The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-18
EARLY DAYS At ACTON
OLDER MEMBERS OF THE AssOCIA-
TIoN RECALL THEM.
The Camp Meeting Entertained by
Miss emnn-Arrangements for
the Junior EpwOrth Leaguers.

The 'old residenters'' have a belief that
the rain and Acton camp-meeting are
inseparable phenomena, and certainly the
experience of the past week has not served
to disabuse them of that belief. The rain
began on moving day, and nearly every
day since has had its shower of more or
less duration. Yesterday was no exception.
For while in the afternoon it simply
poured, and while TO the amphibious small
boy this was delightful, yet there are others
who think enoughs enough.
One of the newcomers to camp yesterday
was J. H. Miller, of Morristown. Mr..
Miller has been busy with his harvest, and
could not arrive sooner. There are others
in similar situation. Mr.. Miller believes
that camp-meeting was begun too soon this
year. He says the farmers are unable to
attend until the end of harvest season, and
he thinks the association would be
Weather if it waited until that time. The
association is perfectly willing to be
weather., but many of the members are
too anxious to get out under the trees to
submit to much delay. The association de-
Ponds great deal on it's gate receipts; of
10 cents a head however, and it is one of
the aims of the management in carrying
out an assembly programme of lectures to
induce outsiders to attend Last year the
receipts at the gate were sufficient to liqui-
date a portion of the debt that burdens the
association, and it is hoped that the same
source of income will this year enable a,
still further decrease. The association is
now indebted about $1,000, and money is
also needed for many Improvements that
must be made if Acton Park is to retain its
popularity.
Isom Wray, of Shelbyville. has been Wis
iting the camp. Mr.. Wray has been inter-
ested in Acton for forty years, and there
seems to be little about the place that he
is unacquainted with. He takes much evil
dent pleasure in dilating the methods
of primitive days, when the place was tru-
ly a Methodist camp-meeting. He pointed
out yesterday the site where the original
pavilion stood east of the present structure
Great trees now grow where it stood, but
there still remain the depressions caused
by the rain drip from the caves, and I'M
other depression where was sunk the only
well tAat supplied the water forty years
ago. AT that time there were log tents,
about a score of them and the dozen
Druids in one structure.
Il was the first man." said Mr. Wray,
Ito fell tree on the grounds. When my
father helped to lay out the place | was
q STRIPPING, but could WELD the ak first
rate. The grounds were then covered with
the QelSeSL forest L ever saw, ana IN OruGr
TO put up the pavilion some trees had to
be cut down. The first that went was
leaning sugar maple, and l struck the steel
into it first. This original pavilion was
made of logs, and the roof was built around
a number of great trees. The people were
very religious and when the preachers
came out together upon the platform there
ensued a service whose ferVidness is never
eQualed in these later days. The pavilion
was burned during the war, when the Gov
ernor was about to use it as hospital for
soldiers. The association Immediately con-
structed another west of the present struc-
ture, but it also was burned for like rea-
son. Since those days the age Of the camp
is measured by the height of the trees, for
the original forest was largely depleted.
Some of the primeVal trees still stand, how
ever, and one in particular in Harrison
avenue contains marked on its bark dates
of years long ago"
Yesterday was a quiet day about camp
The morning trains brought large number
of people to spend Sunday, and the only
entertainment was that furnished at night
oils. Miss Breneman gave miscellaneous
readings and greatly pleased the audience
She presented Scene of the first act of
Macbeth" and also the child scene in
King Henry VIII. She recited some favor
ties from James Whitcomb Riley and Will
liam Story, and acted Ben Bolt" and 20
Promise Me- in pantomime while a number
of the young ladies on the ground did the
singing
Miss Ida V. Steeg is furnishing up the
quarters allotted to the Junior Epworth
Leaguers, who are expected in large num-
K.
ground and is ample for the accOmmOda-
ton of large number. Any juniors of the
East or West Indianapolis district are well
come to take advantage of the cottage
whether accompanied by parents or not.
The ladies of the WOmans Home Mission
airy Society are also fitting up their cot
tage in attractive style 1t has been neatly
furnished and Mrs. Harry Grassland is en-
deavoring to have new porch constructed.
AS it is however, ladies connected with the
society will here find desirable quarters,
either for sleeping or eating their lunch.
Miss Elsie Dole of Asheville Missionary
School, occupies the cottage adjoining and
has been overseeing the new headquarters
of the society.
= To-day the ladies of the missionary So
eiety have charge of the services and
large attendance is expected. The Roberts
Park choir of siXty-three voices will fur
nish the music. Following is the pro-
gramme for the day:
Forenoon-10: DeVotional; song service,
Bible lesson, prayer; led by Mrs. a. V. P.
Adams, conference corresponding secre-
tary 1920: Sermon. topic, Receiving and
Giving" Rev. L. C. Atkinson, president
New Orleans University.
Afternoon-2:30: Devotional service, con-
Quoted by Mrs. Emil Wulschner, conference
president; music, Roberts Park choir; solo,
Mrs Ella. Chidester 3: Sermon, Rev. H. S.
Hilton; anthem, the choir
Evenings: Paper, "Flowers-The1r Place
in Christian Work" (by requesD Mrs. Emil
Wulschner; music $40: Address, subject,
America Mrs G. L. Weaver. $40: serv-
ice of sacred song, Roberts Park choir,
Emil Wulschner director