Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-17

cottage was built by R. S. P. Mccall, at a
cost of IS or SO. George Dobbs soon fol-
lowed with S25 cottage.
The expenses of campmeetIngs in the old
days were very light. 1t was usually calcu-
lated so that the meetings would be held
shortly after the farmers got their oats
threshed, so that an abundance of straw for
beds could be had cheap. The association
usually paid farmer 81 or So for enough
straw to do all round, and he was given the
privilege of taking it again when the meet
ings were over. A box of candles, costing
| 81 or So, was the only other ''big" expense
From the start OF cottages, made by
Messrs. Mccall and Dobbs, grew flourish
ing village of lis cottages, then the largest
campmeeting grounds west of the Alleghe-
mics, with the exception of Chautauqua
The National Campmeeting Association ap-
piled to Tarentum in 1875 for the privilege
of holding its annual meeting there, and it
was while preparing for this event that the
big fire swooped down and wiped the village
out of existence.
A FIRE THAT SWEPT ALL.
This was on the night of April 81, 1876.
The fire swept everything within the
grounds surrounded by the magnificent big
trees and III cottages were destroyed, be-
sides a number of the larger buildings.
This was a terrible blow to the flourishing
association and it was a debatable subject
for some time as to whether the camp
would rebuild. 1t was finally decided to do
so, however, and then about two-thirds of
the cottagefs seeded and went to Valley
Camp, where they could be nearer the rail
road. There are now about TO cottages on
the ground
The two camps-the Valley and Taren-
tum-are on very genial terms and visit
back and forth at all times. At the reunion
Saturday several carriage loads of people
from the Valley were in attendance and
took prominent part Almost every day
there are visitors from one camp in the
camp of the other, and notwithstanding the
fact that the one camp was from split in
the other the relations have always been
mutually agreeable.
Some of the greatest preachers of the
United States have visited Tarentum and
addressed large audiences beneath the can
vas tents on the camp ground Among
them were Rev. Frank De Haas, also
United States diplomat and traveller; Rev.
Alfred Goodman, Rev. j. j. Sweazey, Rev.
Mckinley Reilly, Rev. A. B. Leanord, and
in fact all other great pillars of the Method
ist Episcopal Church.
CLOSING CEREMONY OF LONG AGO.
The most interesting celebration of We
olden campmeetings came on the last
night They were all of similar character,
so description of the closing of the camp
in 1856 will suffice to show the unique
character of the ceremony. At midnight
bugle sounded. Bells were luxuries not
enjoyed at that time. The congregation as
sembled in the large tent and listened to
the last sermon. Then procession formed.
At the head were 10 ministers, sometimes
there were 40 or So They were followed by
chief singers, then the ladies and last the
gentlemen.
They walked two abreast and marched
clear around the river fence of the camp
grounds. The procession was always long
enough to stretch clear around. When both
ends came together one line would reverse,
and the two lines would march in different
directions, shaking hands with each person
passing. During the entire march the con-
gregation sang eve Are Marching Home to
God"
The march was kept up until each line
got back to where it started. Then they
were halted and dismissed, but all returned
to the big tent, where amid the faint fut-
ter of the candle, they shook hands and
talked until morning. Religious exercises
were interspersed through the night. and it
was nothing less than a night of religious
rejoicing.
Mr.. Stofel delved deep into the records
Of the associations past to gain his knowl-
edge of the old-time campmeeting, and those
who heard him read his paper greatly ap-
preciated it. 1t will be filed as one of the
valuable documents of the association.