The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-09-02
Poland Camp Meeting.
EMPIRE GROVE, Sept. /, 1878.

To the Editor Of the Press:
The meeting at this place closes this morn
ing. The average attendance has been quite as
large as in former years. Yesterday however,
brought together an immense crowd-the larg-
est l think that ever assembled upon these
grounds
Much disappointment was felt at the alb
sence of Dr. Ridgaway, who was expected to
be present and preach on Sabbath morning.
His place was filled by Rev. Mr.. Hawkes. of
Gorham, n. H., who preached an able, logical
discourse upon the old doctrines of repentance
and faith. A violent thunder shower about
half past one prevented further public services
at the stand for the day. The wind blew with
great violence, the rain fell in torrents, the
lightning flashed with fury while the thunder
peals came in rapid succession.
Strange as it may seem, the immesse multi
tude, nearly or quite ALL found shelter and pro-
lection in the public and private tents and cot
tages upon the ground. But little damageu has
done. A tree was blown down upou the Na6Ies
tent another heavy one fell upon one of the
Lewiston tents, breaking in the top but in
coming to the ground just missed all in it, max
ing good the old saying. "a miss is as good as
mile"
NIL VI yOuI Clby, pTbdCDeu SATURDAY.
morning and fully sustained his reputation as
a pulpit orator: His sermon was splendid
effort delivered in his own inimitable STYLE.
Rev. Mr.. De Lashure of Maine street, preach
ed an admirable sermon on Friday. This gen.
tleman as well as Pitblado. recently came
from New Brunswick. The people of Maine
can well afford to welcome a few more clergy
men of the same sort from the provinces
Camp-meeting John Allen was greatly missed
He has not been here during the meeting But
fIrfr g.
put in his appearance On the first day for the
session. He is ''perfectionist'' of the highest
type, pitching iuto believers every time he
could get chance, earnestly exhorting them to
accept his favorite theory.
The Methodists are far from being united up
on the peculiar doctrines of holiness as preach
ed by modern perfectionists. This remark APP
plies to both clergy and laity. This idea drop
ped out in the remark of one of the brethren at
the general lovefeast, who said, 1.-THE world the
devil and the church had been fighting father
Lufkin for forty years. but had not got him
down yet.
Unless the extreme advocates of Holiness are
less intolerant in their denunciations of those
who do not adopt their ultra doctrines, they are
sure to make division in the Methodist
church l am crediby informed that at this
very meeting pastor of one OF the churches
which had a tent upon the ground pressed this
doctrine with such intolerance upon the leading
influential members of his church, that they
got at loggerheads and refused to attend or
take part in the social meetings in their TENT
The meeting on the whole has been a success
They count up some sixty conversions, while
the advocates of holiness say they have made a
general advance on that line
Camp meetings have become popular insti-
tuition, especially among the Methodists They
are connecting them with watering Places
but some of the old veterans among the clergy
and laity shake their heads and declare that the
devil can never be outfanked in that way We
shall see. A METHODIST