Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-08-30
Camp Meeting.

The Brandywine Summit camp has
bsen rarely favored in the way of weather
this year. Generally, IS everybody
knows, camp meeting Is synchronons
with terrible thunder storms aud howl
ing winds, aud mud Of the most diAcour-
aging depth and texture.
The intimate connection existing
between camp meetings and heavy rains
has never been satisfactorily explained
by scientific men. 1t is hardly
possible that they have failed
to observe the coincidence and to
inquire into it, but II there has been
any plausible theory formulated and
published We have failed to see it. II is
only recently, however, that msteorology
has developed into science of practical
every day utility, but now, when this
science has become one Of such universal
application that a simeon has hardly
time to form on the parohed plains of
Jersey or a polar wave to crawl forth
from the Ice houses Of Manitoba before
their course and speed are heralded from
Maine to Mexico, thorough investigation
of the origin Of camp meeting storms can
not long be delayed. .-. y
1t will not do to neglect this subject,
for the signs are abundant and unmis-
tskeable that the era of camp meetings
ia drawing to close. Their natural
enemes, the seaside and mountain
resorts, excursion steamers and excursion
trains are in the ascendsncy and, like the
Acknowledged and blue shirted Monaghan
the camp meeting must go. 1t was born
in the old ante-rsilroad days, wher
farmers, having "laid by" their corn
duished ploughing and "huking" it-fo
the season, and feeling both the need ant
the inclination for weeks recreation
would get out and furbish up the famil.
carriage and drive, from radius of fv
or ten miles, to a common centre to ex
change the gossip Of the past year an
drink in the robust eloquenos of Pete
Cartwright, or some other powerfu
pioneer of the emotional religion OF thos
earlier days.
But the conditions are rapidly chang
ing. The locomotive now whizzes pas
the farmers door and brings the mouI
tain, the seaside or the cit
80 near to him a. the OIL
camp ground; the people who dwell
the country towns are no longer straI
. gers to the behests and resorts OF fashion
, AID the energetic, plain spoken, shou
rg, combative old giants Of the preac
ets' tent are dying out before the mo
, polished, collected, argumsntative al
iisputatioua college bred scholars of i
I palpit, who prefer convincing appeal
the reason of their hearers to storm
d assault with weapons OF FIRE and bri
r stone upon the stronghold Of the o.
e fashioned adversary OF souls
r, Are we the worse, as people, for Il
a change We hope and trust not, Thu
IS may be less enthusiasm, less etfervescen
3 less troth in our religion, bu. has it /
IL gained in soundness aud timbre
10 believe, despite the daily catalogue
Is crimes that the marvellous resources
j; the age enable US TO unveil and her
9e forth almost upon their commission, Il
TT the average standard of morality VIII
} obtains among us, as people, today
Sc higher than it was quarter of cent?
l. ago and that, Notwithstanding the
OF roads of skepticism and agnosticism,
8. grow better as We grow wiser. 1t q
er indeed discoursging to be compelled
er believe otherwise.