New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-29
FERNWOOD CAMPAIGNING.
FIRST SERVICES OF THE YEAR.

FIRST SERVICES OF THE YEAR.
OBJECT OF THE MEETING-APPEARANCE OF THE
CAMP By DAY AND BY NIGHT--THE PERSONS At
TENDING TIE MEETING.
(rROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TR'BUNE|
PHILADELPHIA, June 26.-At FernwOOd,
station the West Chester Railroad, I'VE miles from 'his
city, there is being held what Is styled The Great
Central National Camp Meeting for 1870" Great II can
scarcely called unless 1t be in the aims OF the mo-
jectors and the attendance is by means national The
meeting gets its from the fact that held ny the
National Caml-Mceng Association an organization OF
% Methodist ministers, who began seven years ago 10
devote their Summers to the work Of conducting such
outdoor religious gatherings. Two OF the 20 men,
the Rev. John s. Inskip OF NowYork and the Rev. W.
Mcdonald of Boston, arc what is known in the denoin
nation as "evangests,' that Is men without regular
pastoral charges who from place to place ana cut
yae whatever fields are most in need OF aborers all
the others are regular ministers, who take Few
weeks Of every Summer from their home duties
to attend the camps. The following Is a
full list of the members OF the Association
John s. Inskip, President, New.York; W. Mcdonald,
yiceP;esi dent Massachusetts,; George Hughes Score
tary New Jersey W. H. Boole. New-York; l.. X Dunn,
New,Jeisev; T. f. searles Connecticut; W. b. Osborn,
Georgia W. T. Perkins, Ohio; s. H. H'niorson, Iowa;
w. c. Willing, Illinois; g. N. tru,akcr. Pennsylvania;
j. f. Larkin, Ohio; s. Coleman, Pennsylvania; e. Nun
ger Maine; w. Mast Ohio; j. b. Footc, New YORK; "A.
Mclean, Ncw-York; W. r. Harlow, Rhode Island; j. A.
Wood Maryland; A. Lowrey. Pennsylvania; c. G. Reid
Pennsyl vania; L. H. Perry, Maryland f. T. Wells ONO;
w. C. DePalyy Indiana and G. Pratt Maine. The FERN
wood meeting is the twentyfrst held by the ofS"nIza
ton This yearthcrc will be four ore At Cedar Ras
Iowa. July 8; at Urbana, Ohio, July % at Orchard
Beach, Maine, August and at Wesley Grove near new
burgh " w. August IS. large tent called the Taber-
ngcle that can shelter thousand people, IL tne
property the Association and Is moved from place 10
place. The small tents occupied by the persons attend
ing the camp for the most part owned by Baltimore
man who leases fixed rental for the duration OF
the canp and supplies furniture desired according 10
tariff of prices for the Of the various articles needed
The Fernwood Camp was opened on June 23 and will
last until July q Visiting the grounds yesterday AFTER
noOn after listening to an excellent DISCOURSE followed
by fervent exhortaton and prayer which appeared 10
awaken only q languid interest among the audience
met the pastor of large city church. who said, You
come too early to much feeling shown. Come again
during the last two three days Of the meeting and
YOU will find cveryt at white heat" The Rev. MI
Inskip to whem the leading spirit OF the mectihg'
applied aerward for informaton said that the pri-
mary purpose of the camp was to promote better re-
ligous life among converted Christians OF course,
we desire and expect make converts he added but
we mean to keep in view constantly the need IT our
own brethren to have their spiritual nature ea"akeheo
and siren gthened."
els it strictly a Methodist meeting 7" asked
"By no means" Mr. Inskp replied, all our national
canp-meetngs are entirely undenominational Most OF
the active workers them Meth0dists but we well
come all evangelical sects We shall have preaching
here by Bapsts and Presbyeans and in our audiences
Won will find members o; almost all churches Even the
Quakers are with u.s."
To one lust come out Of The dust and glare OF the city
streets the camp is very pleasant sight. Tall oaks and
chestnut spreading beeches shade the rows OF tents
that surround square filed with board seats, laid mon
logs for the audience at the open-ar services III hd
hard by the grove stands the vast Tabernacle looking as
cool as a snowbank in green meadow. The preachers
platform made Of rough boards with seats for two
score minister's and ample provision OF straw TO make
protraced kneelng comfortable. Between the stand and
tho foremost rows OF seats is an open space, also
strewn with straw, where sinners on the road
70 conversion are aided their applications by the
ministers and devout brethren and sisters. Two huge
board shanties shelter long tables set out win clean
linen and wel ashed crOckery and glassware, where
meals are provided at the rate OF 40 cents Tor brcakst
and supper and go dinner There is also an ice
cream and lemonade stand bookstore for the sale OF
spgingbooks and religious works. barbershop and an
itiperant vender has opened small stock OF general
merchandise Towards evening the life OF the camp rs
admit the breeze afford gnpses of coy interiors SO
neatly and comfortably furnished that they look as II
their occupants meant 20 stay all summer Many are
carpeted and display inviting beds with White
conterpanes and G Sdt plS%s and roc cse
chairs washstands, and nriUrs abound Living
in tent in tins manner is by no means nardsnP aha
soceIy of friends, and in the constant enjoyment
Of the ministrations OF religion, must pe sm, ae
TS them the truths of religion heard amid
SURROUNDINGS that bring no snggeson t S ner a s
at night throu, I'll eay boughs to the starry sky ee
with the ns on n To % Of nre must 70 to the
heart with power never ieit m temples o,iis WIN
Of fhis canvas lead. Tie DAYS are crowded WIN
pious duties Look at the regular programme OF feelous
Proyer and experience meeting In the Tabernaclc a. w.
Love Feast" in the Tabernacle; 1890 a. m-Preacl-
lao n m~Iadies' experience meeting in Asbury tent;
a. the stand; p er %M, sI sns
stand Besides there are frequent anS hssY
the large ien rs STne1 by and q
ngs for hymn singing and exn Se tSns I anS
over the grounds At intervals between these serious oc
cupaions subducd soeabiliy tnds little space ior
old friendships, and form new ones with the brethren
from other congregations Visits are made from t.hi 70
the ministers discuss points of doctrine together or COM
pare experiences. and the gossps ind matters Ior com
arrive from the city, bringing people who out to
send the day and In the evening there always large
Sy pryals Nothing is seen Of the rowdy element that
was once terror OF camp meetings aud another class
ngo o turn of mind who like the excitement Of such
casons, but look upon them as good opportunities Ior
class families are without exception the regular attend
ants the excursion parties that arrive from town arc
The number Of upon the ground IL not Tar fr0m
100 and their occupants probably amount 70 400 or oOo
In number. With the country people OF the neghDOr-
hood and the thrOng brought out by the trains congre
CATION varying in numbers from 1000 to 1000 Is ASSEM-
hlcd a he regular The cost OF living In camp
is moderate For the Of foorcd tent the charge
varies from $40 TO 49, according to size Board costs
MANY families bring cooking utensils and board them
selves buying their provisions from farmers wagons
ve over fires made In trenches in the rear OF their tents
"a proceeding SO trying TO the temper OF housewives
n
im,efere with the cultivation OF religious frame OF
mind. ~. -,.- 100000.