Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-07-23
Camp Meeting.

The salvation tent, on Washington
avenue, is attracting considerable at
tention, and last Sunday evening there
was a large number of spectators
present. attn , 60.
The tent is about 40x60 in size, and
is supported by two center poles. A
crosspioce is nailed to each pole, and
from the end of each crosspiece is sus
pended a lamp. The floor is carpeted
by nature, and the pews consist OF
rough boards laid ON plank, the latter
being placed ON one edge and kept il
an upright position by stakes. Al
one end is the pulpit, which is either
made of dry goods box or some
rough boards nailed together. Across
the top short board is nailed. Back
of the pulpit is a rough board seal
for the dispensers of the spiritual
loaves and fishes. On the seat sat
two exhorters, one Of whom was Bro
Burkholder, who has done considera'
BILE exhorting in the townships of thi:
county, and the other was a stranger
to us. "What is his name % we asked
of one of the audience. "Not sure
was the curt reply, "but ! think bis
name is Smith" Afterwards another
of the congregation told us, the name
was Olmstead. There being some
doubt, We shall choose the shorter
name, and Smith it shall be. Bro
Olmstead-we mean Smith--opcned
up the battle with some energetic
singing. We wish to observe right
here that we use the word Singing
as mere matter of courtesy, and moi
as defining the sounds made. Some
of the congregation entered for the
singing contest, and, at times, it was
nip and tuck between the leader and
the audience as to which would get
the lead. Mr.. Smith, or rather, W.
should say Olmstcad, however, wai
victorious. He could reach the high
"C' when most of the rest Of the
choristers were stumbling about the
notes an octave lower, and he passed
under the wire ahead of all the COM
petitors. Bro. Burkholder then ell.
gagged the attention Of the audience
with q prayer-at least Bro. Olms
tead, that is, Smith, said it was to be
a prayer, and it proved vigorous
one. Whatever doubts a person might
entertain of the quality, there could
be but one opinion as regards the
quantity, for that gentleman is not de
6cient in lung power. One or two
bewildered souls among the audience
gave vent to their anguish by such
EXPLANATIONS as "amen," and so forth
Bro. Olmstead-beg pardon, we mean
Smith-now read a few verses, but
apparently, before he had come to the
end Of the chapter, he broke out in {
very entertaining song, the principal
part Of which was "Will you 60
The audience, however, did not take
the hint, and they remained. The
music to the song appeared too diff
cult for the audience. Some of them
tried to ring in, but their efforts prov
ed a failure. i
Then came the sermon. In it Bro
Olmstead, or Smith, stated that som,
people thought they had godlincss
when they had merely but the form
and such persons, to be happy, should
get the real and not the shadow. TIL,
speaker dwelt on the subject about
half an hour. His discourse was ut.
tered in a very loud, and yet clear
voice, but with very little variation
in the tone, except to 60, AT times, a
little louder. Talking among the au
dience, EXPLANATIONS by the little boys,
and other Interruptions, did not seem
to discomfort him in the least. Al
one time, when talking in a very higl
key about sinners, one man in the au
dience remarked, "Well, don't gel
mad about it,"
The camp meeting style Of preach
ing may do some people good, but il
certainly does not teach the young
folks, who compose large part of the
audience, to reverence sacred service
1t teaches them to be Knockers aud
scorners Of religion, and to entertain
a frivolous opinion of religious mat
tiers. Services were announced fol
every night this week. ss
I 1905.