The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-08-24
A GOOD OLD CAMP MEETING
PL1INTILLE THE MECCA OF NEW
HAVEN ME1HODISTS.

ChsAp ouou SOuulEiOn-bu1lulugO OF
the Epworth Church to be Dedicated
Thursday-New Haven People Present.
How the Camp is Arranged.
Up at Plainville the Methodists of
the New Haven district are holding
their thirty second annual camp meet
ing this week. The attendance bids
fair to be larger than ever, if the num-
ber present at the first day-yesterday-
is trustworthy indication. The day
was lowery and chilly and about as
likely to dampen the ardor of brother
in even the very best standing, as If
rain were actually falling. Then, too,
as one sister remarked to a representa-
tive of this paper, MANY mothers of
families We're unable to come UP yester-
day, as Monday was washing day, you
KNOW" But they will all be there next
Wednesday and Thursday, and the 400
first day arrivals are writing home,
urging their friends to come up to "the
Feast of Tabernacles.
The encampment is in better condi-
ton to stand an influx and to comfort-
ably accommodate large number than
ever before. Several church societies
have erected new structures, and a.
number of pretty little cottages have
been built by individuals. Everything
that the experience of thirty odd years
has taught the committees in charge
as necessary or advantageous to an
ideal camp has been profited by so far
as funds and opportunity have permit
ted. The grove Is beautifully situated.
hooped round with a low range Of wood
ed hills just far enough away from the
whistle of the locomotive to secure rest
and quiet, and yet easily accessible by
team from Plainville Center.
Yesterday there were nearly as many
teams as arrivals at the depot, and the
people were easily taken care Of.
One old stage driver who claims to
know all the regular campers said that
the arrivals so far were mostly dea-
cons and sisters" but that the inaun
was sure to be general to-day and to-
morrow.
At first sight the encampment re-
minds one Of western mining or lum-
Der camp, so completely rural and se-
questered does it appear. Nor does the>
impression wear away in spite Of
the evident order and cleanliness Of
the grounds until one comes within ear
shot of "the stand.' Then the strains
of some good old hymns as sung by
hundreds of genuine and soul-stirred
Methodists are certain to dispel any inn
preston that has enormously prevailed.
And almost everybody has his or her
Bible, hynnal and note hood where he
or she can readily take them as soon as
the service bell calls the campers to
the open-air assembly place.
Rev. K. F. Duinkerke and Presiding
Elder North were the speakers of yes
terday afternoon.
The neatness of the encampment has
been alluded to. In June or early July
the several churches held a basket pic
mic at the grounds and made it day
for clearing up" as much as possible.
Not content with that the committee Of
effort, and the old piles of debris and
waste have been burned The trees
have been trimmed the roads have been
improved and in spite Of the devastat-
ing storms Of the summer every thing Is
in good order. Barrels for whatever Is
offensive or worthless have been placed
at convenient points. The plan Of the
camp itself Is simple, but excellent. 1t
is simply great wheel-two concen-
ric circles-with spokes radiating from
the central assembly place Encircling
"the stand" where all preaching SER
vices are held are twenty-four lots for
church societies. All but two of these
lots have been covered with frame
structures; one is occupied by tent,
and the other will probably be similar
ly used. Back of these houses Is the
outer circle-Manchester avenue-alI
within that rim is a sacred precinct,
so to speak; all smoking, wild talking
and boisterousness are prohibited, and
the place is place dedicated to divine
worship. Along the outer circle are
built quite number of private cot
tages, and also along the "spokes" or
| in camp parlance, private avenues"
| These tiny cottages are of a variety Of
shapes and sizes and colors, but one
and all are built for GOODNESS. The av-
enues bear the names of towns in the
district. There is Bristol avenue, Mer-
| iden, Hartford New Haven avenues,
| ETC., etc. One of the cottages on the
outer circle is the new "Eldridge," oc-
cupied by Presiding Elder North.
! Another new building Is the large
church house just completed by Ep-
worth M. e. church of New Haven. It
will be dedicated next Thursday at 1:30
p. M. and the occasion is to be made
feature of the days programme. A
large delegation of that congregation
will come up for the day. This cottage
enjoys the distinction of having as
members both the chief of police, Mr..
John Henderson, and the night watch
man. Mr. Isaac Covert. Others who
are at present at the house are Mrs.
James Sisson, Mrs. Rufus Garfield, Mrs.
| C. J. Buckbee, Miss Carrie F. Buckbee,
Miss Edith NJ. Buckbee, Mrs. Hender-
son and the Misses Ada and Alice Hen
derson, Miss Eunice Serviss, Miss FloY-
| ence Allison, Mr. H: E. Hungerford, and
Miss Humiston.
The Epworth cottage is good type
of the church houses. On the first floor
is a large assembly room, where the
| family worship will be held in the morn
| ings The kitchen and dining room are
also on the first floor. Upstairs are six
or more large, airy bed rooms, some Of
them with two windows. The whole