The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-08-03
CAMP MEETINGS.

The first camp meeting in Maryland was
held near liciStertown, about fifteen miles
from Baltimore, i'll September, 1908, and
was one of gcmaI kablc results From that
time to the present these meetings have
been one of the institutions of our State.
and the names of several have become
"household WORDS We have no mcauc
[ of knowing WHEN or where the first meet
ing was held in Cecil county; but many
years ago there were several places noted
rs the location for holding camp meetings.
I where much good was accomplished. Sew
/ alls woods We have heard spoken of rs a
/ place early used; while to the present gen
Grafton - Bacon Hill = Is familar.-the last
meeting: being held there about 1853. From
/ that time until tie close OF the war camp
meetings ceased in our county-with the
exception, perhaps, Of one held at what
was called "Gravclly HILL" They had
/ Gegcncgated, and ceased To be productive
of good, and the people then did not seem
10 be able. 20 utilize them for fun and frolic
as the present generation is doing, when
/ they los! their spiritual usefulness.
About the close Of the war the National
/ Camp Meetings we!e started. With ;he!r
success, tie local meetings were revived,
and for several years they were conducted
! N somewhat Of the old spirit. One of the
| recullaririeS OF this age is to .'organize
every thing to death. And with the return
Of the relish iUr camp meetings commenced
/ the organization of associations the
purchase of woods, and the laying of all
the usual plans aud schemes for making
money. And a. this organizing has pro
ggcSse,! the usefulness OF these meetings
has decreased, until the older ones have
become little more than places where peo
pie gather TO see friends, hear big preach
lag, and have pleasant time in the cool
grove. Ia short, a week Of the novelty of
camping out
1t is pretty generally conceded that these
meetings arc not Of much benefit 10 old
established denominations. Their doc
TIMES aud practices are well known: their
large clutches, located in almost every
community, are well filled Sabbath after
Sabbath: and there are very few, if any,
new hearers to be reached at these
meetings. But 10 new or small denomna-
lions they are valuable. BY this means
their particular views are got before peo-
pie who perhaps otherwise would never
hear them, aud for this reason much good
is frequently done. Besides, while de-
nomination is young and earnest the work
III hand Will DC more thoroughly prose
cuted, aud there will DC less time or dispo-
sitI"n for lndu. gIng in those things which
defeat the object OF such meetings.
In our county this year two Of these
meetings will be hcld-the Susquehauua
camp, under the auspices of the Household
ri Faith, uf " im!ngton, and Woodlawn,
under the auspices OF the Methodist Epis-
copai Church. This latter begins on Tues
Jay, the 18th instant.
The Susquehanna camp began ON the 18th
uit., and Is now IN progress continuing
over next Sabbath. This meeting is about
two miles north of Pcrryyilie, IN a grove
beautifully situated on the public road
leading to " oodlawn. The seats for the
audience fronting the preachers stand
slope back, giving the rear benches a good
view 0I the audience and preachers stand,
On the front of which these words are
painted: " Behold, the bridegroom cometh:
20 We out 10 meet him ~ The blood OF
Jesus Christ his son clcduseth us from all
sin. Boarding tents have been erected
also a Large and conmodlous stand for dis
p-nsing the uece,Sarcs for the inner man.
GOOD water y abundant, At very con
venicnt distance, and ample room for horses
and vehicles. There are two rows OF
tents, numbering in all l6 -forming light
and left wing 10 the preachers stand
flpm the stand, aud the Cecil folks the
right. The audiences have been good
Last Sabbath there was an immense crowd
present. Good order is said to have pre-
vailed, and going on the ground one is
struck with the quiet and neatueSS that
"veryw here prevails. Anon. the preach
els present are: Rev. Pcyion G.. Bowman,
Of South Carolina; Rev. A. \. Holt, Rev
Nh. Burr, Rev. Mr. Dawson, Rev Mr.
fayipr, aud Rev. Mr.. WiIfong, OF phila-
deiphla: Rev George r. Kramer, of VIII
mington. and Mr. Elliott. These gentle
men differ on some points, but, we believe
are agreed on the fundamental truths pre-
scented at this meeting, which in brief are:
Immersion as the true mode of baptism:
the second coming OF Christ as the real
hope of the saints; the unconscious state
of the dead between death and the com
ing of Christ; and the destruction of the
wicked after the Judgment The House
hold of Faith. Of Wilmington, of which
Mr.. Kramer Is Pastor, numbers nearly
three hundred members; while the society
IN the neighborhO1d where this meeting Is
held-and which is a branch of the vii /
mingtou uHc--numbers one hundred and
ten members, and is carei; for by Rev Mr.
Elliott.
Their preaching Is practical, and they aim
1t tTus bic holiness. There appears 10
be desire To avoid sectarianism; but like
almost all other religious bodies they would
seem 10 fail In hold their members to a
strict compliance with the whole truth; in
their eilorts to be liberal they sometimes
get into the region of slackness of disci-
p!ine, though it must be confessed there
is noted absence of the show in dress and
adjournment usually SO prominent at such
meetings Of late days. Their efforts have
resulted iii some conversions; but are said
to be most productive Of good in building
up those already in the way. Their mode
Of worship and plans Of operation are those
in among the Meth dsts-to which
church many of the preachers and people
Ia tl,.l ..l.