 the year 1885. The reason for the selection
of this then out-of-the-way.pla for meeting,
| is unknown TO the writer. An extensive re-
vival of religion prevailed here about that time,
and the Methodist denomination had consider
able influence In addition to this the island
was noted for its morality and good order.
The land in the immediate vicinity Of what is
now the auditorium, was hired for the purpose
of holding religious meeting without refer
ence to the beneficial influence of the sea breeze
to those who might come from the main land,
Or the idea that this would ultimately become
the best watering place on the continent for
religious people But such is the case.
Improvements have been made during the
years past until wonderful transformation has
taken place About seven years after the first
meeting was held, the first family tent was put
up by a minister of the Providence conference
The tent was made of an old trisai and attached
TO the limb of a huge oak. Rev. F. Upham, d.
D., of the same conference, erected the first cot
tage. 1t was a very small building made of
boards, implanted and unplaned, Now splen-
did cottages are numbered by hundreds, some
of which are built at an expense Of from five to
eight thousand dollars. There are hotels of
large capacity, and still it is difficult to accom-
modate the thousands who come here transcicnt-
.1,;, Sc 1or t1,,,,,
any in some of our largest cities
The trip from New Bedford to tins place by
the excellent steamers Monohausett and Mar
tha's Vineyard is delightful. Leaving the dust
and intense heat of the city and mainland, we
find the two hours sail refreshing. On arriv-
ing we were not a little surprised to fud that
the powerful showers of the past week did not
reach this ground.
The owners of land in this vicinity are laying
plans upon large scale. Sufficient ground is
plotted to meet the demands of builders, even
at the present rapid rate of building, for 100
years to come. One advantage of locating near
the land owned by the camp meeting association
is the benefit of excellent police regulations.
In addition to this is the close proximity to the
| meetings
| Soon after the arrival of the midday bost yes
terday the voice of praise was heard in fome OF
the tents, and at three o'clock the ladies held a
meeting in the Warren tent. Meetings have
been held every day for some time past. The
first public service of the camp meeting proper
was held last evening at the auditorium. Rev.
| NJ. j. Talbot, d. D., presiding elder Of the Prov
idence district, is the presiding officer of the
| meeting. PRAYER was offered by Rev. j. W.
Willett of Providence. The president addressed
the audience and urged the importance of sus-
tanning the meetings in the society tents. The
old custom of preaching by the presiding elder
on the first evening of the camp meeting was
revived. The text was selected from Acts 1 IS;
theme, "The church. as awtness for Christ" A
| good congregation appeared to appreciate the
stirring sermon. The tone Of feeling apparent
indicates well for the progress OF the meeting.
1 j,