The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-05-27

ram, but III 4Oou weather tieSe were
, spread beneath the trees, and all meals
/ taken al fresco, little further back
were the cook shed and barbecue pits,
{ and still further, often reaching beyond
; the lines of the grounds, were the
! wagons with forage, the horses, yehlc-
les of guests, and the camps G the
! slaves.
; s.THE STAND" OR 'THE ARBoR.
In the centre, as near as might be, of
the grounds, ''the Stand or "Arbor, y
a huge wooden shed, covered with
shingles or boards, was erected, with
capacious pulpit and ample ''altar, at
one end. while rude benches for the
.,ugregation filled the remaining space:
Here the services were conducted, and
he attention centered at the religious
features of the feast gradually overcame
| It's social character in the progress OF
the Revival" Finally the ''camp
grounds" was usually named for the
nearest church of that denomination.
and generally incorporated as a place OF
worship under that name, placing 1t
under the protection of the law.
i Some weeks beforehand the local
minister announced the time. OF the
meeting. This was usually during the
! interval between the cultivation and
| the harvesting Of the crops, in country
parlance during lay by time.
At the appointed day-say Thursday
before the fourth Sunday in August
the ''tenters" began to move In. 1t
Being time of rest and leisure upon
the farms almost one-half the negroes,
and all the teams were employed. De
tails for this service were eagerly sought
oy the slaves, for besides the Joy OF
crowd, dear to the negro heart, loomed
J up the prospect of unlimited rations
from the white folks table, latter their
betters had eaten), and uncounted
dimes and quarters as the reward OF
cheerful service to generous guests.
PLANTATION PREPARATIONS.
All was now hurry and hustle upon
the plantations. Hogs, sheep, goats
and cattle, fatted expressly, were
slaughtered and prepared for the oar,
bacue pits. Poultry was caught and
penned, -four sweet aud fresh from the
mill, corn meal by the bushel, hams
and breakfast strips fit for the kings
! table, drawn from the dusky depths OF
the smoke house, vegetables from Kit
chen gardens, potatoes from the patch,
fruit from the trees, honey from the
gums" and melons from the vines,
were piled high upon the wagon loads
Of ri and forage, straw and furniture,
which found their way to the grounds,
nor was the fragrant and delicious
| blackberry, scuppernong or mus
wine, the potent and seductive cherry
bounce, and small, but indispensable
supply of "apple-Jack, or "old corn"
forgotten.
The merry darkies chosen to help
worked with will, and wakened the
late and early echoes with choice selec-
tions from last years meeting" while
their less fortunate fellows consoled
themselves with the reflection that on
Sunday all might attend and enjoy. to
the utmost this delightful oasis, lying
midway in the weary desert, reaching
from Christmas to Christmas.
THE PREACHERS TASK.
By Thursday night nearly all the
| "tenters" were settled, and few OF the
visiting ministers had arrived. Upon
the principle Of putting the best foot
foremost, and out of Difference to the
cloth 'the Preachers tent" was the
| first upon the right Of the square, apd
the last built and edtipped upon the
gro ground. 1t tits tept the presiding
elder" (ifs Methodist camp groundl
was master and titalaf chief, and to ITS
support, both IN provisions and attend
ants, were contributed all and more
than was needed by tharival tenters. 1t
, was dedicated to the exclusive use OF the
| ministers and their families, and within
its sacred precincts no layman, save
upon special invitation, was supposed
to enter for food or refreshment. This
| tent, like the others, was arranged Tor
| the separate accommodation OF the
sexes, and here the families Of the min
| listers met and formed friendships and
acduaintances to :be severed, alas, by
future assignments of the Bishop:
To the hard-worked and often Ill paid
Methodist ministry the camp meeting
was the source QS qnalloyed pleasure.
II meant release Tor q season from the
m6nofonotfs duties of the circuit: 1t
meant social and professional inter
course. It meant increase OF church
membership, and of prospective pay.
1t meant opportunity for the display OF
those peculiar gifts which brought
preferment from the Bishop, at the sug-
gestion Of the presiding elder. 1t
meant bounteous cheer, mental, physl-
cal and spiritual, and more than all, let
us believe, it meant gracious out
pouring of the Divine spirit and more
Jealous and willing workers in the
Masters vineyard. Certain it is that
none enjoyed the camp meeting more
and none labored so bard for its sue
cess.
A short sermon from the local minis
ter on Thursday cat early candle
lighting" inaugurated the meeting. and
at an early hour the weary audience
sought rest froa the labors OF the first
day.
| [To BE CONTINUED.
:. RUSSIAN MILL MEN
| sA