The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1890-11-15
The First Yankee Camp Meeting.

The first camp meeting held by
Methodists of which | can find any
record was enjoyed at Bolton, Conn,
in the early days of June, 1905. My
authorities maintain that it was
"the very first" but while not pos
itively assured of this, it is safe, |
think, to claim it was the initial
meeting of the kind in New England.
1t was held by Lorenzo Dow. 1t
was in the course of one of his
famous "peregrinations." Reaching
Bolton on Friday, the last day of
May, his respectful desire to
preach" was not received with favor
by ParsonColton ofthe Presbyterian
Church, who somewhat brusquely
declared it to be IAN encroachment
on his own field" His people in
"the thickly settled neighborhood"
(?) shared his opinion i'll this, as
in almost every other matter, and
were much prejudiced against Mr..
Dow and the Methodists in general.
So bitter was their opposition that
the preacher spoke of them with
telling sarcasm as the Federal
Presbyterians." They ISSUED hard
worded commands that the meeting
should not be held in the place,
X prating about trespasslng." ="
Finding that 'housen of every
kind" were forbidden him, the in
trepid itinerant bethought to go
out in the fields to preach" This
true Wesleyan idea ''set hard" on
the hearts of Parson Colton's flock,
and Dow was given to understand
that if he preached in the open air at
any place in Bolton parish, the tax
ing of water from any brook or we'll
would constitute just cause for pros
ecution for trespass. However"
Dow goes on to say, "a report hav-
| ing prevailed that the Indians in
their times had a spring on the hill,
to which they resorted, | caused a
man to go in search of it. After
some difficulty he struck upon a
fountain beneath a rock which at
forded a sufficient supply" This
was "a spot in the wood,
solitary and not any mans own
land"
"To it led "a lead-off road, there
ending on the spot" The location
Dow is careful to state, with Ill
concealed exultation, was "stlll II
the township of Bolton, on the
Andover parish line" Dow doubt
lessly believed that it was really "no
mans property" but | am conhden
that it was at the time portion o
Charles Hutchins' farm possibly
this name should be Church Hutch
| ins, instead of Charles). The land Il
now owned by William B. ane
Charles Kingsbury.
The preacher opened his meeting
Saturday, and records in his Journa
that he "had an agreeable time.
in the evening the work of God be
: gan" and from that time the worI
and the congregation increased.
$50 many people came from dis
, tant places to the ground that Sata1
, hoisted his standard near by; TO
> grog-man brought his liquors TO
sale, but was constrained by threats
when reason would not do, to CIV
it over, the law being against him.
1t Itdoesn'tappear as to how long tn
meeting was held. The preache
says: Sunday, June I'd, som
thousands appeared on the grounG
Several found peace, and (mlrabll
dictu) prejudice seemed to wear o.
the minds Of the people" DR.. Sum
ner of Bolton says there were 81
or seven thousand people on tn
: ground on that memorable Lord
dav, and adds that "that was NOR
than has ever been in Bolton since.
Christian Advocate.