Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1898-08-12
REV. SMITH WRITES.
Tells of the Battle Ground Camp Meet
ing in an Interesting Letter.

ing in an Interesting Letter.
TWenty-four years ago these annual
gatherings on Indiana's only battlefield
originated. Every year multitudes
here assemble in the interests of their
intellectual and spiritual lives. Choice
teachers of divine truth are brought in.
Experienced leaders of sacred singing
are chosen. The children and youth
are instructed. Great problems of the
church and of christian civilization are
discussed so as to provoke thought and
interest. This has become kind of
Methodist Mecca. The place is beauti
full and healthful, even inspiring in its
history and associations and native
loneliness.
This year the meetings last only ten
days, closing Aug.7. Every cottage is
full. Tents stretched on the lovely
lawn beneath these aged, battle scared
oaks furnish delightful rest. A great
tabernacle, seating 300, gives facilities
for great companies to bear. A chapel
seating one-tenth as many, accommo-
dates the smaller meetings. On Sun
day, various courts furnish shady and
enticins places for outdoor evangelistic
services, where familiar, joyous songs
ring out, and strong-voiced young
preachers, full of zeal, present the
Gospel.
Wednesday of last week was one of
the great days. Excursions came in
bringing multitudes of people. 1t was
DePauw day. The services were turn
ed over to DIR. Ii. A. Goblin, president
OF the University. The program was
one of rare interest and genuine en-
tertainment. The speeches half a
dozen of tbem-were crisp, sparkling,
varied, full of enthusiasm, loyal to
higher education, broad and liberal.
The music, vocal and instrumental, was
as rare as the oratory. The unique
features were two drills, one by a
squad of DePauw cadets with Zouaye
uniforms and with guns; the other
dumb bell drill, set to patriotic music,
given by IA Delphi girls in costume.
The whole day was magnificent dem
onstration of the fact that DePauw
university lives in the hearts of the
people whose lives she has blessed and
III whose civilization she hes been
mighty factor. 1t also furnishes a
pledge that the future of the university
shall be glorious, sustained as she will
be by the peosle's liberality and fur
nished with students from their homes.
Last Sabbath Rev. DIR. Briggs, of
Owensboro, Ky, typical southerner,
was the chief pulpit orator, and
thrilling orator he is, dealing in great
thoughts, put into forceful speech and
radiant with spiritual fire.
The chief instructor is Miss Anna
Downey, for twenty years a veritable
herold Of the cross. unordaihed its true.
but graduate in theology, wonder
derfully taught of the Lord, ripe in the
experience of christian work, as well as
university training. She is winning all
hearts.
a word personal IN closing. Myself
and family are occupying one of the
cottages here Mrs. H. X. Pershing,
and Misses Blanche Dlsher and Olga
Shakes are with us. All are we'll and
all enjoying every passing hour. We
get Plymouth papers and look them
over every day. We have received calls
from many former pastors of Plymouth
M. +. church; &. A. Brooke, w. r.
Mikels, L. G. Buckles, w. Z. McKinsey,
j. A. Maxwell and j. A. Clearwaters.
They are all coming in September to be
our guests at Plymouth for the session
of the annual conference. | am assur-
ing them of hearty welcome.
Such a JOY is it to be here and simply
listen and feel no special responsibility,
that my promise to go next Sunday to
preach in st. Paufs church, Lafayette,
one of the completest and most beauti-
full churches in the state, is viewed as
an act of self denial, made to favor
brother in need of rest and recupera.