Smyrna times., 1895-09-11
The Camp Meeting Harvest.

ne camp meeting season in all the
region hereabOuts is now over. and
generally it closes with the month of
August. Several day ago the Chautau-
qua camp for instruction and amnse-
ment ended an unusually prosperous
season, as far as concerned the multi.
tudes attracted to it, and at the relig-
lOus camp meeting at Ocean Grove. the
twenty-sixth since it was established.
the closing exercises were held on
Thursday. The crowd in attendance
there had been great, and thew were
increased by thousands of curious Wis
ltorS from the adjoining Asbury Park.
winch never before has had a mora
prosperous season than this.
me seaside seems to be the most
popular place for camp meeting at
the present time, and Ocean Grove IN
the New Jersey coast vies with Martba,s
vineyard of the Massachusetts shore
IN presenting inducements Irresistible
TO both saints and sinners. Instead of
oelhg mere summer camping grounds
they are now seaside villages with
great numbers of large and small cot
tages for summer occupation, and vari.
Gus worldly attractions for those. and
they are the great majority of the so.
Journers, who desire to alternate re-
ligious and spiritual exercises with the
amusements craved by the natural
man. The meetings for prayer and
exhOrtation are not more crowded than
the beaches. By clubbing together,
parties can enjoy few weeks by the
sea at very small expense TO each: and
If the visitors desire TO indulge in more
luxurious surroundings and softer fare
they can get them by paying a greater
price. The solemnity of the meeting
Is relieved in many artful ways sug-
gested by the experience of the camn
managers. The purely religious gather
ings are so timid and arranged that thew
furnish a welcome change from the
worldly diversions. and their services
are conducted by experts who know
how to keep up the interest of the peo-
pie drawn to camp meeting.
The camp meeting is not merely for
the conversion Of sinners. 1t is also
for the restoration and reclamation of
oacksliders. Backsliders are people
converted who are inclined tn
slip downward into their old evil wavs
and to become lukewarm and even cold
IN their religious feelings. A main
purpose of the meeting, therefore. is to
warm up the hearts of the backsliders
and In that il is usually more success
iul than in any other of its efforts.
they become enthusiastic again, and
when they return home they are not so
ertlle In the invention of excuses for
Ieeping away from the PRAYER meet.
ngs of their churches, unless or until
hey begin to backslide anew. The
tatistics OF the religious results az.
'ompllshed by the Ocean Grove camp
Meeting are not full, but SO far as thew
70 they Indicate that, as usual. among
he most notable of these was the re-.
lamation of backsliders. As manv as
oO OF them are reported as restored.
% that number may be added perhaps
great part of the 200 who are de-
cribed as having been Especially
elped." At the early morning meet
lg on the day of the closing, a par-
cular appeal was made to such luke.
'arm believers, Mr.. Yatman address.
lg himself to "The True Blue and
Christian and the I'm ,
aved." AT its close many backsliders
their sin and asked for prav.
RS, and seventeen outright conversions
ERE rejoiced over. Among the $4,000 :
who partook of the !
ord's Supper one hour later, were :
ghty children who had been con- /,
erted during the season. The total :
umoer of conversions, so far as re. !
Orted, was 5l7, but the returns are r
complete. An additional on hundred h
70 reported as having been" "sanctifed:n .
nd generally the managers of the =
imp are we'll satisfied with the results
lis year.-N. Y. Sun.