The Portland daily press., 1872-08-14
Fryeburg Camp-Nree,iua,

The second camp-meeting on the new grounds
| in Fryeburg known now and hereafter as Mar
tha's Grove, began yesterday under lowering
sky and threats OF rain. The first day is always
devoted to the erection of tents and other gen.
eral preparations for week of worship in
grander temples than man ever raised. Mar
tha's Grove is a peculiarly beautiful spot; its
like is not to be found in New England, we
venture TO say. 1t is but short two miles
from Fryeburg village on the road to Lowell.
Thirty-two acres of beautiful grove were given
by an earnest Methodist woman for camp
meeting purposes, running from the road back
to the Saco river, and it is now enclosed by ar
tifca or natural boundaries. The visitor turns
off from the county road through clear field
and down a sharp declivity and finds himself
in the auditorium surrounded by tents and cot
tages. This is a depression in the centre of a
plain. 1t reminds one of a saucer for surround
ing the tents is higher plane of land, which
affords long promenadeOr choice sites for an
outlying camp. Two years ago the ground was
filled with underbrush, but much of this has
been cleared away and the surface has become
quite favorable. The camp-ground is elliptical
in FORM with Circular avenue surrounding the
stand and seats, leaving space on the circum-
ference for large number of society lots a
hundred feet deep. The ground is pierced by
many avenues, among which are Fryeburg.
Grove, Central, Circular, Cherry, Wiley, Har-
ris, Richmond, Haven, Bowman, Foster and
North. Some of these lead directly through to
the river, which lies twenty feet below. 1t is
fordabe here and foot bridge is erected to ac-
otherwise would have to travel six miles to
reach the ground. The view from the banks is
superb, for just on the distance on clear day
better view of Kearsage is obtained than at
any place we have ever visited. Almost the
whole mountain range is in view, with the rich
interval lying at their feet. The trees which
shade the ground are worthy of note. They are
almost all grand old trecs-sreat white naples
with diameter of three or four feet dropping
elms, spreading birches and fragrant pines,
and last, but not least almost a myriad of wild
cherry trees. The view among these great
trunks is almost unobstructed, while the broad
tops shade almost every foot of the smooth
glebe. The view is beautiful, in fact it is one of
the loveliest groves imaginable.
In front of the stand are seats for 1000 list
eners-good easy benches where an audience
can enjoy the exercises as comfortably as in a
cushioned pew. Outside of these is the prone
made, and then comes the circle of tents Only
about twenty or thirty were up yesterday n oon
but busy hands were preparing room for many
more. The Pine street, Chestnut street and
Congress street societies of this city have each
a spacious canvass for domestic life and special
religious services Three elegant little perma-
nent cottages are going up, owned by Messrs.
E. T. and Frank Nutter of Cape Elizabeth and
Mrs. Bracket Of Peaks Island, and by anoth-
er year the number will be multiplied. The
clearinghouse, an indispensable auxiliary
to a successful camp meeting is under the
charge of Mr.. Joseph Daling of this city. The
dining room will accommodate 100 at sitting.
The cooking arrangements are complete, and
the larder yesterday showed gathering of
creature comforts that would put soul be-
meath the ribs of DEATH The upper story of
the clearinghouse is converted into male and
female dormintories. The customary Access
series of committee-room, police station, bar
Der shop, restaurant and store are provided for.
The second thing in the enumeration, will prob
ably be more for show than use. Outside the
CHclc, Hcatr lue eHtIdHcc, Is u udIn, WeH stOIeu
with provender, and forty sheltered stalls for
those who come with their horses.
The religious exercises will be under charge
of Rev. A. Saunderscn, presiding elder of the
district-a man of good executive talent and
preacher of note A large attendance of wor-
shippers is looked for, although the time is
somewhat earlier than usual for meetings of
this character. Ample arrangements are made
for crowd, and they will be welcomed. Mr..
E. G. p. Smith of Portland is Superintendent
of the Grounds. and under his supervision
much has been done to reclaim the grounds
from their natural stateto q condition suita-
BILE for the purposes of the Association. The
PRESS will have daily reports from the ground.