The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-10-02

Those who never attended worship
at these open air sanctuaries have
missed great deal in the religious
phase Of life. We speak OF camp meet
ings now in their true meaning, con-
Quoted on religious principles. Sever
al hundred squire feet, usually forming
parallelogram, are set apart, in the
center OF (which is erected "stand"
seventy or eighty feet square, with n
white pineipulpit, and seats enough to
accommodate vast concourse Of peo-
pie. At distance Of fifteen or twenty
yards on each side are erected a num-
ber OF tents, which are occupied by
families who move there temporarily,
with servants, provisions, beds, and
everything for the accommodation OF
themselves and friends. Funny little
contrivances these latter, constructed,
as they are sometimes, OF canvass cloth
or unhewn plank set upright, and with
out chimneys. They make you think
Of an ordinary sized Indian village.
You do not like the comparison, but
the resemblance will thrust itself upon
your mind, and on first approach, you
involuntarily listen for the whoop of
the red man, and when you see the
blue smoke rising from what seems 10
you collection OF wigwams, you are
almost sure IL rises from the fires used
in the roasting Of frogs, snakes and
wild animals. You indistinctly hest
tate about approaching nearer, but
when you arrive, and see the white
haired minister and disciples engaged
in their devotions, all your fears for
your scalp vanish.
Services continue from morning till
night with only an intermission long
enough TO regale the appetite with NOR
tai food. The sleeping accommoda-
tions in the female apartments consist
Of several mattresses placed on a wood
en- frame the entire length of the room,
with covering and pillows, and in the
male apartments, for beds are substi-
tuted hay or straw over which are
spread sheets, covering, ETC., with or
without pillows. The floors Cor
grounds) are softly carpeted with straw.
If you are a wording, and take no
part in the meeting, you go TO sleep at
night TO the tune of the good sisters
and brethren, who sit up till late at
night shouting praises and hallelujahs
either under the stand or at their re-
spective tents. You sleep as sound as
il is possible TO sleep in bed with fif-
teen or twenty, and scarcely turning
distance between yourself and neigh
Dor. The next morning you are arous-
ed from slumber by what, on first
awakening. you imagine 10 be the "sev-
enth angel" sounding his trumpet, and
start up with terror, till your compan-
ions come to your relief by informing
you that the cause Of your alarm was
only the trumpet OF the "chief of the
committee of the grounds" calling the
tent occupants to their early morning
services.
You usually find active, industrious
people at these camp-mettings, and
long ere the sun streaks the east, the
grounds are astir with men moving to
and from the various springs where
they perform their ablutions, while the
housewives are busy experimenting
the cooking, which Is performed on a
large scale in the rear of the tents.
The whole savors Of camp life, and
possesses a peculiar relish for those
who like that mode of living.
Religious worship, if in spirit and in
truth, is the same throughout the
world, but the grove or camp ground
seems fitting place for divine service.
and partakes somewhat of the nature
of the sacred temples of the Pilgrim
Fathers in this country about a centu-
nv ago, or the mount from which the
Savior uttered those blessed truths to
his disciples who had followed him
thither. The feelings of these humble
seekers after the "Word" are wholly
unrestrained, and they enter into spir-
itual enjoyments with a zest unknown
to congregations who listen to we'll
written sermons read from velvet drap-
ed pulpits in magnificent church edi-
fees.