The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-07-27

The iiIst grove meeting ever held in
Maryland under the auspices of the Free
Methodist Church, began on "Wednesday
of last week, in Ricketts, pretty grove, two
miles Forth Of Elk,on. The Revs JOS
Travis. I. :. l.aDuc, W. Gould, s V
McN"y and ID. W. Hart, with number
Of persons from this town and about forty
from Philadelphia, tented upon the ground,
which gave the place the appearance of a
small camp meeting
THE SERVICES
The opening service began on Wednes-
day evening. with 4 sermon 10y Rev. Jos.
Travis, who had charge of the meeting.
on Thursday, an experience meeting was
held at - clock; preaching at lOI 10y Rev.
WIN. Gonld; in afternoon by Rev. ). V.
McNey, and i'll the evening by Rev. r. 5.
I I.aDue.
/ On Friday the regular experience meet
ing was held with usual interest: preach
ing at 10. O'Clock by Rev. Jos. Travis; in
the afternoon, the service was conducted
by Miss SallIe Il. Boice; and ut night, Rev.
/ VIM. Gould preached.
/ On Saturday morning, after the testi-
mony meeting. Rev. $. V. McNey preached
on " Christian Perfection" In the after
noon, Mrs. Dickson, Of Philadelphia, de-
livered an able discourse, taking for her
+ text Mark :: 36,31.. Rev. J. Travis preach
T ai 1T pi,-i,t Fr,,, la Il. I
love not The Lord Jesus Christ, let him be
/ Anathema Naranatha - Cor. 1G:2o
On Sunday, the services were unusually
/ impressive. The experience meeting at
. O'Clock was a season of great rejoicing,
and the power OF the Holy Ghost was upon
them. At 10! O'Clock, Rev. VIM. Gould
preached a powerful, heart searching, prac-
teal sermon, on Practical Holiness"
quoting portions of the l9th chapter Of
lcvTticus. In this he struck telling blows
ut the popular sins OF this fast age, and
particularly those that are INDUCED in by
formal professors of Christianity. He de-
uounced the false, and held up the true.
in bold, fearless manner, and it was evil
dent that the truth went to the hearts of
his hearers. \ heavy shower of rain began
at the hour for the afternoon service, and
the congregation FASTENED into the large
tabernacle, where Rev. Jos. Travis deliver
ed sermon on 1.-THE Cross Of Christ"
with telling effect, thiec Immediately
presented themselves at the altar and
spirit Of conviction appeared TO rest upon
many. y very interesting and instructive
children : meeting WAS held before the hour
for evening service, conducted by Rev. Mr..
Gould, when number of children sought
pardon and two or three we're converted.
At its close. Rev. I. ). LaDue preached
from Rev. ;;:l2. This text was handled in
an eloquent manner, and rs he poured
forth the rcd hot shot. in the name of the
Lord and welded the two-cdgcd sword of
the Spirit. hardened sinners were melted,
and cold, formal professors trembled and
Squirmed, while Christians rejoiced, and
the amons" and hallcluiahs" burst
forth from every side. This was another
powerful, searching, gospel sermon, such
AS is seldom heard III these times. The seq
mons were all delivered in an able man
ncr, and the naked. unvarnshcd Truth was
presented with great power. During the
meeting about score were converted
quite number saUc,ltied ard believers
Were wonderfully blessed and atreng thened
The services throughout were Of pecu-
Iilriy interesting character. Us this was
the first meeting of the kind ever held III
this state, rs We stated above, and as the
Society had been - misrepre>euted by the
press and hy other denominations, Il mum
Der visited the place To ascertain the truth
by seeing for themselves. And these
exceedingly plain and neatly dressed Pill
grimS engaged in worship, or arose and
gave their testimony, with such power Is
only comes 10y the Holy Ghost, it reminded
one Of by-gone days-thc early days of
Mcthoiism, when Christians were distin- |
guished 10y their simplicity, their power.
their plaimue>s of apparel, their singula:ity; /
when folks were not too proud to attend
camp IN u rude cart: when Christians met
together Iud wofshipred God in spirit and
IN Truth, unfetfeied by the CALLING chain
Of fashion and the show and glitter Of the /
world. There was such a contrast between |
his band OF humble followers of Christ |,
IN their appearance and devotion, and the /
modern gatherings bearing tine same name, /
and which was the subject of general re 1
mark, that we cannot refrain from men /
&. II.
attiIed so neat and plain, with an entire .
absence Of iewelry or characterization of any .
character whatever-no iioUnccs, rufilrS, I
puiis; no flying ribbons, irizzled hair; no .
powder or paint bedaubed faces; but strip .
ped for the Christian race, with hearts fill /
ed with God, with voices raised in praise /
TO their Maker, proved concluSively to all /
sensible minds the truth that
:. Nature unado:ned, adorned the most"
Go to the encampment when you might. |
you would find them engaged in some ser. |
vice. Perhaps dozen or more would be .
earnestly engaged i'll a prayer meeting in 4
i tent; on another part of the ground q .
group might DC seen pouring forth the mel |
ody of their hearts in some old camp meet |
ing hymn: and if you would take stroll |
through the woods you would be likely 10 |
find some enc WHO had left the joyous |
groups and sought the solitude OF the |
forest temple to hold sweet converse with |
Jehovah. These scenes drew forth the APP |
probation from the sensible, uupreiudiccd |
,t.c ,,I;i.. 9TH l,.l-.I
constituent and surprise.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The attendance was large throughout the |
meeting, and it is estimated that there were
about two thousand persons there on sun !
day. The weather was very auspiciuus. |
THE CONCLUDING SERVICES
were held ON Monday last, beginning with |
the administration of the Lords Supper, |