The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-08-07
RELIGION IN TIE WOODS.
FORMAL OPENING OF THE TWENTY NINTH AySU1L CAMP MEETING.

"
 Rural Surroundings of the Grounns-opo"'
 ing Address by Presiding Eider-fr"fn'se
 Meeting Led by Rev. F. A. seoheid-Se"
 Haycners in Camp.
 Plainville Camp Meeting Grouhas. Aug. 6.-The twenty-ninth annual camp meeting of the New Haven district ppened here this afternoon. The greater part of the cottaGers and tenters hav' been here since Saturday fnd more nre constantly arriving. old tents are being repaired. many new ones have been already built and the little white canvas tents are springnG up on all parts of the grounds. Never has there been such q prospect for one or the ,ousing. old fashioned Methodist camp meetings as now. The four days as- sembly. which was held last year. was such a decided success that this year n weeks assembly will be held. for which a most interesting program has been prepared. So that those who de- sire may enjoy two weeks of meetings.
 A large number of the tenters have been here for several weeks previous Co the opening of the camp meeting proper. And many others are so much in love with the pleasant groves and cooling shades of the grounds that they will stay long after the assembly days have closed. and until the frosts of autumn begin to crimson the maple leaves. It truly Is most beautiful to get taste of country air and rural scenery.
 The grounds where the meetings are held lie on a gently sloping emi- pence about two and half miles from the thriving village of Plainville. From the edge of the woods one looks down over a green undulating plain rich with the verdure of summer and waving with the fast ripening crops. Many tiny spires of country churches lift themselves heavenward as if invoking a blessing upon the scenes of plenty and beauty around them. Nearer by the hymns of praise from the camp meeting grounds fill the air with melody.
 It is amid such surroundings as these that the Methodists meet together yearly to hold their love feasts and class meetings with three sermons a day. The routine of the day from the rising bell at o'clock In the morning to the retiring bell at 10 ?. m. Is as ac- curate and carefully prepared as that at Mantle.
 Yesterday informal meetings were held. which were presided over by the presiding eldea Crandall J. North. There was a larger crowd on the grounds than ever before at any ser vice on the Sunday preceding the open ing of the camp meeting.
 The new society tent which has been built by the Plainville M. E. church. was dedicated. Mr. Crawford, esq, of Plainville made the presentation speech. The building was then formally ac- cepted and dedicated by the presiding elder. Rev. John Bryan, the pastor Of the Plainville church. then made a most excellent address MT. Bryan's church gave him a vacation in which to go to Europe. and when he came back they had the building all ready as a surprise for him. It is said to be the finest society house on the grounds. Five new society houses have also been built by the M. E. churches from Bloomfield, N1iddlefeld and West Granby.
 The camp meeting proper opened at 3 o'clock this afternoon with a service of song and praise, which was led by Prof. L. w. Harvey of Hartford. At B:3O o'clock ex-Presiding Elder Hill read the scripture lesson, and Rev. MT. Thorpe of Hartford led in prayer. Rev. Erandall J. North, the presiding elder