Connecticut western news., 1878-09-26
THE CAMP MEETING.
BY REV. H. s. BALL.

Let me speak of the impression made upon me at the camp meeting in Pine Grove August 2425.
 The favorable. l have no doubt that week spent i'll tue woods is conducive to health. The change from indoor life, to fife under the open sky, is quite refreshing. | It affords relief from common cares and | anxleties. Under the name of camp meet. | ing IL gives all the benefits of camping out | among the hills or near the lakes. It seems | to me an excellent thing to spend number "f days in special religious servlces. Sun
 day services are not always sufficient to l break up the current of worldly pursuits A week devoted to religious work, must tend to deepen the piety of those who en gage in it. We commend the earnestness among the worshipers. Whether they dld | enjoy themselves better than others, may be fairly questioned but their acts. words and looks said 80. They reminded me ot the rt bel woman, who was so anxious to let the world know which side she was on. that she named her baby 'Rebellia Ceces- sia Jackson Davis Lee" IL killed the ba- by but showed where the woman stood. Their manner said they thought camp meet ing the place to enjoy religion. The free- dom given to all, Is d pralscworthy thing there is no stiffness, preciseness, or tol mali l ty, but like the atmosphere, all seem free {;
 there was no effort to make you act or speak according 10 rule. An element ot great in religious work is the employment of all gfls young and old, learned and ig
 norant, male and female. This was especi- ally seen at Pine Grove, indeed the women seemed to speak with more proprlety than the men, and were evidently better able to instruct. So much for favorable impress
 ions. Now for the unfavorahle. The ex- l fhGr6, was too little of God in the worship. II am sayed," said toy in linen coat, and to give emphasis to tue assertion, swung his hal. 'Glnry to God 1 have got reglon :; got it at the camp meeting year ago." A good si ter whom we knew many years ago said, " was converted at camp meeting when l was little child, and Jesus saves me now" Rev. A. H. F.. whose voice sounds inst as sweet as it did twenty-five years ago says, Jesus saved me forty -eigh ht years ago, and love him better to-day than I ever dld." Very good testimony but the next leaves different imprt ssion. 'One yesa ago l was drunkard, but was con verted, after a while l fell away l came to this camp meeliug, and yesterday made up my mind to go to heaven; Glory !" The responses to this were many and loud thought to myself little premature, even if converted, as on the American theory hIs is not here to stick. The impression left on my mind Was that the worshipers placed too high an estimate on what Mey dSd fo4 thenseI0eS. There seemed a tendency to unduIy exalt the human instrumeutalities The Methodist church-the class meetings and above all, the camp meeting was placed nearly on the same plane with the Bible and the spirit ; indeed some speakers said more about the camp meeting than about the Holy spirit. In all this there seemed lack of sound spiritual teaching ; the heart did not seem to be thoroughly and deeply impressed with the Bible as the word of God. Too high an estimate is set upon feeling. The remark that exhibited the most excited state of feeling, received the most hearty respor ses. The term glory" so much used, is made to express a degree of excited feeling of ecstscy, rather than any clear view ot God or true longing for holiness of heart. There seemed to be nothing in the state of the individual to prevent hlm from leaving the camp meet ing and be worldly and even dishonest in his business matters. Let me suggest one more unfavorable impression made upon my mind. The prominence given to this special means of grace leads to neglect, and underwriting of the ordinary means of grace-such as secret prayer and family worship, by the camp meeting devotee. who ia waiting to get warmed up at camp meet iug. This may not be the case, suggest that such may be it's tendency with some. Is the bringing together of miscellaneous crowds where there must be lack of need
 ed restraint susceptible of evil results? There is nothing within the circle of tents or cot tages to prevent the play of unhalloweG passions and there seemed to be no talk of restraint on the part of parents and an air of freedom which the same young persons | ,h-o, H. fr<,S Tat me quote the sage remark an old Presiding elder made to me years ago on the Hillsdale camp ground. "We have assumed great