The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-30
WHEN RELIGION WAS WILD
ECHOES OF THE FRBN3IEs oF THE
EARLY CAMP MEETINGS.

Leaves rrou q Manuscript Hymn neck Which
Helped to Shake the Foundations OF BACK
woods society In the Days or the Pioneer
"Jerhs ~ and other 'Exsrcises."
Contrary to general opinion. the camp meeting
was not originally an exclusively Methodist In
stitution. Two brothers, William and John Mo
Chico, one a Methodist, the other q Presbyterian
minister, were the first to lead the people In
regular opcn-air services. They began their
work In 1899. 30 that the camp meeting now
lacks but little Of being q century old. Evon NJ
that time they were able to draw together thou
sands OF persons; and, in view Of the scanty pop
ulation, these early gatherings are moro won
derful than those OF the present. The services
were plain but earnest, and the hearers were
strongly affected, Hundreds falling to the
ground like grain before a storm Of wind. and
arising from the dust with divine Joy beaming
upon their countenances," according to q minis
tors narrative at the time.
Arkansas was the cradle of tho camp meeting.
In 1899 the McGhees left their congregations In
Smith and Sumner counties, Tennessee, for o
| tour through "Tho Barrens,'' as Arkansas.
Mississippi, and q part Of Indiana were called.
They intended going to Ohio, but stopped at a
settlement on Red River to attend the admins
tering Of the sacrament to the Row. MIR.
McGrendy, a Presbyterian. Tho McGhees
preached, as did John Hoge and stephen Ran
MIL 4 sioi 49, wv
ers were speaking an astonishing influence
came over the congregation and preachers.
William McGhee became 80 affected that he left
| his place and sat on tho floor. John stood from
bling under an overpowering consciousness OF
the mercy and omnipotence Of God. Tho con-
Rregation broke the decorum Of tho services
with groans of fear, which soon changed to
shouts of joy and declarations Of sanctilcation.
The few not affected left the church. declaring
the McGhees and the rest Of the congregation to
be mad. Hoge and Rankin, and even McGroady.
who had just received the sacrament. left tho
building. The story of the strange occurrences
spread far and wide.
The McGhees felt that they were destined to
arouse a like enthusiasm elsewhere, and began
preparations for the first camp meeting. Tho
brothers were astonished at the size Of the con.
course that greeted them at their first camp
meeting, held in the early fall of 1893 at Muddy
River. Ark. Probably 1000 persons had as
sembled. The ministers, accustomed to small
| congregations, generally numbering not moro
than twenty, were dumfounded. They had
never addressed an gudience so largo. All were
curious to SEQ and hear the men who had exer
cised such a strange influence at the Red River
meeting. But they were earnest men and their
faith was unlimited. John McGhee prayed and
William followed him with an address 20 pow.
erful that not fewer than 100 persons were COM
verified the first day. The numbers increased
daily, many being drawn by mere curiosity,
while others came. as William McGhee do
clared. to arm themselves with arguments Of
resistance" The novel mode of worship aroused
the greatest interest. To men and women, fsmi:
liar with only the hard and monotonoue life OF
the frontier. the sight Of thousands worshipgllng
McGhees did not fail to stimulate this wonder
and turn it to good effect. Al night the grounds
This. with the stiffness OF the hour and the
solemnity resting on every countenance. pro
of s~coffers. The worshippers camped in the forest
and few went away till the meeting. was ended.
manifested. their conversion by the CONCLUSIVE
Jerking and falling soon recognized as EVIDENCES
of religious fervSr and called exercises" The
ministers. continued the work. In 1901 several
meetings were held in Kentucky and the at
ter who took part in q meeting at Corbin estI:
mated the assemblage at 10000, On tho third
unconscious for hours. To prevent their being
trodden under foot they wero collected and laid
i Jared the for nfss y sfEeir a0s flisnd xA'1 Hnd they s Msss
D %sstbeE that Tc @fel held s.cs ss Gs s.Soo R s@sss th Tns
too vast to be addressed by one person, hence it
was divided into several audiences. each having
among the camp nres. bewalling their sins with
ters Of other churches Withdrew. leaving the
Methodists to carry on the work. In those early
msss,in nss 'mi IN reoosn Ms5e o Of the pa gtRdraa Han of
many many d dss %aSS.ss, ss. Ths f by WiIIInm S MsKss sn.
kin, and, Henry Smith, Methodists., and John
HSge and stephen RANKIN. Preslbyterians
had spread al Hover the country. the worshippers
soldieT r1 laid away rWsy his Z r riie and ods again stisl sWS ship pei
in the forest. Soon permanent, shelters were
sreS sIs at Convenient srmn places ana sSs m1 netting; : were ere
ministers felt sorely the need Of music which
would suit the temper and comprehension Of the
ence were not entirely appropriate, and Of the
beautiful and simple songs now common over
TO the leaders OF the new movement that the from
tiersmen. few of whom were familiar with the
use, nearly. all OF which were .replete with
the high imagery Of the old Scriptures;
did their best. to clotho their ideas in simple
scrIptural style. The McGhees.. the Rev. Y.
Peyton, and many others devoted to this work
but tie = most N stq prolific smS o. al HpS %as the y kssv v.e Gears:
Askins. As these hymns were written they
but the wives of the ministers turned book.
Of Slnd 1eois saS P sss.ts io nSst a MtslI .s sSlan stro %Sds
together. In these the hymns were written.
being numbered In an order which was never
varied. For new songs additional pages were
added. Few Of these, hymn books lived ton
years, and 1t is believed that only ono Is extant,
Most Of the hymns are quite long and many
possess NO unusual quality except the foryor
both in conception and In their remarkable sim
plicity Of expression The hrst, written BY the
Rev. George Askins. is q good example:
All hail my dear companions,
All hail to you again;
You wish to know my station,
And II I'm free from pain.
I'm FREQ from pain and sorrow.
From every kind OF woe.
I'm happy with my Saviour.
Where pleasures always now.
Don't think I have forgot you.
That thought be far from thoOy
Hove you more than ever,
And hope your face to soc,
As soon ~ you have hnish'd
Your work beneath the sun;
To bring you homo to glory,
How quickly will / run.
But did you know the glory
We have above the skies,
You would lay by your mourning
And wipe your weeping ryesi
You would procure your coffn-
.- III