Daily Republican., 1879-08-25
[PRoM YAsTBRDAY's LATE xprrIos, I
BRANDYWINE CAMP,


Tenters Having . Glorious Time
sOctally.-NOt Mach Of . spirit.
uai Success -.. Tho Religious
Exercises Yesterday...Incide idents.
The Brandywine Camp meeting ia
now about half over and we can al
least say that since the rains ceased
the tenters are having a splendid time
socially. The pure gentle wind 70.
phyrs that play amongst the green tree
foliage, and come in through the tents
ruffling the curtains into undulating
folds and gently tanning heated forms
lull them into a state Of blissful mac.
tivity not encouraging to the spiritual
part Of the work of camp meeting
The fact is undisguised that out of the
200 inhabited tents in this sylvan grove
hardly one out Of ten contains those
who 60 purposely to engage personally y
and actively in what is called the Re-
ligious work Of the camp.
The coel shades, the stirring brsezes,
the pleasant promsnades not yet dusty,
the ice cold water, the singing birds
aud the smiling welcome Of friends who
perhaps were never friends before, are
all invitations to social enjoyment, and
to pass the time as pleasantly as possi-
BILE. Yielding to these pleasant i'm
pressions nine tenths Of those present
stop TO Gull the fragrant flowers Of en-
joyment which grow by the wsyside
while but little handfullof earnest fol-
lowers are in attendance at the relig-
ious services.
This may not be bright and en-
couraging fact for those who believe in
camp meetings specially as place for
conversion of souls, but it is q true pic.
ture after all, and even OF many Of
those who attend the religious meeting
to be spiritually benefited, the words Of
the poet are literally realized:
''Hosannas languish on our tongues,
And our devotion die."
There are at no time less than one
thousand people, tentars alone, on the
camp ground, and it is but seldom that
more than one. fourth of that number
can be got together at religious services.
The impression seems to be steadily
growing that Camp meetings under re-
ligious influences, for social enjoyment.
rest and recreation are good things, but
that for the purpose of a general in
fusing Of fresh religious zeal into the
churches they are practically failures.
Notwithstanding this view of the case
it must be said the meetings at this
camp are carried on with considerable
religious spirit, the preaching being
good and the other devotional exercises
being Of an earnest character.
Yesterday (Friday) commenced with
a 6 o'clock prayer meeting in the Union
tent under the charge of Rev. w. Coff-
man, of Falls Of Schuykill, and at S
o'clock Rev. Charles Sentman conduct.
cd lively prayer meeting at the stand.
At 10 O'Clock Rev. T. Montgomery
preached an impressive sermon from
the 9th chapter and llth verse Of ofEphe-
slams: "Put on the whole armor of
God, that ye may be able t stand
against the wiles Of the devil"
The sermon was followed by an able
exhortation and a prayer meeting. The
usual children's prayer meeting was
held at i! o'clock. The little folks
from four years up to maturity take
great delight in these meetings and
are always present in large numbers.
Rev. w. B Gregg has been detailed to
take the general charge Of the children's
meetings and thus far he has shown
himself to be the right man in the
right place. He always has somebody
invited to address the children who can
use child's talk and who has not grown
so old and wise as to put away childish
things.
Yesterday Rev. Mr.. Sentman, a local
of the Union charge, Whining.
ton, was called upon to perform that
duty, and right ably did he do it.
Through the speaking and the influence
of singing appropriate hymns, ff-
teen OF these little folks bowed at the
altar, nine Of whom professed a change
of heart. 1t is no disparagement to
other preachers TO say that the great
sermon of the day was preached at 8
o'clock by Rev. George Cummins, Pre-.
siding Elder of Susquehanna District,
Philadelphia Conference.
He took his text from the Ecclesias-
les Whatsoever thy hand indsth
% do, do it with thy might, &C." The
congregation was large and listened
or over an hour and ten minutes to his
earnest, eloquent preaching. The fact
hat Rev. Mr.. Cummins worked when
a boy for the DuPonts on the Brandy
vine, gave his sermon tinge of local
interest to those who were aware of this
act.
A prayer meeting under the charge
# Rev. Mr.. Lame succeeded. At 6O'clock
! prayer meeting conducted by Rev.
!. Garrett was held in st. Paul's tent,
md at the same hour one for the pro-
notion of holiness was held in Asbury
ent under the charge of Rev. MIR. Lame.
Both these meetings were attended with
considerable spiritual power.
The evening sermon was preached by
lev. H. A. Sadder of Bethlehem charge, +,
Philadelphia Conference. He took his
ext from 18th verse of the 3rd chap.
er of Hebrews: But exhOrt one anoth-
r daily while it is called to day, lest
ny of you be hardened through the 4
of SIM" The sermon W as
arnest, plain and practical, and was
,llowed by revival service under the
barge of Presiding Elder Paxson, two I
ersons presenting themselves at the :