Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-24
CAMP MEETINGS.

AUGUST 10 llic
somewhat variable and unsettled weather OIL
July has given place TO the dry, hazy days
aud comfortable nights of midsummer wheh
il Is safe to commit ones health and comfort
to the mercy of nature, with only the can
vas roof between one and the stars. Every
where the voice of the exhorter and the
opcn.air lecturer is heard, and the leaiy
groves rcsound with the mingled chatter OF
the unregcncratc and the prayer ami psalm
of the forest worshippcr.
The growth of the Summer camrmee'ing'
in this country, is something extraordinary
1t is, perhaps, the only custom, aside from
what may be called vegetable kleptomanla'
which has been impressed upon American
civilization by the colored race. Beginning
with the rude and oftcntimes rcpulsive ana
indecent revival meetings of the Southern
slaves, the custom has spread rapidly
throughout the entire country; first among
all the colored Mcthodsts, next among al
members of the same denomination, ana
finally among the people generally
notably among all proselyting classes
and bodies, whether religious or not
This rapid growth of a peculiarly American
| institution, we believe to be good ant
hcalthful thing for the people. For in thu
first place, it is natural outgrowth OF thu
popular temperament. As general thing
the American people are not moved so muci
by logic and reason and bare evidence
they are by what is spectacular, emotional
| persuasive. The national taste, dispos tlon
or whatever it may be called, is OF the circu
circular. We must have more or less OF tn
ring, the saw-dust and the display in all O
our popular insttutlons-the institution
of religion not excepted. This will accom-
| in part, we believe, for what is now BEN
Iamented as the decay of orthodoxy"
is not so much decay as reformation,
natural, gradual change, the result OF influen
ces from without and within. 1t is chang
which might have been predicted fifty yeai
ago, and which is as sure to take place as tn
change from youth to manhood and froi
manhood to age in the individual man. TIL
camp meeting, we say, is nature
outgrowth of this tendency towar
the outward, the spectacular the emotions
in religion. away from the cold, hard, cor
sentative, intellectual puritanism OF a
earlier generation.
| Again, the campmceting is Il hcalthful an
natural institution for the people because
is not sham. Too many things in moder
American life are shams through and throug
nothing but shams. But the campmee
Ing is a genuine thing. 1t is based upon an
surrounded by true Christian earnestncss an
faith. Otherwise, assailcd as 1t is, prosecuted
| annoyed somotimoo almost rocularinod, an
worse, by the ilippant spirit of many OF thos
who attend, it would have degcnerated INT
the worst sort of public disgrace. But I'll
strong undercurrent of religious fcrvor seen
to sweep away all cvil-minded lcvity, an
bear along with it, in the main, the thought
and interests of all present. This, we b
licvc, will be the candid impression of ever
one who has ever visited wcll.conductt
New England camp meeting. 1t does good
a great deal of good-in spite of all the il
Hueuces for evil brought to bear against
The camp meeting, too, is hcalthful phi.
sically and socially. 1t brings people in
direct and pleasurable communion with Il
lure and with each other. 1t gives the har
worked farmer and his wife and children
rcstful change from the monotony of the
everyday life. 1t conduces to good felloN
ship, neighborliness, mutual kindness and sc
vice. Somebody has said that no one real
knows his most intimate friend until they ha
j.. spent a week together camping out. This '
) believe to be no fanciful exaggeration f
there is something about ''roughing
1 which brings out the inner nature, the tn
, disposition of man. And when who
communities attain to this exact knowled
t of its several members, it must be worth
' good deal, in a social way, to tent at
campmecting.
r There are, of course, obicctio
enough 10 be urged against cam
meetings. but so there are AGAR
c everything We must judge all thin
f as they balance and not as tn
ought to be fixed. Taken all in all, we
licvc that the ordinary campmeeting
religious or temperance meeting to 81
nothing now of Spiritualist or other gath'
ings of the kinds benefcent and wi
Y and thoroughly healthful institution. 1t
G an institution which is growing in POPULAR