Connecticut western news., 1874-09-04


 season. Not a drop of rain to dampen their ardor, fell from the time they started from their homes with their camp equpage, tlli their return after their week of wOr- ship, and everything seemed to contribute to the comfort of those who dwelt in their tents in the wilderness. By some it was thought the attendance up to the closing day, the Sabbath, was not quite equal to that of last year, but on Sunday it seemed as though everybody was there' Early in the morning the roads from all directions were filled with teams, which so stirred the dry sands, afog of dust hung almost constant ly over them, resembling the dense smoke in the track of an ocean steamer From near and from far the myriads continued to pour in, till the grounds actually swarm
 ed with living humanity. Notwithstanding the fact all phases of human existence were there, from the young unsophisticated ru- ralist, with blue neck tie and posy in the buttonhole of his coat; with love oozing from every pore of his sun browed counte- nance, as he gazed enraptured upon the pink calico-tresses of his beloved Araminta. to the hard featured natural born rowdy :: whose faded, musty looking cotton velvet coat, corduroy pants tucked in his boots and seedy looking stove pipe hat tipped to one side of his head, telling in language most eloquent that he is a serviceable instrument in the hands of the devil; most excellent order was aiLtained at all times, and more particularly so during the hours of service. A squad of three Bridgeport DO. licemen with their ominous looking clubs In their hands. patrolled the grounds con stantly, as also few home made preserv- CTS of the peace, with their blue badges at tached to their coat lapels Once or twice the stifed spirit of the evil one broke away from the powers holding it in check, and nght ensued, but only to be instantly sup pressed. The meetings throughout the en- tire week were characterized by an interest in the cause of religion that was indeed re- freshing. The discourses we understand were all good; at least those we heard we know to be so. We can allude particularly 10 only those we heard, VIZ; those of the Rev. MT. Townsend of Harrington and the Rev. MT. Lloyd of Poughkeepsie. We heard that of the Rev. c. D. Foss of New York alluded to as something remarkably fine. The Rev. MT. Eddy of Jersey City was expected to preach, but sickness in his family prevented his doing so Everybody would have been delighted to have heard MT. Eddy once more, as almost everybody hereabout has heard him more or less in times past, and all know they would have met with no disappointment in getting something worth hearing, The interest In the prayer meetings in the tents about the preachers stand was very great; scarcely time could be given to all who desired 10 speak, who were ready to render their tes- timony &c. Amongst !he much that was said, the remarks of Mir. Robert Rogers of Falls Village were especially interesting. Mir. Rogers said he engaged early in life in the occupation of bar tender, and had spent many years getting people drunk, running their souls and insuring their destruction and not only others, but himself was brought to the level of common drunk ard. He said he had lifted himself from the gutter; having been converted to reli- zion nearly year ago. and he now wanted to lift those his rum selling business had pitched into that slough of terror and ruin, and bring them to Christ. He said he in- tended to labor earnestly in this work. If revivals of religion will convert to Chris tianity such men as Mir. Rogers says he has been; lets have revival the year through. and all go and work with will for the suc- cess of the cause. Amongst much else we saw th ere to admire, was the spirit of liber- allty with which the meetings were con- ducted; an invitation being extended .to members of other denominations, who be- lieved in and loved the Lord Jesus Christ to unite with them in their services and take part in their exerclses and on one occasion we were pleased to see Brother Alexander Hyde of the Lee Cleaner, and who is deacon of the Congregational church in that town, rise and add cheer ing and we'll worded testimony, closing with request that his friend (we have lost the name) from Pennsylvania might be given time for word, which was cheerful ly granted. The doctrine that the various religious denominations are in reality rem oers of one and the same christian family the difference being that each has its own chosen road to travel, but all the roads leading to the same place. is every year be- coming more and more extensively em- braced. and IS one of the evidences of our getting higher and still higher in an intelH- gent and comprehensive type of manhood. In closing we'll allude with word or two to the origin of camp meetings, which may not fail to be of interest to some of our readers: History informs us that the se- ries of religious meetings denominated camp meetings,' first originated in the West. In the year 1799 two brothers named M'Ghee, one Presbyterian and the other Methodist preacher, instituted a se- ries of revival meetings. which met with marked success, and which were remarka- ble for the manifestation of the Divine Spirit. These meetings were held in South ern Ohio and Kentucky, and on one occa- sion, when the sacrament of the Lords Supper was being observed, the meeting was protracted to an unusual length, and which, being noised abroad, brought oth- CTS to the place, and finally in such num- bers that no house could hold them. Thus crowded out of their accustomed places of worship, they were compelled to ''go into the field, erect temporary shelters and bring provisions for their sustenance and finding God so abundantly blessed them,