Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-01

ana mere the families lived from Friday to the
one bedstead or bunk in a tent behind the cur
tains, and on this the mattresses and ticks were
piled during the day, to be taken down at night
and placed ON the floor for the men to sleep on
Some families would come with a supply OF
provisions ready cooked, but others would have
at the rear of the tents an open fire OF logs
where the cooking was done. On Saturday the
most of the cooking for Sunday was accom-
Plshed, in order that the day might be kept as
holy as possible. The hour OF rising was six
O'Clock, the signal being given by blowing q
horn. Prayer meetings were then held in each
tent. 1t was the custom to invite one of the
ministers from the preachers tent to breakfast
and the visitor was expected to conduct family
prayer. Then public prayer meeting was held
at O'Clock, with preaching at IL O'Clock, at 8
o'clock, and at candle-light. At II o'clock the
horn would be blown Tor all persons without
accommodations in the camp to leave. Af,er
the preaching eXhOrtatiOns would be given, :. nd
sinners invited to the mOurners' bench. This
was located within an enclosure OF rough
boards about the preaching stand, and the
ground was covered with plentiful supply OF
straw. There were then no special occasions,
such as temperance day, missionary day, &C.
vices occupied the other days, but on Tuesday
the sacrament of the Lords supper was admin.
| istered. On the last night, at II o'clock, the
meeting usually closed with the campers march
Ing three times around the circle, led by the
presiding elder, all uniting in singing, "The
amd fhe Shadows % iba
ftful glare from the pitch-pine torches which
lighted the grounds. 1t was not infrequently
camped on the same ground, the coIored people
tenting in the of the line of tents occupied
by the white people.
THE RATTLESNAKE SPRING CAMP.
In the early part of this century Rattlesnake
Springs, in Montgomery county, Md, was
famous camp meeting ground, attended by
MethOdists from Baltimore, Frederick, the
District and the neighbOring country. 1t is re-
lated that one of the most notable meetings
ever held there was over sixty years ago when
Rev. Nicholas Snethen then in his prime, and
regarded as one of the most powerful preachers
in the Methodist churches was the leading
spirit. He preached on Sunday morning to q
large congregation from the words "Hoy, holy
holy and with such effect that the assemblage
simultaneously rose to their feet Owing to eX-
element or exhaustion, or perhaps BOTH the
preacher fell to the floor OF the stand at the
close OF his discourse. The effect was electrical
and a rush was made to the mourners' bench,
and powerful revival followed, during which
scores were converted. There was rather q
comical sequel to the meeting. x preacher
from Virginia being present a listener
shortly afterwards, on the Eastern Shore of
Maryland. attempted to preach the same SER
mon and to fall as Mr.. snethen did. At the
proper time he fell to the ground. but no such
results followed as at Rattlesnake springs.
AT meeting many years ago in Virginia
Rev. Wilson Lee preached in a private house,
having previously sent a devoted colored man
into an adjoining house to pray, and the result
was revival, the influences of which were felt
A famous camp meeting parsonage was Cato,
Guinea negro, VINO lived in Alexandria be-
fore the war OF lSl2 He was noted for his
sermon. So frequent were the responses that
he was cautioned by some Of the preachers,
who said that it was an annoyance to them.
He said in defense that the impulse came from
God, but promised 10 try and Keep 1t in subjec-
ton. Soon after, at meeting, he became so
exalted In spirit that he was unable to restrain
himself, and so he sung out "Amen at a ven
ture. In so much esteem was he held that he
was frequently called to see the sick and dying,
and on one occasion, visiting an Alexandrian
on his death bed, and hearing the dying mans
confession he said to him: If were God AL
mighty would not forgive you but God will
pardon such as men cannot" and then, kneel-
ing down, they prayed together. When Cato
died and his grave was dug rain filled it up,
the whites, arrived at the grave the mayor said
he could not be buried there, and, with others.
dug another grave in a dry spot.
A REVIVAL AFTER ALL.
1t Is related that some time in the COS Rev.
Eli Henkle Gather of Hon. f. j. Henkle) held q
camp not far from the present jackson Grove
camp ground in Anne Arundel county, Md
which up to the close bore no results Mr..
some having gathered about the stand held a
PRAYER meeting, and the result was that the
mourners' bench was soon crowded and CONVEX
sions taking place. Mr. Henkle hearing the
singing returned, and during the day there
Were over 60 conversions.
Not far from GlynOnt, in Charles county, is
"Bumpy Oak" where the camps for the Charles
county circuit were held. These camps were
often attended by crowds Of young men from
now living who date their reformation from
these meetings. Many years ago Rev. Henry
Slicer was the elder, and 1t is well known that
ne was champion money-raiser. On one Sun
day morning while engaged in raising money
ne tried TO impress on his hearers that those
who contributed gave to the Lord, and what
| was given to the Lord would be restored ten
fold. There were two young men in the congre-
CATION from this city and they were so i'm
pressed that when the hat was passed they
threw In all the money they had-S1-without
thinking that they had no dinner or means to
get one. After the sermon a kind old farmer
invited them 10 lunch with his family and one
OF them volunteered TO go to the spring and get
the water While STOPPING he noticed what APP
peared to be a small roll of paper which had
been trampled in the mud, and picking IT up
he found Ii TO be SO note. This being ten
fold OF what was paid in the collection the cir
cumstance set him TO thinking and the result
was his conversion.
THE DEVILS CAMP
The youthful and careless attendants at camp
meeting very often paid more attention to the
booths and stands, which were generally located
a short distance from the grounds, than 10 the
services, and with the good people these places
were known as 1.-The DEVILS camps" Rev John
Gill Watt, who, during the war of 1912 lived at
the Navy Yard, on one occasion held n three
days bush meeting in Loudoun county Va.
The peculiar feature of this meeting was that he
did all the preaching, and at the PRAYER meet.
Ing, after singing. the people would kneel and
engage in silent prayer. The result was 60 con.
versions. On the Jefferson circuit Mr.. Watt an.
nounced his intention to preach in "the DEVILS
camp and Notwithstanding the other preach.
ers tried To dissuade him he did so, and although
there were no immediate results, mum bers dated
their spiritual awakening to that sermon.
AN OLD LADYS INFLUENCE,
Just before the war, in Pocahoptas county
Va, at a small camp meeting, after an exhor
tation by an Old Christian lady, q revival fol-
| lowed, at which there were seventy TO eighty
conversions.
scaggs' camp ground, near Benning's, was q
| wei known camp meeting place in former
years for the city churches.
| On one occasion a band ofrowdies went to q
| meeting for the express purpose OF breaking Il
up, and when the ministers were apprised OF
| this intention they were at a loss what to do
| one OF The members thought he saw a way Out
\ OF the difficulty, and going to the place where
| these men had gathered he asked for the leader
| by name. When he came forward he informed
| the leader he understood the meeting was tC
be broken up, and, asking his aid, proposed
| that he should assume charge and Keep tho
| rowdies in order. This offer was accepted AND
| with the gratifying result that he not only ken
| his own crowd in order, but the entire gather
Ing, and was himself converted on the las
| night OF the meeting.
| Cheap Fares for the Funeral.
To the Editor Of THE EVENING STAR
/ In view of the fact that the PENNSYLVANIA