Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-08-20
OPEN VS., CLOSED GATES.
DR. the state Of Feeling Among the Mem
hers OF the moundsville Csmpmeeans
Future Prospects.

orths state Of Feeling Among the Mem
; hera Of the Moundsville Campmeeans
association-Future Prospects.
Dpring the past week the correspond
orcs from the Moundsville campmeet-
I'M ilat has been published in the pa,
ners has not shown great amount Oh
dissatisfaction existing among the MEM
hers OF the Association and the Metho-
dists generally Of Moundsville and vi.
cinity: Except on Sunday the crowd
Was large and the interest manifested
seemed great. Spiritually the meetings
were said by parties interested in the
welfare OF the Association to have been
about ND to those OF former years.
Financially it was said that
the association has about as much money
when expenses are paid, as formerly;
but this does not take into account that
during the present year there have not
been the improvements OF former years,
and the expenses have been for oil and
such incidentals.
But back OF it all there has been some
vefv bitter feeling between some OF the
laymen and the clergy OF West Virginia
conferences on the one side and the
great body OF the laymen interested In
the association on the other. This feei-
ing was in regard to the "open gate
question. 1t was not especially proml.
nent at the commencement OF the meet.
ng, but grew apace; it was much talke"
iof Saturday and Sunday. and was We y
high Tuesday pending the election 81
Directors OF the Association, so high IN
deed that in one or two cases ministers
and laymen descended from the discus,
sion OF the merits OF open or closed
gates, into mere personalities.
The ministers consider themselves
bound by resolution adopted by the
West Virginia conference opposing open
gates as not being conducive to the spir-
itual welfare of those who attend camp
meetings. Consequently they say that
in ease the gates are opened none OF the
Methodist ministers OF West Virgins
will attend. So that they virtually say
"closed gates or no camp meetings.
From remarks made by member oil the
association last evening it does not seem
that this was understood among the
people, or if understood the masses OF
the layAen do not concur and plainly
saw uv their action I'VE will have none
of it.
This position OF the ministers is de-
tended on the forcib'e plea OF Sabbath
desccration; that on this day all sorts OF
persons, bad men and bad women, make
the camp gIo1nd central point,
where they gather for all kinds OF bad
doings, and it is not the purpose OF Il
| camp meeting to furnish occasion Tor
ANYTHING of the kind. 1t is rumored
that should the gates be kept open In
the future the ministers and some lay
men may attempt to charter grounds at
some other point for a new ASSOCIATION,
one OF the conditions of which charter
shall be that no gates shall be open on
Sunday.
The people have quite different views
Of the matter. 1t is claimed that the
peeule Of Moundsville are almost all IN
| favor OF open gates. The people OF town
| do not care to leave their homes on Sat-
urday evening and remain on the camp
grounds till Monday. They have been
accustomed to going to the grounds on
Sunday just as they 90 to church; the
same is said of those in the country,
some OF whom own tents, ana VINO Win
their families wish to attend the Sunday
services, but who cannot with their
! families remain on the grounds from
Saturday till Monday. Should a new
ground be chartered with closed gates,
it is said that evangelists who are bound
over to no creed will be called in after
their own ministers refuse TO perform
| the religious services.
There were two tickets before the tent
holders Tuesday. One was almost ex'
clusivey for closed, and the controlling
part OF the other was for open gates.
The latter with one exception was elect
ed A meeting OF those elected will be
held September Sd. Matters will be
most likely settled at that time. 1t is to
be hoped that the trouble will be ami,
cably settled, otherwise the future OF
the Moupdsville Camp Meeting Associ'
alton is rot very bright.