The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-30
Programme Of Gatherings at Sea Cliff Ocean Grove
Round Lake, Thousand Islands and Elsewhere
Sunday School Congresses, Parliaments, AS
Semblies and Scientific and Eth
cal Conferences.
THE ETHICS OF PIETY AND PELF

any year TINT has preceded It, But the people VIE
look in vain for the old fashioned camp meetings
when Gods glory was seen His power manifested
In the salvation OF multitudes Of uncovered per-
The modern camp meeting makes the con-
of incidental to It's annual visit, the
real object being pleasant summer recreation Tree
from the grosssr vices OF fashionable society and
social life, but With tho ample spaces filled In with
fashions and foics, sllvsrsd over as II we're win
gloss piety but nevertheless degrading and dis
sipating as those which We mercilessy condemn IN
Others, and all the moro dangerous here because OF
tho pous gloss that covers them II Is probably no
exsggeration to anticipate that more tnan one million
OF American Oh urch- goers will this year attend camp
meetings; they will be accompanied by as many more
unconvertcd persons How many OF the first million
will return to their homes IN tho fall sanctihed or
made bcttor by their seasons influences Or how
many OF the latter will 60 back with the germ and In
SEPARATION OF and Christian lie In their souls II
Is OF impossible at this writing even to guess
at But experience is no mean or uncertain teacher
in this regard H. therefore, we judge the future by
the past shall be safe in estimating not more, ana
probably less than one pcr cent Of the WHOLE who Will
receive any moral or spiritual benefit from the var
Gus gatherings seashoro and teuted grove this
year. 1t worthy Of notice that the attendants upon
camp meetings OF all denominations, and that at
many OF these meetings the services have no denom-
national THIS may may mol % 6Icu OicSa
ing Just as 1t Is viewed by one denomination
or another II is, however, little singular
that within the last years the Presbyterians
and the Baptsts have established camp grounds
IN the vicinity OF the most popular OF
the like Methodist resorts-as, for instance near
Ocean Grove, N. j.; Thousand Islands. n r., and
Martha's Vineyard and Round Lake SO that II looks
as the sectional lines would be sharply drawn be-
tween church people in the summer grove as IN the
chapel The free undeno national intercourse
OF Christians at the camp gatherings has been sup.
posed TO inurc the good OF the Methodists only.
who mako THIS phase OF modern piety quite promi
nsnt in their religious hfe Hence q reaction seems
to have begun.
INTER USDENoEINATIoNAL WORK.
There are, however, phases OF Christian work IN
which the different and 40 unite heartily,
ana the make increasing use Of
the camp meeting to further those interests. Tenn
perancs camp meetings, holiness camp meetings and
Sunday school camp meetings are distinct classes Of
tho non.denominatlonal type and In them are found
ministers and symen Of all communions. The
camp meetings afford tho least objectionable
means OF intercourse between churches OF the
same and different branches II is not necessary
neglect home work TO attend them and they gather
from wide areas Of territory. me future OF camp
meetings will depend upon the direction they in
turned to inter-cnurch work and educational work.
That is to say, they and moro devoted TO
lgous activities OF non demon national character
and TO educating the Sabbath school workers OF all
denominations. In the first kind Of work the meetings
Tor the promotion Of tho higher HE oil Christians have
become an Institution. The educating meetings
newer but they not less distinctly aud certainly
Az insttulion Tho meeting 81 thousands Of teachers
to be instructed 0y the best Sunday school managers
cannot fail 10 be . great blessing 10 Sun
day school work. A special type Of these meet
ngs takes up the disturbing questions OF the timc
and helps 10 settle and confirm the faith OF thought
ful believers. In that direction Unlimited held
stretches on into vast and unexpored region OF
church activity. A camp meeting TO discuss the
bearings OF the next Darwin hypothesis on Christian
dogma is no, impossible event. on the other hand
these attempts at educational religious meetings
may iaii and the olc-fasnioned camp meeting again
regain monopoly OF this kind Of religious
service.
The business aspect ofthe camp meeting has made
some demand upon the public Tor charity. In lew
the managers have not escaped censurc, and
may have deserved It. Perhaps tho true way TO
think oil this part OF the Is 10 regard the mans
gers do those who furnish hall Tor pubic
worsnip-sls no part Of the meeting they seldom
act as church otiicersi their organization Is not
under chufcn supervision. Ii they behave BADLY the
puDc will abandon them If they iail 10 keep their
pledges the press will criticse them Whether they
make or lose money IL an Incidental concern. and
may 90 dismissed Tor their private inquiries Though
disgraceiul management r.hects discredit on tho
Church. we easy way Of assuming tho risk,
with Tue controi, OF the business.
rnsre is IN most OF our associations Tor camp
grounds nothing TO cricase IN the Interest vi gen.
business prvpriety but should not suffer
solves 70 be startled out Of our composLrc by tales Of
bad management Camp GROUNDS are private entcr-
prises over which bishops and annual conferences,
presbytsres or associations rareiy nave any business
IN hs.Nr AHA
such an ASSOCIATION Is IRON u church board. Never
tnsioss the paUc judges the camp meeting managers
u judges the churcu boards by their spiritual sue
failure aud by the uprghtness Of the methods
used 10 promote SUCCESS or 10 provoke failure.
Tne camp meeting ~ strictly an American iustitu-
ton. II many years ago the iavorito mctnod OF
Pfcsby terrain ministers IN the South and Southwest
Tor bringing the scattered population under religious
Influences The MctnodIsts, ever ready 10 adopt use
iu aud practical methods OF gathering and Interesting
peop,e Tor religious instruction ana ORGANIZATION, soon
MADE the camp meeting regular part OF tneir sys
tom, aud under their Influence and guidance IT has
assumed almost national signincanee. during The
past low years there has been development OF a
species OF camp meeting under Inherent names such
Congress, Assembly, Parliament and the Ike Ex
tensIvo ana beautifully situated grounds havo been
laid ornamented, cottages tabernacies Tor
puDic meetings have been built and sveryu winch
could attract visitors and contribute TO their euter
tain mcnt provided. more interesting pro-
granme many respects than any that has preceded
has becn provided Tor the present season Following
will be found lew o tho most Important
cIIFP COLONIZATION.
THIS beautiful camp ground 10 Just emerging from
dark CI0uh Oi moral ana HhanGiai enAuAffassmcnt
under winch Il has rsstou TOUR years anu, though
Ia iui programme Tor the season has not yet been
Published, u wall open ON The Fourth OF July with
ousd Rhode island cianbAkc, patriotic colo
Dralion, music, nrew.rks, &c, and "A German camp
meeting in August The trustees Of the Sea Gin Asso
citation nave nothing to do with this celebration
give the oil tucir grounds ior IL Tho readers vi
the HERALD probably remember that, as corporation,
the sea elm Camp Ground Association are going
through bankruptcy that tho estate Is n the hands vi
receiver Apo by thc supreme Court, ana
Is Winning his business so as to render an account
TO the Court That appointed him and transfer the
property luat remains 10 tue ASSOCIATION This might
have bee done already had un orsseen aud
anticipated event nlsrsred The trustees " Sea- Cll,
somo seven years ago. found hne spring ON neigh
Dor farm ana nstssd sinking Tor tn selves
they expended 5000 or 800 improving, enarging and
ccnienting this vol. lhcy erected force pump on
their grounds adjoining, attached their pipes TO
the we'll their neighbours property, and Tor seven
years supplied Sea Cin WITH water IN this way
recently we'll with the properly, passed INTO
otner hands The new owner conceived the notion