The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-13
LiUGHING BODLEY.
An Illinois Camp-MeetinE Celebrity
Who Keeps Things Going.
From the Chtcaso Daily .vers.

FFOW tH' thiCdDO DdhV NfrS
Brother Bodley halls from Kankakee
County, where he is a prosperous farmer
He was converted forty years ago. and
since that time has been unable to restrain
his enthusiasm whenever scenes are enact
ed similar to those when he saw the light
in camp meeting where the open sky took
the place OF n canvas tent and green foliage
supplied the canopy over the anxious seat"
That is the name the Methodists give to
the space In front OF the pulpit where the
saved labor with the "unregenerate" to
bring them within the fold.
When young Farmer Bodley was con-
vcrted he was so filled with Joy that he
burst out laughing. Such an act was no
surprise to the crowd of country folk who
were attending the meeting. as they often
witnessed and participated in similar de-
monstratons. But when the proselyte con-
tinued to laugh, by day and by night. in
the midst OF sermon or in the midst OF
his farm duties. whenever he was overpow-
cred by sense OF his new happiness, his
case attracted attention.
1t soon came to be that no camp meeting
was entirely complete unless Laughing"
was seen near the front row, and his melo-
dious "Haw- haw- haw!" roverberatcd
through the groves or within the walls OF
the tent auditorium. Whenever a preacher
referred to some passage of Scripture, or
expressed some sentiment which seemed TO
III the case of the joyous Wesleyan, his dis
course was sure to he cut short by the loud
shout OF genuine happiness.
The congregation would be aroused to
a high pitch OF fervor by the evidence
their ears had OF the bliss to which a
'amens" and "hallelujahs" which followed
were usually the sign Of the beginning OF
the Pcntecostal service.
Yesterday afternoon the throng which
crowded the enormous tent in the centre
of the Des PLANES camp grounds was thrill
ed by similar sound. The Rev. Thomas
Harrison. who has been known for thirty
years as THE boy evangelist" had progress
ed far in his discourse and had by his ex
hortation increased the religious enthusiasm
OF the audience to point where all it
needed was an example to start il into all
the demonstrations of one of the REVEALS
which one has heard his grand parents tell
about
"LauFhing Rodley furnished the example
and the result followed.
"Haw -haw- haw.' he burst out in stem
torian tones. "Haw-haw- haw," he continu-
ed, and then rose in his seat and held his
Sides while ne shook with laughter.
"A-a-a-men," "Glo-o-o-ry" "Uallelu
jah Praise the Lord" came the echoing
shouts in response from all parts OF the
tent.
"Haw haw-haw, haw- haw- haw" continu
ed the venerable evangelist. The shout OF
the Rev, MIR Harrison was no longer heard
in the uproar, and the members OF the
congregation who were particularly seized
with the ardor or the occasion elbowed their
way towards the anxious seat
Sing Rescue the pcrishing." The voice
OF Singing Evangelist Miller was heard
above the shouts and the "Hallelujahs" and
'Amens' gradually melted into the strains
of the old-time Gospel song. There was
not pause between the verses, however,
but that the "Haw- haw-h aw" was heard,
and 1t but served to intensity the en-
thusiasm.