The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-02
FREE METHODISTs IN CAMP.


POOLS OF THE WORLD DISCARDED FOR THE
PURE WATER or SALVATION AND TEE GLORY
OF GOD.
DOVER, N. j., July &c. 1875.
Amid the storm ana rain OF Wednesday "tbe
resolute Few who dare go through the strait gate
and narrow way OF the Free Methodists gathered
here, in CasterliRe's words, TO hold their annual
camp meeting They are far enough from the
great city 10 be free from the prylng eyes ana IN
trusions OF those who like Jest at their expense.
But, from appearances yesterday and the day be-
fore, they are also lar enough II not too far away
from the accommodations OF civilized life, for a
more forlorn and des9late looking place, and
might almost add people than this place and
these people have appeared for three days are not
easy 10 imagine. ride of two hours over the
Morris and Essex Railroad, distance OF forty
three miles, and then wagon ride of two miles
more, over muddy and hilly road, brings the
pilgrim 10 this hating place on his way TO Canaan.
Dover ITSELF Is kind of one horse town or Q, 500
or 5000 inhabitants whose main support is the
iron mines In the Vicinity and whatever little
trafc the railroad brings TO It. 1t used 10 be
something OF manufacturing place. but It's only
rolling mill has lain idle for seven years; 1t has
one foundry, which employs fe hands, and the
railroad company have dilapidated aud almost
deserted repair SHOP mere. There was a railroad
car factory here few wears ago, but a fire de-
stroyed It, and the manufacturing business was
transferred to another place; but repairs are done
here. Some persons have been here lately nego-
tatng for the deserted rolling mill that little
new life may be Infused into the place again.
The Episc0palians, Pres5yterians Methodists and
Free Meihodsts have each q caurch here, ana the
Catholics have one about mile south Of the viii
lage. There is
A SUBSTANTIAL DISTRICT SCHOOL HERE
a hnfa
stables depend for their support very largely on
the railroad passenger traffic, ana on such day
as yesterday they charge Just as much as pill
grim can afford or IS Wiling 20 pay-from twenty
FIVE cents TO a dollar or two-to be conveyed from
the railroad depot to the camp grounds. Hereto
fore the railroad company sold excursion tickets
at reduced rates 20 this encampment, without
any restrictions but they discovered that ousl-
ness men, for mere worldly gain, suddenly and in
great numbers became "pIgrims In the narrow
way" and took advantage OF the reduced fare to
look after their own interests. Hence all who
would thus avail themselves hereafter ana save
half dollar on the round trip must get an order
from some Free Methodist pastor vouchlng Tor
them that they are bona fde pilgrims Not being
familiar with this arrangement, was not able to
reap any advantage rom IT, ana now note it
for the benefit OF ali whom it may concern.
more dismal time for camp meeting than
the last two days have been need hardly be wished
| by tue worst enemies OF such gatherings. With O
brief respite on Wednesday and a lew hours grace
yesterday the ram has poured down upon US in
torrents and dribets so that asquare inch OF dry
groun0 would be an impossibity here Tae camp
ground Itself Is complete picture OF forlorn dis
tress. Twenty tents ordered ana sent from
Rochester, n. Y, one week ago have not yet ar
rived here, ana the people are all at odds and
ends Tor want Of shelter aua aeeommo dat,ons.
N Faa
OF the Free Methodist denomination, and as they
believe In AID practlse the tsttR that they
should deal only with fellow pilgrims like them
selves they get their goods at this distance, even
at the cost OF such Inconvenience and delay. These
the delay Is charged to the officials of The Della
ware, Lackawauna ana Western Railroad. Mean
alter a fashion give shelter and cooKing
and sleeping ana boarding ana preaching accom-
modattOns 10 the 100 persons now present here.
But considering the many disapDointments they
have sanered ana the lnconvenlences they put up
with rom tne weather ana the railroad compa-
mes and other things together 1t must be admit
ted that tne people here do possess their souls in
let patience rave her perfect work. they appear
to be well satisfied wirh tae inward glory II not
with the outward surroundings. Here aud there
tnrough this encampmenri
SCATTERED IN PICTURESQUE CONFUSION,
may he seen stoves WIN tRelr appurtenances in
different stages u oxidation, tables, STOOLS,
Camp CHAIRS aud other belongings to ordinary and
well regulated eneampments. And ia close prox-
unity to these may be seen, here ana there box
o. trunk which contains the family Kitchen,
wardrobe and larGer, ana which may serve, as /
have seen them (under shelter, however, instead
OF baby crib. 1t would De amusing, ii IL were
not serious, TO pass along through this encamp-
ment ana see the good housewives trying TO
make IRE ana cook 1000 with wet sticks. Those
who have ever tried II will know that 1t Is worse
than making bricSs without straw. And yet APP
parentiy Obllvlous oil the weather and its prob
abilities, ana above the din OF storm and RAIN is
heard the song OF JOY of these pilgrims on the
way to Zion as they COOK ana siAg together. As
may be inferred, where there are only four teats
among so many people, there must DC display
IN some sort OF the mllk OF human Kindness. Ana
there Is. TWO or tnree or nall Il dozen families
gather gypsy-like unuer the same cover ana eat
OF the same imprOvlsed tables-those who have
enough anu 20 spare very cneeriully SHARING with
those who may lack o! the things temporal. Tne
majority ol the pilgrims present are from New
YORK aud BrooAyn, ana are, as one of the preach
ers called them, 'naturalized Dutcnmen." There
are a few here from Allentown, Pa, ana Philips
burg, n. j., ana rom the interior oil New York
state. Between this date and tomorrow evening
they expect 800 or 4oo persons nere aud u, Old
two days, they purpose TO prolong their
meetings. r perhaps maps over over the second sab
yesterday afternoon through all tue rain ana
ush, but this mornings train brought hitherto
goody NUMBER, and more are expectel during tae
day. TINS conference, formerly tle Susquehanna.
has lately been divided, so that there Is eXpec-
taton OF as large gathering here this year as In
winch this place has been thrown, numbers now
only wv MY ministers ana charges-ess than one
tnlrd OF what it had a couple vi years ago. Inc
entire denomination does not number over 10000
members They are Methooists IN form ana ialth,
Dug '1Ies" rOM ENsCOpdi SupefNsiOn; Tree rom
conformity TO tue world in dress, ashton, finery
and lrlppery; Tree from everything that would
mnuer or camper their progress toward tue
Celestial City, and perfectly mee 10 Jump ana
snOut and tumble and toss about like many
MANAGES when they get ''gOriOusly happy,n as you
would agree If you saw them, as nave seen them,
in sucn q state. Indeed, 1 was never more
convinced than | have been while here among
them that their condition Is
MODIFIED FORM OF SPIRITUAL MONoaANIA.
AS looked upon them gathered Ia their large
church tent for worship | was strangely lm-
pressed Win the lack OF intelligence displayed in
iaces, especially OF so many of the women pres
ent-and tue majority Of those here are women.
Many Of Them, and, tndeed,o or those throughout the
denomination, are malcontents nom otner Metno-
dist BODIES though they count some original con-
verts among tnetr members. One OF their preach
ers here present, the Rev. Mr.. BradbroOk, is a
reclaimed runaway youth, VINO having traversed
this continent working at MS trade as a cdrpen-
ter aud stairbuilder wden he could and spending
his earnings in foolish pleasures, was naDbed by
the Free Methodiste couple oil years ago. and IS
now walking IN the narrow way. lie now travels