New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-11
RELIGION CLOSE TO NATURE
THE SING SING CAMP MEETING.


The grievance has Offset however In the fact that TO
thousands of Methodists IN NewYork City and vicinity
the name calls up sacred and pleasant social assoca-
ons connected with the camp meeting which for many
years has been held about mile and half from the
river 1t of the few spots remaining this part
OF the country where the primitive simplicity OF the
Methodist camp meeting is preserved. Here are no
ornate cottages for permanent Summer residence !;
no lots sold at speculative prices; the grounds
about u acres in a-are held by association for
campmeeting purposes only. and the many improve
ments which have been made In the grounds are only
such TO enhance the comfort Of those
who come to spend week ten days In social worship
There are about $50 tents erected and 1000 persons
living on ground The lodging house last night
accommodated about $50 guests and perhaps an equal
number have In hotels and cottages outside the
grounds.
To-day was the great day OF the Feast Of Tabernacles
The seats which hold 5000 persons, filed at both
the morning and afternoon public services and 1t was
estimated that not less than 5000 were on the ground
The most perfect order maintained by Police Ser
geant Lefferts, who had five paromen and Detective
Bennett with him. and the both In and about the
grounds were as free from Objectionable features as
those In the neighborhing city churches.
At5a M. to-day, the services opened with prayer
meeting at the public stand, which followed by
love feast, at m, led by "Sammie Halstead the
originator and leader OF the praying band which has
been feature Of New-York Methodsm for many years
The experiences earnestly and rapidly gwen SOME
times four speaking at once in different parts OF
the audience. Among those present were Orye card
ner the converted pugist formerly known as Awful
Gardner and Chaplain McCabe OF Libby Prison renown
AtlOa IN the regular morning service begun, the SER
mon being preached by the Rev. NJ Vernon pastor OF
Christ Church. Pittsburgh Pa. He took for his text
H. Corinthians, w., 6: "For God, who commanded the
light to shine out darkness hath shned in our hearts,
to give the light of the knowledge of the glory Of God IN
the face of Jesus Christi The preacher spoke OF tho
manifestations Of Gods glory These words set forth
tho fundamental truth that there comes down out OF
Heaven new divine life wrought in the heart OF the
believer as the special work of the Holy Ghost IL Is
something which does not spring from naturai CAUSES
II is not explained by natural laws; ii is not Of the hesh
or OF the intellect OF the affections or emotions cocs
directly from Cod and is like Him, divine 1t IA the
source OF life and efficiency In the Christian Church. III
not dependent upon creeds doctrines but has shone
through all the centuries of the past. The preacher
spoke at length, and his words called forth loud amens
from the congregation.
The services closed at about noon, when an hour was
devoted to dinner. At p IN. prayer meetings were
held many of the large prayer meeting tents OF winch
every church which is largely represented has one
Emanuel Church cOloredl in Attorney-st, ia re-
presented by 20 or 80 members with their Pastor the
Rev Mr. yietch. The meeting in their tent attracted
the largest numbers account partly OF the reputation
which Sister Smith has gained a. an exhorter After
few prayers and hymns Mrs Smith, an intelligent look
ing woman of about 40, addressed the meeting. she
spoke In an earnest and peculiarly winning tone IN
substance as follows:
We must have some definite object in view. The
promise to backsdng Israel was that IL they returned
they should be healed We must obey the command to
receive the promise. When God says KNOCK, we must
knock; when He says "ask," We must ask; we want
entire sanctfcation This thing; our fathers
believed IN IT. and the stake and the lash for the
.tlor J,,ftt uIaro nd
work. We know that it is two separate and distinct
works Don't afraid of 1T some of you know what 1t
is (Cries OF "Amenl" Eyes 70 THANK GodWl Decide
on definite point. and then at 1t just as II you were
cutting down-bit 1t in one spot Hit it In one
spot and after q while 1t will come down. Now, who
wants to be sanctihedl Pm not talking TO any who
are in kind of halfway backsdden state.
You must geticonverted again before you get
sanctifed Here person knelt down at the mourn
ers' benchl Now want another one who has dell
mite object in view. Voice from white man" want
clean clothes"l Get right down there / used to call
white people white people, and colored people coored
people, but the Lord taught when he converted my
soul In old Greene-st. Church. that oil were one in
Christ Jesus We have enough TO begin let us pray
for those we have. Get right down under the spout
White people used to be afraid TO kneel down among u.s.
they've got over that. saw white lady right down
among lot OF coored people, and she got converted
glory to God land she just as well satisfied
Here Mrs. Smith led IN prayer with fervency seldom
surpassed even among her enthusiastic people She
followed by Others the group OF mourners increased
while cries and groans and triumphant shouts filled the
air. Near by Pastor Hedstrom with party OF 80 or 40
scandnavians from the Bethel ship, were holding
prayer and experience meeting the exercises being all
conducted in their native tongue.
At tine same hour childrens meeting held at the
public stands attended by about 90 or GO children
ranging from tender infancy to II or u.s. In the
background was q large audience OF adults. The
meeting was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Gregory Of Sing
Sing and part OF the exercises consisted Of singing by
little blind boy age six seven, who placed upon
the pulpit when he sung His voice was not better than
that OF most children OF his age but his unfortunate
dition caused him TO be listened with great interest
by his little audience Each performance was usually
introduced in such as this: children, the
little blind boy viii tell you just now 10 get your SINS
is fountain filed with blood" and the audience would
JOIN IN the chorus:
When the children were asked "All Of you who
have been naughty and who don't want 20 be naughty
any more, raise your hands," every hand went up and
the little things seemed very much in earnest moth
ers meeting held at the hour in large tent
AZ $50 D. M the regular afternoon service held.
sionary secretary He took for his text Deut. Xxx,
49, call Heaven and earth to record this day against
and cursing therefore choose fe that both thou and
thy may live" The preacher spoke Of the freedom
OF choice given TO Moses, he was about TO de-
part from tho people whom he had led for forty
years, read to them all the words OF the
law and admonished them that their future would
be such as they should make IT.. AS humanity elects
so shall 1t come to pass. There are some nmltat9ns
and the choice must be within human possibilities We
affected by the currents OF thousand genera
lions which center IN our Veins ana by which clemens
OF character have come into lives which we cannot
eradicate Then there Is the force Of education Inc
wanderer the streets who knows nothing OF the word
but what he gathers from the mandate move on =
eyes look out OF murky darkness, whose heart
only with passion, have such freedom OF