The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-08-31
EDITORIAL CORKEsPON UENCE.
Camp Meeting-What an Editor Saw
and Heard on Brnshy Ridge.
LEwIsBUkG, w. VA,
August II, 1877.

aud when we see crowd OF relS!pus
woIshippers congregated IN the open alr
beneath the shades o. wide spreading
forest, at an o!d-fashIoned camp meeting,
e are reminded of that primitive rehg on
of the earth pure and simple, before con-
ventionalty had SO far supplied the place
OF vital godlinesS In the Church. l have
just had the pleasure of attending camp
meeting In the mountains, and while
there is found much to amuse and enter
tain the glddy and unreaecting, there Is
sl.o muck to interest those who 90 in y
proper spirit 10 receive instruction
The place selected for this camp meet
ing Was the top of mountsih in the west
ern part of Greenbrer county, IN what
think Is very appropriately called Brushy
Ridge 1t is stran se place tor such
\ service-in fact there Is nothing about
the spot sugg, s.ive oI II religious frame
of mind. tor 1t is the most God-torsaken
looking .Io. oi land | ever saw.
Away otl from human babitation, with
nothing bu. brush, whorlIcoerrles aad
rattlesnakes tor companions, 1t Is ordI-
narily an promising and uninvlllng
.n.s,Ity. But on this oeCsSlOn the SoI-
Ludc OF the lace was broken by throngs
OF pcopl, pucaing their tents ior lew
DAYS in the wilderness. The joyful an
Lhems continually revorbcratlng through
The Tor, sts, together with the constant
fitting OF gaiIy attired damse.s who's
bright faces rlvalled III honest ruby the
.e.udv trimmings of dress aud bonnet
recalled that prophecy OF Isaiah which
predicted the coming of the time when
The solitary place : nall be made giad and
the wilderness snail blossom as a rose.
But mere We are on the camp ground,
ard what y scene! Up the Io,d, dow
the road. out OF the road III every dlrec-
On are carriages, Ouggies, wagons, carts,
mule carts aud OK carts, sleds, and every
conceivable shape OF transportation. II
Is IO. considered genteeI to walk TO
church in the country, - when the rus.
tics 90 to camp meeting they are going
To ride, even If they have 10 lmprovlse
wooden horse for the occasion, or, Ms Is
not untrequently the case, they SO on Il
sure enough horse three deep.
But some how they get here, ard alter
working our way through venicits and
horses and mules we reach the
CAMP GROUND PROPER.
Here is a rude village Of pioneer looking
cabins built OF poles with the accompany
inc cl4pboard rot, or here. and there
canvas tent-all laid out regularly
enough in streets, the streets being pretty
well curbed with stumps aud roots OF
trees, while at regular distances apart are
stands on which, ut night, are bulIt the
light wood fires 10 be substituted tor gas.
In the centre OF the village IS an open
space which is set apart as place ot
worship A staLd Is erected Tor the
preachers, and IN front are laid logs Tor
seats on which the cengregatloa Is seated
during divine service This space Is
covered by an awning OF clAp-boardS, re-
semb!ing IN appearance huge barn Saec.
Here WAS assembled congregation Q!
about 5000 people. 1t was the
SUNDAY SERVICE,
which is regarded as the most important
of all 1T camp meeting. sunday IS tht
d4y when everybody wants To go because
they expect every body else 10 be there
And Sunday is the day when the big
preachers are expected to be put on the
programme, and consequently, as l learn,
It Is considered distinguished honor
bv the clergy to be selected to
preach OH Sunday. Whether 1t
is because he considers himself
the most distinguished or whether 1t Is
because he doesn't Ike 20 discriminate
between his brethren. | do not know,
but the Presiding 4 der, who Is the boss
OF camp meeting, always arrangts to
60 the preaching himself on Sunday
morning. This ruls WAS no. varied from
by the boss preach.r OF Brushy Ridge.
There IS another curious feature about
this Sunday service, and that Is II j.
ALWAYS sure TO be the hottest day, and
then the biggest crowd l. there on that
day. and somehow or other the awning
is - arranged ~ u let the sun SHINE
right i'll oa the heads OF everybody eX-
cept the preacher. And it msy be that
it j. because the preacher has cool hesd
and Imagines that the hesds OF the people
are aS we'll protected a. his own t"a. ne
feels it his duty to protract the service ,s
,oug as possible. An holr and twenty
minutes Is the minimum length OF
SUNDAY morning sermon at camp
meeting. BruShy ridge was no eX-
ceptio1.
THE SUNDAY MORNING SERMoN
was the "old, old story of Christ and His
kingdom, and the preacher in voice
clear and loud enough 10 be heard al
sll parts Of the camp told of the "!ulInesS
IF time and how that AL
prophecy eliminated IN Christ AS
the head OF Spiritusl kingdom.
In an eloquent peroratlon he mad warm
Ell up the attentive audlence to an adora-
tion of the King OF Kings, when he gave
dramatic effect 10 the conclusion by sud
denly bursting INTO the melodies O. Cor
oHation and singing:
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord OF all
The second best preacher Is reserved
for Sunday afternoon, and this is the ser
mon the congregation express the most
desire to hear 1t is regarded rs the best
with all due respect to the Elder, and in
this respect BruShy Ridge was no excep-
ton TO other camp meetings.
GENTILITY AND BoORIsHNESS
A camp meeting is the best place in
the world 10 Distinguish between we'll
bred people and those who have no geu-
tility. The genteel people gather at the
blowing of the horn, and remain atten-
tive listners throughout the service.
Those who have never had the advan-
tages Of good breeding will walk about
during service, laughing, talking and