The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-25

tent worship, but to enjoy it at Ocean
Grove, the location of the most famous
camp meeting III the world, instead of
going to the meetings they had so many
years attended in Brother Fosdiclx's
woods -
They had made the journey from their
inland home fully prepared, they be-
lieved. for the unexpected, but not for
such a crowd Of persons, to their eyes
thoroughly ''citiied'' in dress and man
ner, nor for such noise and hustle, nor
for the policemen that were scattered
about. But after a bit they plucked up
courage and took seats in one of the
carryal1-like stages that navigate be-
tween the station aud ''the Grove. " The
fare was 10 cents apiece, and later they
learned with dismay that all but ? cents
of the 20 they expended for the trans
portation might have been saved by
walking a half mile or Whereabouts and
paying ferriage fee Of a cent each
across tho little lake that divides 1.-THE
Park and 1.-The Grove. =
1t had been their intention, on the
advice of friends who knew of the ar
engagements for temporal comfort ct
Ocean Grove, to rent furnished tent
and live under canvas there, as they
were wont to do at home. but when
they learned that tents rent for 81
day, tables for so cents a week. chairs
for 25 and other things in proportion
they figuerd up the cost when the food
should be paid for, considered the trou-
bic of keeping house and decided to
board at the hotel at which they had
been set down by the stage driver and
devote their time to worship and rest
and decorous sightseeing.
they met with but one experience at all
familiar. 1t was repeated often during
the fortnight to which their stay was
extended and was furnished by the fer
vor Of the love feasts. No other feature
Of these gatherings was like the love
feasts they had enjoyed at home. There
it was an extremely we'll attended love
feast if 200 were present, and in such
cases the feast would be held under the
trees in front of the preachers stand. "
Often the attendance would not exceed
a score or so, and then the gathering
would be under the canvas Of one Of
the larger of the brethren 5 tents. At
Ocean Grove the love feasts were held
in a vast auditorium, and the attend
ance varied from 5000 to 2. 900. The
size Of the building and the immensely
Of the throng at first quite took their
accustomed to the brethren and sisters
broke bread together and drank water
from the same cup. Here they could do
nothing Of the sort because Of the vast
ness of the assemblage, but a substitute
was introduced that warmed the hearts
of the visitors nightly.
LET every brother and every sister, .
said the leader in loud, clear tones,
''shake hands with every brother and
sister wit hin reaching distance =
Then every one stood. and there was
a swaying of the. multitude as if
mighty wind had swept over it. Here
and there every one reached for hands,
and the man with the fringe of snowy
chin whiskers and the woman with
prunella shoes found that, though the
hands extended to them were softer than
those Of most of the brothers and sisters
met at the love feasts at home, they
were not less cordial. Above the rustling
Of garments ard the murmur Of low
spoken greetings, too, were heard the
familiar ejaculations Of Praise the
Lordf' and "HalIeluiahl'' and there
came from the lips of the fervid up
cOuntryman himself a soul satisfied
s'Amenr' as his being was perneated
with the spirit Of the time and place
After little the voice of the leader,
penetrating every part Of the building,
was heard again.
Now shake hands with me'' be
cried. and every right hand in the throng