National Republican., 1876-08-14
WASHINGTON GROVE cAMp.MEETIHG-
Fourth Day-Intsrssting Services On satur.
6ay
WASHINGTON GROVE CAMP,


MONTGOMERY Co, MD., Aug IL, 1876.
AS yet the meetings have been characterized
by very little of enthusiasm, although very
devotional spirit is manifest in them all. No
peniterts haN e yet presented themselves at the
altar. Indeed, most of the sermons and ex-
hortatons thus far have been directed toward
the edifcation of the church members, many OF
whom would seem TO stand greatly in need OF
IL, we would judge from the tardiness they
manifest in coming out to the services. We
suppose, however, an improvement will be
made in this matter when they reckon them
selves sufficiently we'll "fxed."
Last evenings service was conducted by Rev.
James McLaren, of Uniontown. After the
service was done a number Of gentlemen, led
by Mr.. Henry Wilson,
GATHERED AROUND TIE ORGAN
on the stand and entertained US delightfully."-
with some of their sweet songs. Groups were
seen sitting around in different tents, chatting
pleasantly or listening to the music that was
being discoursed from the stand. At ten
O'Clock the bell announced that retiring hour
had come, and tent fronts were thrown down
and soon all was still.
This morning the early train landed few
passengers at the Grove, among them Reys. L..
c. Muller and W. F. Speak. These two gen.
tlemen have just come from camp-meeSing
in Southern Maryland, which was attended
with wonderful success. Though only num-
bering thirteen tents the meetings were largely
attended by people from all the regions round
about, and fifty souls were converted and
added to the Church. Old men, seventy and
eighty years of age, came on foot as far as ten
miles, through the burning heat, and thanked
God that they were privileged again to attend
a camp meeting in St. Nary's county. This
will doubtless give Q new impetus to Metho-
dism in that strongly Roman Catholic county,
where Methodsts are compelled to battle
against fearful odds in the maintenance of
their religious faith.
THE PRAYER AND EXPERIENCE MEETING
this morning was held in the Southern Meth.
odist tent, and conducted by Rev. DIR. Laury
Of Fletcher chapel, Washington. At l 1 O'Clock
a sermon Of more than ordinary merit was
preached by Rev. Geo. V. Leech, pastor of
Cnion chapel, from Proverbs i:23: "Turn you
at my reproof behold l will pour out my
spirit unto you" The subject Of the discourse
was the failure upon the part of the Church
TO take high ground as to spiritual life, or
settling down to low state OF Christian ex-
perience and life. 1t was a very close, practi
cal sermon, and could not have failed to profit
those who heard it. Mr.. Leech has recently
UteU 10 Union CHdpel, anu Is very
much admired and beloved by his people, not
only for his pulpit talent, but his kind and
Christian bearing.
About noon today very heavy shower fell
;;.non the encampment, causing some little in
convenience to ient-ho!d RS, especially to the
proprietors OF boarding tents. At 3 o'clock
this afternoon
YOUNG PEOPLES MEETING
was held in the large tabernacle, led by Rev.
Mr.. Morris, and was one of the most spirited
meetings yet held.
The o'clock train this evening brought a
larger crowd than has yet visited the camp,
and the throng that moved up the avenue lead
ing TO the grounds reminded one Of the more
successful years of the Washington Grove
camp.
Very few ministers have been present at any
time since the beginning. Rev. DR.. Dashiell
has been suddenly attacked with rheumatism,
and is now lying sick at his home, 4 number
OF helpers are expected next week.
Evening Service.
Owing to the Eeavy fall of rain Saturday
making it ineXpedient to hold pl5
lie services at the stand, the evening service
was held in the tabernacle. The congregation
was larger than has yet assembled since the
beginning, owing to the large number of arri-
walls by the evening trim. The sermon was
delivered by Rev. w. l. Mchenuey, from
Hebrews, xiii:2-"And that knowing the time
that now it is high time to awake out of
Sleep The preacher urged upon the conSre-
cation the necessity OF examining the motives
which led them to the camp, and one after
another testified to their honesty of purpose
and their sincere desire to get good and do
good. The meeting was characterized by an
unusual degree of interest, and there were
many expressions of confidence that God would
pour out his spirit abundautly, and many souls
would be saved during the camp. A new i'm
pulse seemed to have been given and new hope
inspired. All were looking and praying for a
good day on the morrow.
Services on Sunday.
During the night the rain fell in torrents,
and when the Sabbath dawned upon us, in
stead of being bright day, as we had hoped,
the rain was still falling and dripping from
every leaf and twig. As the morning wore
on, however, the waters ceased, the SKY grew
brighter, the clouds broke and scattered, and
soon a shower of sunbeams came noiselessly
fltering through the foliage above us. Even
before the rain had ceased the people from the
surrounding country began TO come in. From
then ill it was full time for the morning ser
NlSC lnS NCIC III IL CilI ldl duU
buggies, Wagons and vehicles of
every description, until the woods surrounding
the camp presented scene of excitement and
confusion. Along the fence incloSing the
ground horses were tied almost as closely as
they could be packed together. Drivers were
hallooing to each other, horses were neighing,
men, women and children of all sorts, sizes,
sccts and denominations were mingled in one
confused mass together. This was without
the camp. By this time the trains began to
arrive from both directions, and crowds were
trooping along the avenue leading to the en-
Not less than
TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED CANE BY THE
TRAINS,
while nearly as many came from the surround
ing country.
The O'Clock prayer and experience meeting
was of a very sprightly type, and was con-
Quoted by DR.. Laney. Many persons partici-
pated in this service, among whom was an old
octogenarian from the country, who told
his Christian experience in such an interesting
manner as to engage the closest attention of
all present.
By the arrival of the hour for service the
whole space within the front circle of tents
was one dense mass of humanity. Those who
could obtain seats did so, while the rest moved
restlessly about till the bell sounded and the
service began. The hymn beginning, "Guide
luS, W lHOu great was sung al the
opening, after which Rev. B. Peyton Brown led
in prayer. The collection was then taken to
defray the expenses of the camp. The pre-
liminaries being over, Rev. Mr.. Webb arose
and announced as his text, Matthew, iv:1-
"Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted of the devil" His
subject was the temptation of our Lord, and
the following is
A SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON:
The temptation of our Lord occupies place
of no ordinary Importance in the pages Of in-
sHired truth. Three of the Evan.clists fur
nish US with details of the event. This fact
alone demonstrates its importance and will
justify our earnest attention. In the discus
sions Of the subject there are two things that
we must bear in mind: a. We have before
US the narrative of fact. The subject is eu-
viIoned with difficulties, and in view of these
some critics haye surrendered the historical
accuracy OF the narrative. Now, whatever
may be the difficulties, we dare not lower the
narrative to the level of parable, fable or
fiction. We are bound to accept the language
as historically accurate and believe that Jesus
was really led OF tine spirit into the wilderness
to be tempted Of the devil. (2.) Christ was
tempted as man. God is not tempted Of evil,
neither tempteth he any man. 1t was there
fore impossible for the divine nature of Christ