Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-07-13
MoUNDsvILLE CAMP.
The ersat Methodist Rendezvous
and Religious Resort.
Past and Present Of these Venerable Grounds
Roster Of the Camp as II is-0utlook
for the Season-Present and Pros
peetiye Improvements.
NEWS NOTES FRESH FROM THE CAMP.
soo oOyre,Donaeuee Of N, Re,t,.r.

William. Hastings, who in company
with Hon. David Wagner, was stand
ingon the knoll at the entrace 70 these
beautiful grounds.
"Not by large majority" replied the
! Colonel.
There are enough Of us plebeians,"
he continued, "who enjoy a quiet re-
treat in the woods, surrounded by plain,
genial society and all the old associa-
tons which cluster around this grand
old resort, to think it still the most de-
lightful retreat in this section of coun-
try"
And looking around over the camp,
which was already made lively by the
presence of from twenty to twenty-five
families, eheerfully skipping about from
cottage 10 cottage in the familiar
fashion of the Methodist camp
ground, your reporter was con-
WINGED that the "large majority" to
which Col. Hastings referred promised,
in fact, to swell beyond that Of any pre-
vious season in the history Of the Camp.
THE OLD CAMP.
For more than. fifty years, on each
recurring summer season, this shady
grove, Goods own temple" has re-
sounded with the songs of praise and
the shouts ofreligious wOrshippers.
The majestic trees which now shelter
it from the sun and which give it ven
cradle appearance, if they could speak,
could unfold a history that would read
| like novel.
Here the Alexanders, the Littles, the
Bodleys, the Edwards, the Dunns, the
| Chaddocks, the Riggs, the Lockwoods,
| the Guthries, the Deans, the Lancas-
| tiers, the Bags and many ether old
| families, well known TO both Wheeling
land MOundsville people, and most OF
| whom are still represented on the
| ground, come together year after year
in the early history of the camp to strike
hands in token of their brotherly love,
to recount past scenes of friendly and re-
| ligiOus enjoyment, and to unite their
voices i'm religious song and prayer.
MOundSville camp was regarded as
to which they continually looked for
ward with pleasant authorizations, and
to which they turned their faces every
Sum mer season as naturally as child
to his birthplace.
THE OLDEN TIMES.
al built the first fire that was started
in this camp" said Mrs. VIM. X. Elson,
of your city.
"That was thirty years ago, and l
built it right over there against
stump" said she, pointing out the spot,
as she sat in the door of her cosy cot
tage.
"And have been here" she con-
tinued, "every year that meeting has
been held since that time"
ITO be sure, there were few years
during the war that meetings We're suS-
pended, but except during that time,
we have had. camp-meeting every
year."
~ have seen some grand times on
these old grounds" remarked Mrs.
Elson, in her CHEEKY way.
A THRILLING SCENE.
al remember one meeting" she said,
"when large crowd had come together
here in the auditorium to attend love-
feast. The bread and water were passed
around as usual, and the time came for
giving in experiences"
"A man who was q stranger, arose
and began giving his experience. 1t
was not one of your modern day love
feast speeches, consisting of verse of
scripture, or few hasty sentences"
"He continued to talk for some min
utes until every listener was hanging
on his eloquent words"
"Why, you might have heard the
rustic of leaf, so still was the great
audience" said Mrs. Elson,, warming
up as the mental picture of the scene
arose before her.
"Well," said she, "when that man
sat down a simultaneous shout went up
from that audience such as was never
heard in this camp before or since. l
remember that
OLD BROTHER DoLLIYER
was up there on the preachers stand
! behind great, big pulpit block, and he
put his hands on that block and sprang
clear over the pulpit down among
the people" 1.-THE dear old Brother
DOlliver,n she continued, twill not be
with us this season. He would have
to come with one limb less than when
he was last here, but / know if he does
| come with one he will go back with
! two, even if the second is wooden
| one"
AN ANCIENT VISITOR.
Seated by the side of Mrs. Elson was
| her aged mother, Mrs. Dean, whose
| memory of this section of country dates
back early in the beginning of the pres
| ent century.
Said she, al came to campmeeting
| here, ON horseback, from Pennsylvania,
| SiTty gears ago. At that time the
/ camp ground was over the other side of
! Graves Creek and was called Graves
| Greek Flats Campmeeting.' Mounds
I vile bore the name of Graves Creek
/ Flats about that time. Afterwards it
was called Elizabethtown, and then
| took the name of Moundsville."
"In those days." continued the VEN
cradle lady, "we brought our tents with
us, together with all the provisions we
needed. We all arrived on the ground
! on an appointed day, put up our tents,
and that same evening, We began re-
| ligious services
"The camp ground looked very diff
/ ferent from what it does now. 1t was
| lighted with big wood fires; now it is
lighted with gasoline lamps. Our
benches were rude slabs made by split
ting small trees in two pieces, and had
| no backs"
BUT THEY HAD RELIGIOUS SERVICES
in those times. The campmeeting was
not q frolic but genuine religious meet
ing. There was no railroad in those
days, and the Wheeling people came
down on boats, and when the camp
broke up they wentsinging and praying
! back to the boats, sometimes chartering
barges, which conveyed the body of the
visitors who continued the religious ser
vices on board, and often there
were conversions on the way
home from the grounds. These
OLD ASSOCIATIONS
have rendered the Moundsville camp
ground very precious in the memory of
| thousands who either in person or by
their descendants continue to be repre-