The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-14
Camp.Meetings and their History.

'''N "i"u""Va VI N"N po"Siiu ohN huhiSiouS
Methodist family and some other religious
denominations are concerned, begins about
this season of the year. 1t is purely Of
American origin. The first camp.meeting
in the United States was held in 1899, on
the banks of the Red river, in Kentucky.
Tho common idea that it was exclusively
of Methodist origin is erroneous. The
manner in which ii began was this There
were two brothers by the name of McGee,
one Presbyterian and one Methodist
preacher Being on a religious tour from
Tennessee, where the former was settled,
to locality near Ohio, they stopped at a
settlement on the river to attend sacra-
mental occasion with the Rev. Mr.. Nc
Geedy, Presbyterian. Sermons were
delivered on the occasion by the brothers
MeGee aud by three Presbyterian clergy
men, and the excitement created seems to
have been as great among those present as
that which has followed the preaching Of
Moody and Sankey in England. When
the news Of the extraordinary movement
reached the surrounding country the peo-
pie having never heard Of the like before,
rushed in such crowds to the meeting.
house that it was Immediately oyerhowed,
and the religious services were therefore
transferred to the forest. Many came
from every direction, with provisions and
other nocessaries for encampment, and
continued several days, dwelling in tents.
Sectarian divisions seemed to have been
entirely forgotten in this first camp-meet-
ing. The services were conducted by
Presbyteriaus, Baptists and Methodists.
The result was so extraordinary that it
suggested another meeting of the kind, and
from this unprecedented beginning, these
meetings attended, increasing in power
and usefulness, under the special direction
of Presbyterians and Methodists. Because
of this union of sects in their support they
were called general camp-mcetings" At
length, however, the Presbyterians grad
ually retired from the field, but the Meth
odists carried them into other parts of the
country, till they became general in the
connection. With more or less effective
ness, they have been continued to the
present time.
Camp meetings were introduced into
England by Rev. Lorenzo Dow, an earnest
though peculiar Methodist preacher, whose
name will be familiar to our older readers.
This man, from his eccentricity of manner
and dress, was familiarly known in many
parts Of this country as "Crazy Dow" In
spite Of contumely and rebuff, frequently
from members of his own denomination,
and ceaseless dangers and hardships Of all
kinds, he persevered for nearly 40 years
in preaching, travelling over the United
States aud Canada, England and Ireland.
The success of Moody and Sankey in Eng
+ land will not be regarded as unprecedented
by those who remember that "Crazy Dow, I"
with an awkward and ungainly person, a
harsh voice, unattractive delivery and illit-
crate phraseology, had simple fervor
which SO supplied the place of eloquence
that he seldom failed Of having attentive
and even enthusiastic hearers. Finding,
in 1907, general religious interest in
Staffordshire, England, Dow suggested to
the people the plan of camp meetings.
This was Immediately adopted aud the first
English camp meeting was held. The new
plan did not, however, receive the united
approval Of English Methodists. On the
contrary, the Wesleyan Conference in 1907
declared: at is our judgment that, even
supposing such meetings to be allowable in
America, they are highly improper in Eng
land, and likely to be productive of con-
siderable mischief, and we disclaim connec-
ton with them" Their advocates, how
ever, continued to hold them, and in 1910,
when the primitive Methodist" denomina.
ton was organized, it sanctioned the habit
of preaching in camp meetings, as well as
in market-places and on the highways.
IL 10 propao'e 'hat wnen 'he camp
meeting was organized us founders mad IN
mlnd .ne ollglnai simplicity oi christian
worship, wneh 'ae apostles IN sanaaled
lece anu WIN s'ai, 10 nanu proclaimed the
everlasting uosPei IN tne wilderness ana
penea',i ,ne shaue Oh trees iney may
nave aisI nau IN remembrance tne camp
oI is.aoi i'se'i, ~nsn' from tne Periou OF
.ne splonrn IN tne uesefs 70 inc crossing OF
Tue ooiuan, '.e ! : tribes were formed INTO
great armies, cncamplhg IN Us many
fronts OF forming square, win great.
space IN tne rear, wnefe inc tabernacle OF
tne Loru, surrounded oy the tribe OF Lew,
was Placed 10 worship 1od under the
proad canopy OF the SKY seems TO many to
pTing them INTO immediate relations with
HIM Of whom II mas been SAID that Heaven
Is ms throne ana the earth his iootstool,
aithougn ne condescends 70 dwell In tenn
PIES made WIN nands' Whatever the
aims OF rs origina'ors, the hrst camp
meetings were distinctly primitive, held
far from city haunts, the visitors living in
hiankats thar rrops..oo. .-.-o ks....,.i a