Smyrna times., 1877-08-22
For the Smyrna Times.
Trip to Beckwith's.
SNypNA DrI. Augnst oOt


SMYRNA, DEL, August Goth, 1877
Mr. EDITOR Il see by your last issue that you gave
the names of the party who started for the Beckwith
campmceting in Dorchester CO.. Nd on Monday 18th,
so concluded to give you brief account of trip
We started from here the 1915 NJ train, and after
pleasant ride reached Seaord about 1850, and after
waiting 80 minutes, which was spent mostly i'll re-
frcshing the innerman upon the good things of the
season, such watcmellOnS, peaches, &c, we took
the cars on the Dorchester road. We passing
through country most of which to us all
and mile after mile was past over in quick success
sion we seemed to catch by the eye of faith glimpse
of the glorious time coming Our spirits rose cares
were thrown to the winds, pleasant jokes were past
and laughter rang out from merry hearts, even the
iron horse seemed to feel the inspiration Bro S.
remarked it must have had very cOrs, for such
ycllSwe never heard before they rolled through
the deep dark forests awaking the echoes and telling
for miles in the distance of its coming. The pleasure
of the ride increased by paraking of the splendid
lunch furnished by the ladies of the party We reach
ed Cambridge about o'clock and found hack wait
ing to convey us to the town. about quarter of Il
mile distant. As had to wait for the carriages
which were to take rs to the encampment we took
short walk through the town. Cambridge should
Judge, has about two thousand inhabitants The
dwellings mostly frame. There many very fine
private residences standing i'll the midst of beautiful
grounds Ornamented with fragrant fOwers0n creep
ing vines. We were not permitted To see much of the
town, being driven into the hotel by heavy rain
which lasted about one hour. When the rain had
nearly ceased two continental coaches were driven
up to the door, into which entered and started on
our way rejoicing. The encampmcnt was about ~
miles from Cambridge and in going to it we pass
through beautiful country. 1t is a neck of land
running between the Great and Little Choptank riv
do
bold water navigabe for large vessels, which come
and receive the produce and bear off to the city of
Baltimore We reached the camp ground after
little over hours drive. Brother COnaway the
minister in charge was on the lookout for us. be-
lieve he was the first man saw, and the cordial
greeting and smiling face with which he and his good
lady received us made us feel at once that We had
fallen in the hands of the kindest of friends A
splendid supper of oysters many other good things
had been prepared and waiting for us 1t is un-
necessary to say that did it full justice. We found
the cncampmentin in abeautfu and extensive grove of
large timber. clear of underground was told that
camp meetings have been held here for the past 10
years There was between 50and 60 tents quite num-
Der of them were canvas which admired especially
one of them. All the tents were on the front row,
and formed hollow square, the length of its sides
about $50 feet the preachers stand being in the centre
Beckwiths church stood just outside of the tents on
the border of the grove ir is very nice church
beautifully frescOed and Will seat about $50 people
no gallares. The church being there makes it very
convenient in which to hold meetings when
it is rainy, when the ground is very damp.
Such was the case on the evening of our arrival
meeting was held in the church, but without much
effect. One penent presented himself at the altar of
prayer. We retired to bed at not very late hour on
this our first night at the camp without learning
much about the people among whom we had come to
labor; but the next day, when we came to mingle
with them found them to be noble, high
minded, refined, intelligent, and wGrmhearted peo-
pie, who received us kindly and cared for lis so
tenderly that hearts were won at once and every
hour spent with them only increased love and
admiration for them Acquaintances were made and
friendships formed which will continue through life,
and trust will be remembered in eternity.
The ministers present during the meeting were
Revs. JnO Hough, P. f.. Joseph Robinson, Enoch
Stubbs Geo S. Conaway, T. r. Creamer Isaac Jewell
Vim. NJ. Green W. L. S. Murry Thos. J. Prettyman
Bro. Robinson Jr., DR.. Ewell, of the NJ. P. Church.
and Bro Patterson, of the NJ Z. Church South. 1t
would take up too much of your valuable paper to
tell of all the sermons that preached exhora-
tons given and meetings held l will merely say
that Rev EnOch Stubbs preached very effective ser
mon on Tuesday morning and as his earnest words
from heart filled with love for the perishng
and echoed through the tented grove, they warmed
up the hearts of the Church and made many out OF
Christ think of their personal responsibility to God
At the conclusion of the sermon the suppressed feel
ingS of many found expression in words and shouts
ofPraise; several conversions followed. There were
about ID or 20 conversions during the week. Brother
Stubbs preached also on Wednesday and Thursday
evenings, and delivered lecture to an attentive
audience every evening in the church, the subject
of entire sancheatiOn in his usual clear and cOmpre
hensive manner, confusing no one but edifying all
As all things in this life have ending so Friday
morning came, which the day set for our depart
ure for home and for the breaking up of the encamp
mcnt. After many hand-shakings and the farewell
said, little party started around the encamp
ment singing, In the sweet by and by" Tear
flowed from the eyes of all. At quarter of Ococl
we drove from dear old Beckwith with the hop,
strengthened by faith of meeting the kind friend
whom were leaving behind in that beautiful lanC
in the sweet by and by. J.CL