The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-10-12
CAMP MEETING.
now THEY ORIGINATED IN AMERICA.

The first camp-meeting in the United
States was held in 1893, in Ketituckyi on
the banks of Red river. Two brothers
named MCGEE, one Presbyterian minister
and the other Methodist, were on a relig-
ious tour from Tennessee town. where the
Methodist brother was settled, to a place
called the The Barrens," in Ohio. Arriy-
ing at a town on the Red river, they stopped
to attend sacrameutal service with Pres
byterian clergyman named McGreedy.
John McGee, the Methodist, was invited
to preach first, and did so, with unusual
power and effect His brother and another
Presbyterian minister followed him with
sermons, which also proved of great effect.
Tears flowed from many eyes, and shouts of
joy were heard from all parts of the house,
Three of the Presbyterian ministers left the
church, but the Mctiee brothers felt them
selves too powerfully affected to leave under
circumstances of so much interest. John
McGee was expected to preach second SER
mon, but when the time came he arose and
declared to the people that the overpowering
nature of his feelings would not allow him
to preach, and exhOrted them to surrender
their hearts to God. Cries and sobs were
heard in every part of the house, and the
excitement became intense Accounts of
this extraordinary movement soon reached
the surrounding country, and the people
crowded to see what these things meant.
They had never heard the like before.
Many came from distance in wagons,
bringing provisions with them. The meet.
ing-house could not contain all who came,
and an alter was therefore erected in the
neighboring forest. The novel procedure
gave new impulse to the public interest,
and tents being procured, with provisions
and other necessaries, a camp was formed
around the alter. The meeting was continued
several Hays. Sectarian divisions were for
gotten for some time, and Presbyterians,
Baptists and Methodists assisted eacli other
in the work of saving the unconve te |. The
result Vas Unparalleled and suggested an.
other meeting Of the kind, which was soon
after held near the Muddy river. A third
meeting Immediately followed, and both
were attended by vast throngs. From these
beginnings the meetings were extended, in
creasing in power and usefulness, under the
special direction of the Presbyterans and
Methodists. Because of this union Of sects
in their management they were first called
" General Camp Meetings. The roads lead
ing to the groves in which the meetings we've
held were often literally crowded and entire
neighborhoods were frequently left without
inhabitants while the meetings were in
progress. At one Of the early meetings held
in Kentucky no less than 10000 people were
present. The Presbyterians gradually with
drew from the field after the excitement
was over, but the Methodists carried them
into other parts Of the country, and they
soon became general throughout the dcnom-
ination. With more or less efficacy they |
have been continued to the present time,
though not without earnest opposition on |
the part of many in the church. During |
the eight years following the introduction of
camp-meetnss the net increase in the mem !
bership Of the Methodist church was 50 900, |
with corresponding increase in ministers.