The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-08-19
PLAINYILLE CAMP MEETING
DECREASE IN ATTEND4NCE BE CAUSE OF INTERMEDIATES STORM.

There Were, However, About 500 People Present Yesterday-Fun Religious Programme Carried Out-strong ser-
 mons Preached To-day's Meetings.
 The terrific windaand rain storm of Wednesday afternoon and evening and the threatening clouds early yesterday morning doubtless had much to do with the decreased attendance at the Plain ville camp meeting yesterday. Thurs day was counted upon by many as the biggest day of the week and prepara- tions were making with that end in view, but the unfavorableness of the elements caused these expectations to fail of realization. As it was, there were probably eight hundred people on the ground during the day. The threat ening clouds disappeared as the day wore on, and the sun came out, giving a prospect of a clear day. but about 3:30 a shower came up, and In measure, interfered with the regular afternoon service.
 The services of the day were well att tended and there was considerable en- thusiasm manifest. The Bible hour at 8:30 was in charge of Rev. w. B. Pru- ner of Rocky Hill. His topic was '"The Spiritual Harvest" Although there are small prayer meetings at this hour in many of the cottages, 1t is desired that as many as possible attend these Bible studies as an educational course of study.
 At the regular preaching service at 10:30 the Rev. William McNicholl, pas tor of St. Andrews M. E. church of Fair Haven, preached a sermon that was pronounced by many who have at tended camp meetings for many years one of the most powerful and searching sermons ever heard. His text was from Romans, 1:16, which reads; For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is a power of God unto salvation of every one that believeth." Rev. MT. McNicholl first pointed out some of the more important points in the his- tory of St. Paul, who was the author of the words of the text He spoke of his birth, percentage and early educa- tion; how he sat at the feet of Gama- Iiel. The miraculous conversion of St. Paul on his way to Damascus and his wonderful testimony at Rome were also discoursed upon.
 The speaker then divided his sermon into three topics-frst it's origin-it is the power of God; second, it's thorough ness--its operation is the power of God unto salvation; third, it's extent-its saving power unto every one that be- lieveth
 An innovation in the shape of numer- ous prayer meetings, held in the vari- ous society houses, was introduced at 1:30 yesterday afternoon. At that time and until the time of the afternoon preaching service there were twelve cottage prayer meetings and all of them were well attended. This meeting will probably be held each afternoon during the remainder of the meeting.
 The afternoon preaching service was preceded by a praise service lasting about half an hour. Then the Rev. George L. Taylor, formerly pastor of the old George street church in this city, but now pastor of the Methodist church in Hamden, preached an elo- quent sermon, which follows in full. His topic was Gods Terrace Culture" :"
 GODS TERRACE CULTURE.
 Dr. Taylor read, with comments, psalm lxxii., and announced as his theme Gods Terrace Culture" verse IS: There shall be a handful of corn in the earth, upon the tops of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon. He said the psalm was David's last great psalm, written for Solomon's coronation. The word ''handful, the preacher said, was a plural in the Hebrew, and was now also plural in the revised version, and meant not "seed corn" but the "crop. and "handfuls' meant abundance, abundant harvests in the land, even to the sum- rnits of all cultivable elevations and the foothills and slopes of the mountains. This was literally fulfilled in Palestine, in the great and prosperous reign of Solomon, which the psalm, taken in it's primary and literal meaning, predic- lively describes. But the psalm is Mes sianic, one of the greatest and most beautiful of the Messianic psalms. Un- der the greatness of Solomon's reign, as a figure or symbol, is represented and foretold the future glory of the king dom of "Great Davids Greater Son." the Messiah Immanuel, whose domin- ion is described in the psalm in lan- guage that exceeds all the possibilities of any earthly sway, and can only apply to a universal and perpetual empire, the kingdom of Christ on earth. But how was the prediction of the text full filled, in its primary and literal sense, in abundance of grain in the land, even upon the tops of the mountains?" The underlying rhetorical figure of this text Is
 THE TERRACE CULTURE
 of the hills and mountains, well known throughout the oriental world, and ne- cessary to it's crowded population, and its methods and resluts beautifully il- lustrate the work of Christs kingdom in the world. It consisted of four de- partments, which were in part simul- taneous, but must be considered sepa- rately These were:
 s FIRST, THE WALL BUILDING.
 Retaining walls" were built of only the most imperishable rock and cement, were located and erected under the su- perintendence of government surveyors, and aided by government loans. These symbolized the time defying founda-