The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-08-04
PRICE " A YEAR. WHEN PAID IN ADVANCE y.
OLD ORCHARD cAMPMEErINc.
Statement In Behalf OF the Camp
meeting Association.

| w sho orchard Beach Camp Association, we
trust you will allow us the privilege through
your paper of stating the facts. with refer
ence TO the origin and action of this organlz-
anon previously to 1873. For many years
the Methodists Of the Portland district held
their campmeetings at Kennebunk. As the
tease Oh that ground had expired. and as
tnere was question whether 1t could be re-
newed several OF the ministers and laymen
OIL The district were looking around for
another campground. They hoped To find
one nearer the sea shore, where their Chris.
tian brethren could not only enjoy a camp
meeting, but seaside resort free from the
hustle Of hotel life as well. They finally
found these grounds. which for all the quail
Ties required are unequalled by any other
campground in the country. They obtained
bond Of the owner, the late Mr. jameson.
A stock company or association was formed
and 80 acres, together with some four acres
adjoining, were purchased at cost of some
$1,000. The association had no other motive
than the advancement Of the cause Of Christ
and the welfare and happiness Of all who
might avail themselves Of its privileges from
wherever they might come.
/ In our constitution we said: "The object
Of this association is to provide, Improve and
maintain suitable grove and grounds, with
| appropriate surroundings, for the holding OF
camp and other religious meetings for the
promotion Of scriptural holiness and the con-
version Of sinners according to the doctrine
and ususges Of the Methodist Episcopal
church." Subsequently the association
judged that this foundation was not sufie-
lently broad, that there might be meetings
held here OF moral and reformatory char
acter not strictly religious, such as the pro-
motion OF temperance, ETC.; and also that
some good Christian people, not MethOdists,
might hold meetings here, so they amended
the constitution by adding ''and such other
meetings as may be determined by the ex-
ecutive committee" SO in accordance with
this article the Methodists Of Portland dis
trict have from the opening of the grounds
held their eampmeetings here, and some
years since leased the grounds for one week
In each year (dxing their own time In the
lease) for twenty years at rent Of $50 per
year. They have exclusive use of the
grounds for this time, making all their ar
rangements, etc. Indeed it Is theirs for the
time being. The lease runs to the Portland
District Campmeeting Association" com
posed Of all the Methodist ministers and dis
trict stewards within the bounds Of the dis
trict.
This year their meeting is to hold over the
mittee associated with him are making ar
rangements for an interesting and profitable
meeting. Rev. DIR. Bates OF Boston Is to be
here, and the Rev. j. NJ. Frost. pastor Of the
Congress street M. Z. church, Is to have
charge OF the singing. He has already issued
a call "for large chorus choir Of eOnsecra-
ted talent, however humble" and also asks
for some church quartette to be present, and
says that 800 Of the Epworth Hymnal No.
have been ordered. The following meetings
a nm nm nd In.
cordance with provisions Of the constitution
The National Campmeeting Association, the
Union Holiness Convention. the Adventists,
the Salvation Army, the Woman's Christian
Christian Workers, the Christian Alli-
ance, the Epworth League, also
grand temperance rally, at which Gov
ernor Garcel0n was present and made a
speech, also Senator w. P. Frye; grand
gathering Of farmers associations, Of which
Ex-Governor Robie Is the head; also meet
Ing Of the Grand Army. There has also
been held grand Republican rally, at which
me .he Hon Hon. James 9. Blaine was present. Had
similar purpose, they would have been grant
ed to them.
While the association do not pretend to
endorse the principles and measures Of all
the various religious bodies who have oceu-
pied these grounds, we have believed them
sincere and that they arelaboring to advance
the cause OF Christ, and also adOpting the
sentiment uttered by Thomas Jefferson,
that error OF opinion Is to be tolerated while
reason is left free to combat it." have grant
ed the us6 Of our grounds to them. The
same Is true Of the other gatherings here.
We do not pretend to endorse them. The
question OF allowing our grounds to be occu-
pied on the Sabbath came up In the associa-
tion. On this there was difference of Opin-
Ion as there Is elsewhere. We finally voted
to open our grounds on the Sabbath. but
nave labored In every possible way to guard
against Sabbath desecration. We refused to
allow the Is. q M. Railroad to run their cars
on the Sabbath Tor our accommodation. We
receive no commission on the tickets to our
grounds sold on the Sabbath from the rail
road, IL we know 1t, for the superintendent
put down the fare for Sunday travel from
points contiguous to the eampground below
the regular campmeeting tickets. So the ex-
cnrsion tickets on the Sabbath trains from
Portland are 30 cents for the round trip. The
regular campmeeting ticket Is 45 cents. In-
deed very few come to the meeting on the
Sunday trains. The great resort Is the
beach, an half mile from the camp
ground. The Sabbath here is as outlet
as church, vastly more quiet than ia the
city. Quite number from TIE hotels are
glad to spend the Sabbath In listening to the
Word here. Never by any vote or action of
the association has attention been called, es-
peeially to the Sabbath. and when We saw
an advertisement In paper inserted with
out our knowledge or consent, calling atten-
tion to the Sabbath, We promptly ordered IL
out.
But 1t may be said that holding the meet
ings over the Sabbath Is a desecration Of
the Lords day. III this be so, there are sew
eral campmeetings and assemblies which are
equally guilty. Richmond, Poland, East
Livermore, the Free Baptist assembly at
Ocean Park, at Fryeburg. and others, hold
over the Sabbath. TO some cars are special
ly run and they receive a revenue from Sun
day tickets. But 1t Is said you desecrate the
Sabbath by selling tickets Of an excursion TO
your grounds on the Lords day. So do all
the campmeetings and assemblies above al
luded to sell tickets on the Sabbath. There
may be an exception on the part of one or
two, but we are not aware Of any. We do
not refer to these In Justification Of our &C.
ti0n, but simply to say that we are not alone
In this and II we should be condemned so
shsuld they. But 1t is said that Old Or
chard Is speculative concern, that IL was
entered into to make money. Does the arti-
Gle In the constitution show this? But let
US look further. We have expended some
10000 in the purchase Of the grounds, In
fitting them up, in keeping them In repair
and In ad0rning them so that IL Is one of the
most convenient and beautiful grounds and
surroundings anywhere to be found. To do
this we have spent every dollar received
from the sale Of shares OF the stock and lots
for cottages and all Of the receipts. We have
given our time and labor and have not re-
celyed one cent of income with a single ex-
ception. The second year there was divi-
dend Of one dollar on a share Of the stock.
No one has received an income Of one cent
on his stock with the above
exception. but on the contrary we
are In debt. That some may have bought
stock with view Of profitable investment
Is very possible, but they found themselves
mistaken and sold out at a discount. We
who hold on have our reward In the good
that has been done. At one meeting one
hundred souls were converted to God. The
churches all around who have attended the
meetings have been greatly benefited, be-
sides hundreds who have come here from
distant states have been greatly helped and
have said, there Is no place like Old Orch
ard" 1t has become a summer resort as
well. A very large number from adjoining
towns and cities have built cottages here
and spend several weeks and months in this
beautiful and healthy place. and quite a
number of ministers OF several denomina-
tions have spent a part or the whole of their
vacation here. The Methodist society at
Old Orchard with its spacious tabernacle Is
the result OF ''the camp ground" That
some have taken exceptions to the teachings
and manner OF worship here we will mot de-
ny, but where is there pulpit In the land
where everybody believes all the doctrine
preached? While the association Is not secta.
riQn IL iQ anmnncad nao %