New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-24
OUTDOOR WORSHIP.
SING SING CAMP-MEETING.
DESCRIPTION OF AN OLD PLACE OF WORSHIP A
DAYS SERVICES

DAYS SERVICES.
SING SING, N. Y, Aug. 81, 18H.-It was moro
than half century that q little company Of mon
and ardent disciples OF john Wesley, conceived
the idea of short OF outdoor worship during
the sultres portion of tho year. They lived the
banks Of the Hudson River. and after the first
mention OF such project were engaged in prospecting
for desirable place for such gathering In their im-
mediate vicinity. A quiet grove Croton at
length discovered suitable to the demands Of the little
company Of worshipers They held series OF outdoor
meetings. In numbers but powerful In influence,
and this circumstance added to the charm Of camp life
at made the meetings permanent institution. The
little company met again the next year and was this
time Joined by number of friends and neghbors. 80
the meetings from year to and the numbers
being reinforced by persons from different villages, 1t
thought desirable TO change the location occasion
ally that all might be accommodated Pleasantvie and
Croon the points most frequently visited however,
In few years from the time the first Of these meetings
held, an association was formed called the Mount
Pleasant Camp-Meeting Association" In 1892 IL was
found the groves hitherto frequented were not ex
&C thy suited needs Of the community now brought
together and search at begun for somecentra
point which should be well adapted to the needs OF al
who might wish to unite In this novel mode OF worship
After time had been spent In survey OF the groves
along the Hudson plot OF land was discovered al sing
Sing the natural advantages Of which were seen at
the campmeeting OF held at this place. Thus
originated the first Of tho large and important Metho
dist camp-meetngs In America Since this first
gathering at Sing Sing, a years ago, the August
camplnceting has been held there with hardly an
Interruption Once ravages Of the cholera prevented
the meeting the company met at Croton and once
OF twice at otberpOnts but nearly forty meetings have
been he at Sing Sing Eight years ago the name OF TIE
organization changed. II then became an neorpo
rate body, and took the name OF "The Camp Meeting
Association OF the Methodist Episcopal Church In the
City of NewYork" Its representatives from New-forR
City rapidly increasing In numbers, ana no"
formed the majority Of its members BY It's constitu'
ton the trustees to be elected from the MEMBER
ship OF New-York churches The churches scattered
along tho Hudson still well represented, however
and after admitted to voice 10 the Board OF
Trustees The present at the Sing Sing camp
meeting is chiefly made up Of the New-fork City
churches aud those OF the Hudson River counties
few come from Western New-York, and New-Engand
sends occasional representative The annual attend
auce averages about 1000 though the TO Soo
and 900 on the days of the principal meetings. Among
the NewYork City churches largely represented
are the SecOnd-st Fourthst, Bedfordst, Forsythst'
Duane-st Eighteenth-st. and Fortyfourth-st Nearly
every Methodist church the city, however, has some
representatives.
The Sing Sing camp-neetng has witnessed no such
wondrous growth Ocean Grove and others OF more
origin Its progress has been slow Dut CONSTANT
The grove was chosen exclusively for the holding of re-
giOus meetings IN August OF each year. 1t had none OF
the advantages Of Summer resort which are so marked
at Marthas Vineyard and Ocean Grove, by reason Of
which 300 cottages have sprung at the latter point In
less than five years. There Is only an occasional
cottage the Sing Sing ground and as soon as the
camp-meetiDg finished the little community strikes
ITS tents and scatters for year.
The natural advantages Of the Sing Sing cam2ground
rln arrnua l..
chiefly OF grand Old oak trees of centurys growth
Their wide-stretchng arms. thickly covered with
foliage. afford tho best protection to the worshipers
beneath the ercest rays rays or an August sun
can scarcely penetratebe depths and the rain drops
seldom find way through. Chestnut trees are also
scattered here aud there among the oaks and an occa
sona elm found. The hymns of the disciples here
are not accompanied by the music of the ocean as at
Ocean Grove and Martha's Vineyard, and there is no
endless expanse Of blue spread out at their feet But
breezcs from the Hudson drifting through the
trees and catch an occasional glimpse OF the
majestic river 400 below. The neatly
laid out in avenues and the ents about $50 in number
are ranged along these pathways. never-fallng
spring on the border OF the grounds furnishes
the cearest and coolest the entire encampment
Near the center Of the ground its northern sde Is
the large stand where the regular services are held
The ciergymen occupy the platform In the Of the
speaker The congregation gathers In 'front.' the settees
being arranged in semlcrcular FORM slight slope Of
the land toward the speakers stand gives to the
auditorium almost the advantage OF amphi-
theater The seats not covered except by
the thach which the branches Of the oak trees FORM
The services at this place held thrice each day They
consist OF prayers reading the Scriptures singing and
sermon or address, At 10 a. M the principal service
Of the day opens and hundreds hSek IL from an quar-
ground being only mile and half from the center OF
Ss lined With penad but nce
the finest dust. The three meetings at the preachers
Religious services OF day. The prayer-meetings in
various portions of the ground begin almost with the
hour Of the day may listen to devotion in almost
every form at the same instant. Sacred song Is the
first thing to greet the ear at daybreak and the last to
die away at nghtfall.
during the past three years and
many advantages that knew not year ago. 1t has
less than ,l2 600 have been expended in the improve
ments last two three The spring water
is always we'll supplied. The facilities for lighting the
grounds have been much extended within twelve
The annual expenditure Is upwardi on $1,000 exclusive
of permanent improvements and the annual receipts
rtory has been added to the Original purchase and it
now nearly twice Its former sZe This, with the extern
s swe propepy value Of nearly $4,000
The csmP-meeting now in progress differs little from
Of devoted Christians which with each returning sum,
mer have sought the oak in the Nights beyond
strange faces to be SEEM and few Of the old familiar
faces missing The number OF worshipers Is nearly
the same year to year. The sudden popularity OF
ocean Grove has drawn few TO the New-Jersey camp
ing ground the frequeDters Of Sing Sing for the
most part conservative to be drawn away from their
old Summer home. The arrivals to-day from all the
principal Hudson River counties have been numerous,
the carriages the trains and steamboats, have
been crowded. New-YOrk has sent several add
tlonsl representatives. Among the more prOmi-
nent clergymen who have already arrived are
the following: The Rev. VIM. McAlister Of New
York. President Of the Association; Bishop James Of
New.York the Rev. s. d. Brown D. De- Presiding Elder of
the New York District; the Rev L. H. King, ID. New
York; Pastor HeadstrOm of New.Y0rk, Swedish Mis-
sion |; the Rev. j. 9. Lloyd, Poughkeepse the Rev.
Thomas Chadwick, Peekskill the Rev. 0. ID. VAIL New
York the d. Ferris, Bridgeport, Conn., the Rev.
Dr. Larue Haversraw; the venerable Father REYNOLDS,
De Lose Lull. Sing Sing; the Row.