The New York herald., 1873-08-05
OPEN AIR DEVOTION.
The Great Religious Gathering at
Sing Sing.
4 Visit to the Grounds-Probably the LargeSt
Gathering for Forty Years-A Model Lodg-
ing House-New Features Of the
Camp Meeting-An Amphitheatre
in the Open Air-0ur Col
ored Brethren.

The annual camp meeting OF the Sing Sing Camp
Meeting Association opens formally at ten O'Clock
this morning. The meeting is held in a beautiful
grove about two miles from the village Of Sing
Sing, which grove was purchased as far back as
1OrtytwO years ago, for the very purpose to which
It Is now dedicated. The grove was originally q
portion Of the McCoyd estate, and seems to have
beenj destined by nature for T2tes Chaanpe-
tres, whether Of the religious or Of the more
worldly and peasurable Sort 1t Is un-
surpassed for shade, and Is within
few minutes reach OF Commodore vanderbft,s
railroad and the steamboats, on the Hudson. The
Association have recently purchased piece OF
property, adjoining the grove, known as the "Fox
Estate" and this Is now being sold out in small
lots to enterprisng purchasers who appreciate the
advantage OF being near camp meeting, so that in
time this ''holy ground" will become the centre OF
lively settlement, religion and real estate pro-
crossing hand in hand.
Judging from present indications 1t is safe to say
that this years camp meeting win be the
largest gathering ever held Oh Sing Sing
Heights. Since Saturday morning last stran-
gers have been arriving In the village from
al parts OF the country. Some of these
10lks went into camp on Sunday evening
but the majority remained at the hotels until last
night and this morning. Every train brought fresh
arrivals OF austere looking old ladies' and yester.
day the Phoenix Hotel, by the railroad depot, was
redolent with
sANCTITY AND SNUFF.
HERALD reporter visited the grounds yester-
day and In the absence Of Mr. Lammis the Tent
committee went over the grove with Mr. Sher-
wood who has charge Of the construction OF the
rents Every preparation has evidently been made
to accommodate an immense number OF persons.
Up to the time of the reporters visit one hundred
and 1fty-fve tents had been erected, and at that
hour every one OF them had been engaged. Besides
these there are four large prayer meeting tentsn
one Tor the good people OF Peekskill, one for the
Bedford street Methodist Episcopal church. one for
Sing Sing and one for the Fortythird street Metho-
dist Episcopal church; that of the Bedford street
congregation being fine edince
The Old preaching stand is to be used again this
year, but in this portion Of the grove great i'm
provements have since been made. Instead of the
Old rlckety benches, supported by stakes, which
were scattered over the ground in front OF the
stand at irregular distances, the Association have
procured 800 new seats of the same construction as
regular church benches and these are arranged on
the slope, facing the preacher, in semcircular
fOrm so that the whole presents the appearance of
VAST AMPHTIiEATRE IN THE OPEN AIR.
These benches are capable of accommodating 900
people, and as they are arranged on the hillside
every one has full view OF the preacher and is
within comfortable hearing distance.
Another and Still greater Improvement has
been made in different portion of the grounds by
the Association since the camp meeting of last
year. This is nothing other than the con-
struction, at the southwest end OF
the grove, OF an immense lodging
house capable OF accommodating several hundred
persons. The Rev. Mr.. McAllister, the chairman of
the Board Of Trustees OF the Sing Sing Camp Meet
Ing Association, showed the reporter over the
building, which Is OF wood and OF imposing dimCn-
min IN ha Inn fhn AtnSr
and offices, washroom, baggage room, &C. on the
second moor are suits of bedrooms, extending the
some OF them opening into others by folding doors,
which can be used as double rooms If required
phrase of the ''culled" gentleman in charge,
"tweve shillin," or dollar and q half and for the
double rooms three dollars. On the top moor are
TWO IMMENSE DORMITORIEs-
one for ladies and one for gentlemen-th former
being at the south end OF the building. These, Of
course, are approachable by different entrances
and are separated by a door, In these dormitories
ladies gentlemen can he accommodated with q
cot for the trnng sum Of fifty cents per night The
cots are OF iron, but have an uncomfortable ap-
pearance, and remind one of the surgical ward Of
the hospital. And now come the accommodations
OUR CoLORED BRETHREN.
The fifteenth amendment, to use an anachrOnsm,
had place-not an honored place, to be sure-but
back seat at the Sing sing camp meeting In the
oasn time That was before the
:'culled pussons', have been tacitly and
quietly ignored. They were not put out Of the
made for them. and with creditable instincts they
did not come. This year an exception has been
made in this respect Our brother Africans are
cordially invited to air their religious hopes and
aspirations. Accommodations have been made for
their especial behoof and benefit in the shape Of
three c0mmodious tents. The first thing that
strikes the eye OF the stranger, no matter how
much wrapped up in religious iervor, on entering
the grove, is the following significant ''card,"
which hangs from the limb OF tree by the gate:-
"BLACK YER B0OTS.n @
"DAILY PAPERS,
"PIPES, TOBACCY AND SIGARS.n
"PAPER COLLORS AND CUFFS.u