The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1899-09-01
The First Camp.Meeting
GREAT REVIVAL WAVE SWEPT
OVER KENTUCKY ONE HUN
DRED YEARS AGO-SOL-
DER PREACHERS.

DER PREACHERS.
Much has recently been written as
to the location aud time of holding
the first camp meeting, and in this
connection concerning the great re-
ligiOus revival shat swept over the
inhabited portion of the Mississippi
valley at the dawn Of the present
century, and which resulted in a great
measure in the realignment of religi-
Gus forces and in the organization OF
the Cumberland Presbyterian church,
and in the formation of Shaker settle
ments in Kentucky, says writer in
the Nashville Banner
AS is well known this great revival
followed wave of skepticism that
appeared in this country as a kind Of
reflex Of French inldellty during the
French revolution.
Inddelty gained strong fOothold
in some leading educational institu-
ti0ns, and especially in Kentucky,
where the gifted, but skeptical Dr.
Holley, of Transylvania University,
was followed in his skeptical opinions
OF host CT bright young men who
were sent to school at that famous
university, and who became the lead
ers in the western half of the Amer
ican continent.
When the religious awakening came
it came with a force and violence nee
essary to break down the opposing
bulwarks. Then IL was that the doc
trine of spiritual and personal
knowledge Of redemption was preach
ed and accepted; when places Of wor-
ship resounded with shoutings and
other manifestations; when men
barked like dogs, and fell in frances;
when women had the jerks" their
halr falling from the coils at the back
of their heads and popping like whip
cords. All these facts are too well
authenticated to admit Of argument.
But discussion has arisen as to how
and when the first camp meeting was
held. when men came from far and
near through the wilderness to hear
the preaching of famous ministers of
the gospel.
1t is generally conceded that the
first camp meeting was held in Logan
county. KY, about fifty miles north OF
Nashville, but there has been some
question as to when and where.
The following account of 'the first
camp meeting" was published nearly
fifty years ago in book long since out
Of print, called 'Legends of the War
of Independence" and written by a
lawyer Of Russelville, KY, Thomas
Marshall Smith. BY the older people
OF the section who remember Mr..
Smith, his account is generally ac-
cepted as authentic. 1t is as follows:
The year 1899 is distinguished for
the commencement Of the great re-
vival Of religion in the west and the
introduction of camp meetings IN the
United States.
This revival commenced under the
united labor of two brothers. John
and William McGhee, the former a
Methodist local preacher, and the lat.
ter ordained Presbyterian minister,
and called to the pastoral care OF
Presbyterian congregation in Summer
county. Tenn.
And when the days came, the ensu.
ing Saturday and Sunday, for the
next meeting Of those brothers, at
Muddy river, three miles east of Rus.
seville, KY, the gathering OF the
people from distant parts Of the two
States-some twenty, thirty, fifty and
even a hundred miles-was astonish
ing; some in tented wagons, some In
open wagons, some in carts, some on
horses and many on foot.
The Westinghouse 1t was found
hours before preaching time, coult
not seat the third part Of those al
ready gathered. And still they came
by dozens, ffties and hundreds. A
temporary pulpit. therefore, wa
quickly erected under the foliage Of {
continuous grove Of thick and broad
spreading trees, seats were made o.
large timber felled and laid upon ths
ground. Here the thousands seated
themselves and the worship com
menced. Soon the presence Of the all
pervailng power of the Most High
was felt By all. Some crying for mer'
cy; some 10 ecstasles Of Joy and praise,
strewed the ground. Many Of the
former we're members Of the churches,
and had been such for many years
| Nay, not . few Of them had beer
| for years preachers Of the gospel, buI
n0w. for the first time. convincet
81 4.I|