Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-08-26

come an American "institution," so far
as all the branches of the powerful and
numerous Methodist family and some
other religious denominations are con-
cerned, 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. The
common idea that it was exclusively of
Methodist origin is erroneous. The
manner in which it began was this -
There were two brothers by the name
of McGee, one Presbyterian and one
q Methodist preacher. Being on re-
ligious tour from Tennessee, where the
former was settled, to locality near
Ohio, they stopped at settlement on
the river to attend = sacramental occas-
ion with the Rev. Mr.. McGeedy, a
Presbyterian. Sermons were delivered
on the occasion by the brothers McGee
and by the three Presby terian clergy
men, and the excitement created seems
to have been as great among those pre-
sent as that which has followed the
preaching of Moody and Sankey in
England. When the news of the ex-
traordinary movement reached the sur
rounding country the people having
never heard of the like before, rushed
in such crowds to the Westinghouse
that it was Immediately overfiowed, and
the religious services were therefore
transferred to the forest. Many came
from every direction, with provisions
and other necessaries for encampment,
and Continued several days dwelling in
tents. Sectarian divisions seemed to
have been entirely forgotten in this
first camp meeting. The services were
conducted by Presbyterians, Baptists
and Methodists. The result was so
extraordinary that it suggested anoth-
er meeting Of the kind, and from this
unprecedented beginning, these meet
ings extended, increasing in power and
usefulness, under the special direction
of Presbyterians and Methodists. Be-
cause of this union of sects in their
support they were called general camp
meetings" At length, however, the
Presbyterians gradually retired from
the field. but the Methodists carried
them into other parts Of the country,
till they became general in the connec-
tion. With more or less effectiveness,
they have been continued to the pres
ent time.
Camp meetings were introduced into
England by Rev. Lorenzo Dow, an earn
est though peculiar Methodist preach
er, whose name will be familiar to our
older readers. This man, from his &C.
centricity of manner and dress, was ia
miliarly known in many parts of this
country as ''Crazy Dow" In spite of
conturmely and rebuff, frequently from
members Of his own denomination, and
ceaseless dangers and hardships of all
kinds, he persevered for nearly 40
wears in preaching, travelling over the
United States and Canada, England and
Ireland. The success of Moody and
Sankey in England win not be regard
ed as unprecedented by those who re-
member that Cray Dow" with an
awkward and ungainly person, q harsh
voice, uuattractive delivery and litter
ate phraseology, had simple fervor
which so supplied the place of eloquence
that he seldom failed Of having atten-
tive and even enthusiastic hearers
Finding, in 1907, a general religious in
terest in Staffordshire, England, Dow
suggested to the people the plan of
camp meetings. This was immediately
adopted and the first English camp
meeting was held. The new plan did
not, however, receive the united appro-
val of English Methodists. On the
contrary, the Wesleyan Conference in
1907 declared: ..It 10 our judgment
that, even supposing such meetings to
be allowable in America, they are high
ly improper in England, and likely to
be productive Of considerable mischief,
and We disclaim connection with then" !"
Their advocates, however. continued to
hold them, aud in 1910. when the
primitive Methodist denomination
was organized, il sanctioned the habit
of preaching in camp meetings, as well