The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-08-16
THE CAMP iEETING.


How much soeyer men may enjoy the
preaching Of the gospel in temples built
with hands, the forest is the true place
Tor the practice of that democracy of
sentiment which was the basis of all of
Christ's moral and political, as we'll as
religious teachings. The accessories of
wealth, though as profuse in the
groves as in the church, are
never in the way of the humblest, and
the man of "clouted knee and rag
get coat is as much citizen of Christ's
kingdom in the woods as the millionaire.
For this reason, if no other, the CAM
meeting is destined to perpetual popu-
larity and the largest scope of religious
usefulness. Men will gather with glad
ness to natures temple, to whom "meet-
ing house is sealed book, or presents
all the repulsive aspect, Of prison.
The day for sneering at camp meetings
has gone by. Years ago it was popular
among Christians of rival denominations
to decry them, for that was in the days
when Methodism was humble and poor,
and the opportunity seemed favorable 10
stamp out the best element of ITS gather
ing power. For years the camp meeting
was under the ban of fashionable Chris
tanity, and the prediction was confidently
uttered that it must give way 10 IL refine
ment that could not tolerate it. But if
religious neutrality-suspicious. could win
victories, why should not an earnest and
vigorous Christianity, in earnest and wig
orous America? 1t took wealth in lay
ish amounts to place the campmceting on
permanent foundations, but there it rests
at last SO firmly that 'the gates of hell
cannot prevail against it.
There is something of the picnic or
holiday spirit at the camp meeting gath
ering, but even this feature is no longer
Objectionable. Christianity is no less
Christianity than in those days when its
highest realization was deemed to be Il
roasting at the stake The days of
the martyrs are past, and Christianity
has become n welcome agent of civiliza-
ton, with which it walks hand in hand
for the redemption of the world. 1t
chooses those agencies which are the most
! powerful TO win men to its ranks. 1t
commands thrilling, blazing eloqueucc
music, art, beauty, and the nobIc,t social
influence. And it was right that it
should seek out Gods own temple built
not with hands and fiji it with the songs
and shouts Of praise.
The camp-mecting is an institution of
America. For the summer months it
affords both recreation and Improvement
1t grounds arc the most attractive of
summer resorts, and its vOtarics the
most genial warm hearted and wide
awake of all Christian people. Even
without its religious features, it would
be success, tor it fills social
void that has no other instrumentality
could supply. There may be disorder
and wickedncss OH the outskirts, but
there is order and carncStncss and social
life at the centre where good men and
women delight to congrcgate. So let our
brethren pray, for it does them good to
pray; let them preach, for the preaching
on such occasions is by the champion or
ators, and thrills to the marrow Of the
bones; and let them indulge in the
pleasures of social life, for there is too
little freedom and opportunity in this
business.ridden land.
Yesterday everybody attended the
Moundsville Campmceting. The EX
press took down about thousand people
and the railroad that many more. 1t
estimated that between eight and ten
thousand people were on the ground.
The religious fever ran high and we heard
of nothing to mar the proceedings of the
day.