The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-08-29

The camp meeting, nowadays, especially IN
the South, Is looked forward to for months as
a genial time Of religious communion among
long separated aCquaintances and friends.
The brethren prepare their best sermons, the
young men and maidens tune their voices for
the best hymns, and the busy hOuse-kecpers
lay in supplies of hams, pickles, "presbyterl-
an bread, and, above all, the ubiquitous
chicken. Naturally, too, good deal Of fir
tatIOn and lovC-makiug go on, and IS prepared
for by anxious consultations over new bon
nets Tor months beforehand The tender pas
sion, like any other plant, grows best in slim
UlatIug soil. Young boys and girls, and wld-
OwS and wijCWeTs too, who appeared common
place enough TO each other at home, are invest
ed with certain sort of enchantment by dInt
Of living in tents, singing hymns together unn
der the shadow of trees, or listening side by
side, to rapt eNhOrtatIOns IN the solemn night,
in the forest lighted only by blazing lamps,
For our part nothing to condemn even
IN this result Of such meetings. There Is no
shorter road for any man or woman to the
love Of God than through feeling sincere,
unselliSh love for an earthly creature, Why
should not our young people best learn TO
know each other by singing together the
praises OF the God they profess TO worship
Why, if there be such a thing as Christian
communion, should not Christians meet as
close to the reality of nature as they can, IN
genial hearty kindness and fellowship: Camp
meetings accomplish vast amount of good
by making better men, better women and bet
ter citizens, IN retaining sinners from the
ways OF vice, causing them to repent OF Their
sins, and pointing out TO them the glory OF
walking in the light of Christ.
Popcs Camp Ground is situated in VIII
hanson county, near the Maury line, at the
foot of a ridge which divides the waters be-
tween Duck and Harpeth rivers. 1t Is IN a
bCauJfIl grove of beeches, sugar-trees, elms
and oaks, aud the tents are well built. The
she tier Is high and very large, and located so
that these on the last bench can hear aud see
the preacher, provided the young ladies' do
not talk. The leaves were first Taked away
from its site in 1913, by Col. Henderson Helm,
q nephew OF Capt. Meredith Helm, deceased,
so long and tavOrably known IN this commu-
nity. Col. Helm and his venerable father and
mother are still living, and assist IN every
way 10 make the annual meetings successful,
The good Colonel once remarked TO Rev. r. G..
Irvine, with a request not to tell john l.. Dun
lap, that the Methodist and Democrats were
destined to take this country. Col. Mart
CheaIrs got hold of this, and told 1t pubhcly
nj the District meeting MauTy couHty has
two large tents, built by the Mt. OIiyet and
Blanton's Chapel congregations. K. Il. Por-
ters and {. V. CyTus's families took charge OF
the former, and Joseph |. Sanders family OF
the latter. We noticed those good old MethO-
dIsts the Bunches, there, and the Caldwells,
Adkissons, AimOns, BantOns, BeasleyS, K.
II. OEilvie, and many others. Their hos
pitalitv was unbounded. Rev, 3. +. Haynes
preached at o'clock, Saturday morning
heV. DT. HayEOOQ, OF NaSuNitlt, pTeaCueu
splendid sermon at IL o'clock Mr., Bryant ut
; p. M; and Rev. j. K. Hummer at night, "a
native Of Columbia, who stated that he was
circuit rider on POpe's circuit twenty-eight
wears ago, and only few persons present re-
coguiZed him. Sunday morning at O'Clock,
Rev. VIM. DOsS preached one OF the most log
zeal and powerful sermons of the meeting.
BY eleven o'clock, the congregation, which
vas already large had swelled until the whole
grove was alive with people, Columbia and
Eranklin contributing quite a number. Rev.
M Merrill preached a sermon suited to the
vast assembly. Before he closed, tears ran
down many checks and Shoutings of JOY went
up from many hearts. The altar was throng
"a with mOurRers, and sqme were converted.
Or. HarCrcve preached at o'clock, ore Of his
sBeSt efforts, IN the Conversion OF st. Paul.
Hts defense of the spirituality and excite
So --Sivhi5, was grand and
ment" of MeJuOuIs, - '.'--. A.
beautiful in conception, and overwhelming
argument. DR.. Haygood preached at night.
When we left. Monday morning, twelve per
sons we learned, had been converted. The
Presiding Elder, Rev. VIM. Burr, is a splendid
presiding officer. lie conducted the camp
meeting, even on Sunday, in an admirable
manner. He would not let the gentlemen SIT
with the ladies', and kept them separated dur
ing the services, consequently, the order was
almost perfect. The meeting was appointed
10 break up to-day. Cap Hardeman, OF Co
Iumbiu, had his nice tent perched up on
hillside, and shaved the gentlemen and OBJ
sery cd the laws like the colored gentleman