The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-07
oAmr.m SETTINGS.
prayer aud Eene Afser the Manner OF
the OIden Tfme-wershtp - 'oa's
Ffrae Temple.
fNew y@k HerAld.J

TO Dc, alasi
{" Have they changed for.the worse!
The first speaker turned upon the Herald
reporter. who asked the question, ana re-
allied with severity: 1t Is evident, Young
msn, that in your youth you dSu not attenu
camp-meetipg.' H..
parchment suggested that tue reverend ,nS
yenerabIe gentleman. who had commented
anon the decadence OF this KIND OF worship,
should give hts authority for the hrst re-
mari and the reasons. IL was so arranged
and the clergyman and the reporter drew 10
one side OF MerIick IL. I.) camp'meeting
ground, and sat down on log Just out oil
earsbot from the big tent where there was
Seryjce for conversion aud prayer.
apo you see those people kneeling
there 20 asked the clergyman.
"Yes.v responded the reporter, mentally
calculating the number, and deciding that
II was about five hundred.
"They all look like deyout people, don't
they :"
eyes, sir"
"They probably are, don't you Think"
Certainly; 1 suppose they are OF
course"
"They are deeply interested, too. They
are, beyond donot, children Of God' ana
that is blessed thing; but 1t Is not LOT
them that camp meetings are held"
"For the sinuerss" timidly suggested
the reporter.
Precisely-ior the sinner. IL IS moi tne
Christian that we want TO save. lie Is
saved already. II Is for the sinner camp,
meetings grew out OF the necessities OF
Methodist poverty. They were continued
because II was found that in the camp
under the trees Of the fOrest-Nature's
own temple-the beart OF The sinner was
more easily touched. II is temple not
built by mans hands. Gods voice rustled
In trees. Every zephyr that foated through
the leaves whispered the name OF Goa.
The brooks ripped with sweet sugges-
tions of salvation. The birds Joined In the
anthems OF praise. The stars in the firma-
mept looked down upon the worshppers.
The poetry OF religion was present IN
every surrounding. Hence camp'meeling.
DO you comprehend!"
Perfectly, sir"
IN TIE OLD TINES.
"What was the resultY When preacher
OF the Word stood up to tell the wondrous
story OF Divine grace his heart was hlIed
with the earnestness so necessary Tor con-
versions. He eXhOrted with fire and Ylgor.
He moved mems hearts. He told them OF
the JOYS Of salvation. He pointed out the
terrors OF eternal punishment. He called
up0n the people 10 come to the mourners'
bench, to come now, and the people, not
less moved than he, fell upon their faces
and cried out in the travail Of their sin
stricken spirits, God be mercifu TO me
sinner What was the result 2"
"What was the result, Sirt"
"The spirit Of grace came down like
dove and the souls Of the people were re-
deemed. Thousands crowded up to the
mourners' bench and they were prayed
with. Men and women, yes, and children,
lifted up their voices and eXhorted the
wicked to turn from the wrath to come.
The suppiCants knelt in prayer and en-
treaty. The preachers wrestled with them.
They would not let them 90 until they bad
found peace. That was the old time"
land is not as much good done now!
Do not these services, orderly and apparent
~ so very much In earnest, win as many
converts Z"
"No, sir; by no means. IL is not natural
that they should. 1t Is not possible"
"And why not, sir! ~
"Because in those days MethOdism was
young. II was not struggling for exist
ence. God and the right had secured II
That. But, like young people, 1t went at its
task with the enthusiasm OF youth. It's
work was before it, and il did it. Now 1t
has become more sedale. Like a man Of
mature wears II does what il has TO do quiz
etly and thoughtfully, and while its acts
are potent for good in all directions they
are not so potent as they were in the camp.
meeting service. As | said, clmp.meetings
are not what they used to be-"
HOW TO CONVERT SINNERS.
"Tell me what they used to be-"
"Why, in the old time camp meeting
was shout Of praise. Prayer aud hymn
succeeded each other with great rapdity.
ELOQUENT eXhortation and earnest solcita-
tion sprang uubiddPn to the lip OF every
child Of Christ. The spirit OF grace was
mighty and would prevail. Sinners stricken
with the fear OF Gods wrath and impressed
with the sweet Joys of religion stood 10
and cried aloud for the prayers OF the Cody.
They swung their arms in air, aud in an
guish of spirit would be comforted only
when their hearts would be touched with
the sweet peace that alone could save them.
All! 10 was blessed sight to see the load
of sin cast off and the repentant sinner stand
forth to declare the glory OF God and bear
the .idings Of grace. Why, in one great
harvest in a Pennsylvania camp-meeting in
Lawrence county more than 900 souls were
saved in one night"
" And did none OF them backsldeE"
Even camp.meetings are not proof
against backsliding. It's our duty to re-
form the man; it's the Churcb's duty to
perpetuate the Christian. But | must 90
aud lead in prayer. Won't you come down
and be prayed foT?"
10 few moments the old gentleman was
waking the people up with taste OF old.
time camp-meeting fervOr. His voice, LOUD
and clear, rang out over the bowed heads
OF the worshippers. The "Amens !" and
other responses, such as son yes, dear
Lord :" " Come now " Jesus, save Us "
" Amen, brotherl" Glory to the Lord !"
"Praise His name! /" and such other words
of support as came from the heart Of the
congregation at times almost drowned the
voice of the leader.
LONG HYMNS AND EARNEST PRAYERS.
When the preacher closed with great
amen the responses went up in every tone
from the deep diapasOu OF the men 10 the
shrill crescendO Of the women in grand
harmony. Almost without stopping the
leader began TO sing
| Je;us, lover OF my sOul,
Let me TO Thy bUsoH fly.
The entire congregation took up the
hymn and sang with spirit. The leaves Of
the trees trembled in the sound, aud the
man who sells weak lemonade and ice
cream in the stand near the tent Joined in
with such disregard to his duties as TO up
set the lemonade-bOwl and spill its contents
over the grass. No sooner had the hymn
been sung through once than another
voice in the congregation took up the first
verse and led the way through 1t again.
Thereupon some one began, in a pitch
above the rance al ordinary voices