Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-08-21
SUNDAY IN CAMP.
The Exercises at the Moundsyllle
Camp Ground.
How the Sabbath Was Passed in Re-
Iigious DevOtions, by the Regular
Tenters and Curious Visitors.
Speaa, Correspondence OF the Register.

raiment that riyalled the rainbow In splen-
dor. Later on several boats arrived from
your city, and the approaches to this grove
were for a while literally alive with people
Just what the attraction is at campmeetings
never vet has been positively determined,
but the fact that they are always well at
tended and not altogether Tor rellgions
sake, either, is well attested and the attend
ance at this campmeeting, to-day, is no eS-
Ception. The grove here, both the camp,
meeting grounds proper and the beautiful
grove adjacent thereto. are to-day comfort
ABLY filled and all the services have been
craced with a very large attendance, and
vet the attendance was doubtless dlminlsh-
much by the announcement that the gates
would be closed. Much has been said here,
tofore regarding the gate problem. SnaLi
the gates be closed or opened? has been
vigorously discussed by many, and much
feeling on the subject has been
manifested, both sides having many
warm adherents. So much feeling has
been manifested on this question IN the
Moundsville Camp-meeting Association
that q compromise arrangement hai 10 De
agreed upon, and in pursuance oil the
agreement, to-day witnessed the operation
of the compromise, ana sucn lApteee e
farce has never been witnessed upon these
grounds before, and il is safe 10 say 1t will
never be repeated. The compromise ar.
rangement has proven itself failure, and
one or the other of the horns OF the orig
| inal dilemma must now be taken. Either
! the gates must be closed entirely on sun
! day and opened to nobody on any consld,
| Grafton or else they must stand open All
| day, welcoming all with open arms. 10
| dsy has demonstrated this fact: No half
way plan can be successfully adopted,
The general effect of its workings to-day
| cannot be told to realize them they should
have been witnessed. Before o'clock this
morning the Point" spot commanding
a full view of the principal gaze, was
| crowded with idle ganlins, eager to witness
| the carving out of the new arrangement
| Curiosity, not religion, seemed TO be the
| dominant feeling here this morning. True
| indeed many were not there, but better
engaged. Services were being held in the
| AUDITORIUM" and doubtless with
fair attendance but everything in
| dicated that the Point" held the
| larger audience. Certainly MOundsville
| camp ground presented the appearance OF
| ANYTHING but q religious resort, TO one ap-
preaching its portals this morning. The
| large throng in the tent were for while
| somewhat divided, in sympathy for the un'
fortunates who had neglected TO secure
tickets, and in anxiety TO see the rule en-
| forced, and any expressions OF disippoint-
ment from the unfortunate travellers at the
! ates were met with laughter from some
and with expressions OF coincidence from
others. Sympathy. however. finally pre-
dominated and many were the expcdients
devised and executed to secure admission
for the clamorous applicants.
Till about s O'CLOCK the rule adopted
of selling no tickets and admitting no one
| not having them, was rigidly adhered TO,
2 fpr
ND the hill, were turned away and told To go
elsewhere and hear the Gospel OF Christ
preached. At about eight o'clock, however,
owing 10 the general complaint and evident
feeling manifested by many, the rule was
allowed to te broken, although an attempt
was made 10 keep up Semolance oil en-
forcing it still, and the letter OF the law was
vet demanded. No tickets were sold actu-
allv by the Association, but they were sold
bv others with their knowledge None were
permitted to enter the sacred precincts ofthe
grove without tickets, but anybody, very
anxious, without much trouble could Sc
| cure a ticket. The accommodating young
man was on hand with few more tickets
than he needed and ii il was desired he
would sell them.
One gate keeper told all who desired admis-
sion without tickets. that he could not per-
nit them to enter, but il they would 60 up
the road a short distance out OF sight OF the
gate, they could probably get admission.
Those who acted on his suggestion, found
| a short distance up the road very accom-:
| mOdating gentleman who kindly provided
! them with tickets and in the eyes OF the
world a greater sin was committed than II
the tickets had been sold openly, even If
! il was Sunday.
Many things occurred that caused remark,
and all persons were certainly not treated
alike. For instance, n party OF five APP
| preached one OF the gates, and not having
| tickets they were refused admission. They
argued led and begged. but TO no pur-
pose Then a resident OF the grove appear
| ed on the scene and joined in the argument.
| Just what additional argument he used will
probably never he known, but after he had
! button holed the keeper for awhile, the
party were admitted. But few minutes
| after this occurrence an old lady, prob
| ably 90 years OF age, applied for admission
! and was refused, argument and entreaty
| was of no avail the conscientious guardians
! Of the portals would not be prevailed on. The
| old lady called into play all her stock OF
! patience and fingered around the gate
vainiy imp!oring entrance until
| spectator. weary OF the scene, Sc
| Cretely passed her his ticket through
! the fence and she entered rejoicing. Such
! transaction were frequent and everybody
! finally entered into the business OF SNUG
! Cling weary ones into the fold. In the
| opinion Of many, the doings OF to-day did
! far more harm than the open gates and
| general admission could possibly
| have done. The only result OF the arrange
! nent to-day has been to create general
| feeling OF disgust and to lessen the receipts
! Of the Association at least one-half. Many
| tickets were given away. and pany persons
were allowed TO enter without tickets
| Residents upon the ground in theirzeal for
tfrEn nd
walked quite a distance down the road TO
| provide for them. Where they got their
| tickets is presumably unknown, as none
of them were for sale.
In striking contrast with the carrying
out OF the ticket arrangement was the
agreement 10 close the gates promptly at
| go A. NJ.
1t was fully 10 o'clock before the gates
were finally closed, as the keepers KEEP:
them open as long as anybody, seemingly
approaching the grove, was TO De seen, and
much amusement was created by the earn
est efforts of some latecomers to make the
gates. None, however, we're in sight when
they were closed. An old gray-headed
couple were the last admitted. The prin-
| cipaI gate was not locked securely. as was
| afterwards discovered, till about IL 80 A. NJ,
as then four.year-old boy on the ground,
and who has thus early in life gained some
lame. OIGHbu SatcS tNO
wagons TO come in.
Many fears were felt that the boarding
tent would not be able to meet the de-
mands upon it to-day, but the fears were
idle. An who applied for accommodations
received them, and very good at that. There
was of course quite rush at noon, but the
arrangements made soon prevailed, order
restored and all were provided with much
patience being required. Aunt Hollinger
has added much to her reputation as
| good manager by to-day's work Nothing
| but lunch WIS sold ut the store to day. aud
the demand for that was great and relieved
the boarding tent considerably.
The religious work of the day commenced
with love feast at S A. n, aud was fol-
lowed by the regular prayer aud
experience meeting at O. A. n Rev
Ryan, the Presiding Elder preached at
| 1880 A NJ, taking for his text part of the
| 18th verse Of the eleventh chapter of Rev
Citations: The kingdoms of this world are
become the kingdoms Of our Lord and of
I anI H. Kill f. n