The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-19
CAMP MEETINGS DECLINE.
LOSING THEIR oLD-TIME CHARAC-
TER, FERV0R, AND POWER.

they sul Draw Largo Audiences ana Boast
Many Conversions In Some Pnrts OF tho
North. but ARR Nowhoro to he Compared
with the Meetings or Firty Years Ago.
Camp meetings are not what they used to be-.
Twenty-Five years ago they were a great force
in religion throughout this entire country.
Not only the Methodist, but other denomina-
tions held them, and thousands were converted.
The camp meetings have not Como out of exist.
ence by any means, hut tho camp meetings of
tho past differed widely from tho camp meet.
ings OF the present. II the good old .Presbyte.
rlan and Methodist brothers who hit upon this
plan OF salvation nearly a century ago could
return to earth, they would not know n camp
meeting II they saw one, that Is, IL they hap
pened to strike one in the Northern States.
They would probably think that they had
some upon a family summer resort.
In tho West and South 1t is different, for
while there has been n great decline in interest
in camp meetings in those parts, as well as
hcreabouts, the method Of conducting them
has lost little OF its primitiveness.
Two of the most conspicuous Mothodists in
this city recently discussed the camp meeting,
past and present, before n much younger per-
son. The takers were both men well ad-
vanced in years, and both were thoroughly in.
formed in the church history OF this country.
Young people nowadays know nothing Of n
genuine old.timo camp meeting" said the
elder Of the men to the young person. you
probably think that the shouting Methodists
started the camp meeting, don't youi Yes, l
thought you did, and so do two.thirds of the
people. That's where they are wrong. The
first camp meeting held in the United States
was started by a Presbyterian in 1899 on the
banks Of Red River in Kentucky. John Nc.
Gee, n Methodist, and his brother. n Prcsby-
tprinn. were making n rplivipua tpnr from Ten
nessce to n place called tho "Barrens," near
Ohio. They stopped Mt n settlement on the
Red River to attend n sacramcntal cclcbra.
ton with the Rev. William McGrcedy, n Pres.
bytcrian. He invited the Methodist McGee to
preach first. and he did SO. Then his Presby-
terrain brother followed him with sermons
which really gave rise to the camp meeting.
AN eyewitness" continued the old man,
warming up to hc subject, described that
first meeting very graphically. He said that
the spirit was copiously poured forth upon the
people and produced tears of contrition and
shouts of JOY. Tho Rev. Mcssrs. McGreedy,
1Ioge, and Rankin, all Presbytcrians. left the
house, but the iicGccs were too powerfully af.
fected themselves to flee under circumstances
of SO much interest. The Methodist brother
was expected to preach again. but when tho
time arrived he arose and informed the people
that the overpowering nature OF his feelings
would not allow of his preaching and cxhort-
cd them TO surrender their hearts to God.
Cries and sobs were heard in every part OF the
house.
The excitement was indescribable. When
the noise, OF this extraordinary movement
reached the surrounding country tho people
rushed TO see what these things meant, for
they had never heard of the like before. BY
this means the meeting house was immediate
~ oycrtiowed, and an altar to God was erected
in the forest. This gave u new impulse TO
every direction in wagons, bringing with them
enough food ana clothing to last several days
that they might remain upon the ground.
1t was II won0erful occasion. Scctarina
divisions seemed TO have been forgotten in the
general concern for the prevalence OF spiritual
religion. The services were conducted by
Mcthodists. Prcsbytcrians, and Baptists. The
result was unparalleled and led TO others.
From this unprecedented beginning these
meetings were extended, increasing in useful.
ness. and power under tho special direction of
the Prcsbyterians and Mcthodists. Because of
this union Of sects in their support they were
called general camp meetings.
ut is claimed that the roads leading to a
crowded and that entire ncighborhoods were
forsaken. That Is easy to believe, for such has
within the last thirty years. y Presbyterian
Iarson calculated that there were at least
1000 persons present at one of the early
meetings spranS up, especially in the Presby-
terrain Church, and after a few, years that de-
nomination abandoned them, but the Mctho-
dists favored them and introduced them into
all parts OF the country. some of their en-.
campm1ents are now famous the, world over,
and Round Lake, near Saratoga.
But Camp meetings are not what they used
to be. The preachers do not pour the red. hot
shot of the GOSPEL into their congregations as
they did in the old days. | think the pivotal
cent instituted n sunday school assembly at
Chautauqua: that was nearly twenty-five years
ago. since then there has been u great de-
cline in interest in the old:timc camp meeting,
which used to be held solely for the purpose
Of ibe w, nGMrs, soul soul and helping Ghrii'ians. Sow
thing. and the season when the camp meeting
should be in full blast is taken and the energy
mel. The meetings are held in the usual place
every year. and instead of living in temporary
tents or houses they own handsome cottages
and are within gun5hot Of hotels and rcstaur.
ants. There is u woful lack Of the old open
hearted h9spitality, such rs used 10 be extend
Browns woods All in all, the usefulness OF
at least it is not what it used to be. when
nearly everybody who attended went home
baptized with lire from above"
i do not agree with you at NIL, brother"
spoke up the other old man. Il do not be-
crllincd. but that lis character, has changed.
The summer resort idea, which has become at.
tached to the camp meeting, is rcsponsible for
Ocean Grove, Yarmouth, Sing sing. Old Or
chnrd, Mount Tabor. Pine Grove, and many
statements. Considering that the camp meet
ing Is not a fixed institutional the Church. it Is
rather remarkable that il continues such a
h'''N 'hts
attended rs II necessity; now they are places
or nnion for spiritual power. The camp meet
ing gives to the many what the Roman Catholic
retreat strives TO give to u few. You rarely
find u presiding elder who hasn't II camp ground
in his district, and each ono usually meets the
needs or from forty to sixty churches. ] have
supplied pulpits in the leading Methodist
churches in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New
J ork or late years and know the influence Of
the camp meeting in cach locality. II comes
at II season when IL takes people away from
the designations of summer. and men and wo.
men give up their business TO lend themselves
entirely To spiritual thought. Tho result of
this is n great quickening in the church. While
pastor of the most fashionable church in Balti-
more, I've seen my church retain he glow and
dement, received from a camp meeting for years.
"Thc camp meeting owes lta success to too
many considerations for Christians to lose in
torcst IN il. As ! said before, it calls people
away from business and other cares for sew
ernl successive days. securing time for tho
mind to uso in undistractcd contemplation Of
spiritual %rcnliIics; it l%uickcns the Church OF
GOD; i /, vel adapted 70 exercise the powers
OF faith and prayer in the Church and there
fore greatly strengthen these powers; it calls
large numbers OF ministers and people of diff
ferenL denominations together, promoting Chris
tian unity II offers TO the Church an admirable