The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-08-25
The Camp Mestinga.


The season Of the camp meetings, wn'cI
are holding at diiIeren, places by the sea anu
among the hills, is drawing to an emu. ~ ~
these meetings are now managed, tnsy auolu
the means of summer vacations az tne satne
time that they provide religious stimulation mt
for the people who throng them me SCI,
mons and exhortations, the ierSenl prayers
aud rapturous songs, vary the proeeea'"sSI "
DAYS in which much recreation IS iOuhu' lug
camp meeting has become sort oil lehslhen,y1u
picnic, in which many people, young anu o'ui
delight 10 take part, for other reasons .lah nv
benefit of their souls. a great deal OF woliSty
ambition enters into it, and the uesIe 'o'
social enjoyment is very manifest
In the early days Of the country, IN the be-
ginning OF the wondrous growth oil Me1houislil
IN the United States, there was necessity
for camp meetings; for the churches to which
access could be had were few, and entirely
insufficient 10 hold the throngs of people IN
whom the labors of the itinerant eyangehsts
Ind aroused a religious interest. Hence the
groves were utilized as assembling places
and in them Methodism planted its most
fruitful seed.
The history Of these early camp meetings
and their influence on the religious faith ana
character of the country, needs TO be studied
by any one who wishes TO understand the de-
yelopment of our civilization. They left n
permanent mark on the rural communities
especially, in the South even more than in the
North, and in the West much more than IN
the East; in fact they formed one Of the most
conspicuous moulding forces of the time. IL
is probably due to them that Methodism is so
much stronger in the country than in the
cities and they unquestionably were chief
cause of the rapid spread Of the doctrines OF
Wesley in the New World, while the Bap-
lists likewise gained extraordinary Roadway
through means OF them.
But the perfected modern camp meeting Is
a very different thing. II is summering
place, with neat cottages, q police, oil the
convcniences of life, games and other amuse.
ments, and people 90 thither to occupy abodes
Of their own; while sometimes shrewd CAPT
talists or real estate spectators make them
the means of turning pretty penny. Instead
of the religious feature being the chief one, 1t
nowadays has really become subordinate, in
some places, TO the social; and the secular
pleasures of the stay at one of these resorts
tempt people to it quite as much, certainly,
as their desire to take part in devotional ex
ercises. At Mar,ha's Vineyard, at Sea Cliff,
hllA u bNNhh hAbNN ANNN NNAeNgf w 81
how the camp meeting has changed in acquir.
ing all the modern conyeniences. 1t isa sea.
side resort, with the advantages Of co'ope
rative effort, and the existence among the
residents Of general religious and social
sympathy No wonder, therefore, that some
Of these enterprises have proved so success
full, and that they have become popular
among the class which frequents them; for
they supply want, which, however, is only in
part religious.
Nor is it surprising that the camp meeting
as a means of religious propagandism is not
what it once was; though we have reports
from Ocean Grove of crowded assemblies for
religious exercises, aud are told that the
seekers after holiness are many. That they
may all find it, and when found keep ii, must
be the wish of every right.minded person
providing the holiness is of the kind which
does not exhaust itself in sentimental breath
ings or religious eCstasies, but transforms
character, and makes men and women faith.
ful to their duties aud honest in their deal
ings.-N \. Sun.