The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-08-10
TRUE 4 ] J. TALES OF
i ]. Y! 4 .OL.DEN time
CAMP GROUNDS.
"reminiscences Of Camp Meetings I'M
medinteiy Following the Close
{ Of tho Civil War.
COMPULSORY CONVERSION DAY
Was the Sunday When Ministers and
Laymen Invaded Every Cot
Btage on the Grounds.

u " 81. . L.
Was the Sunday When Ministers and
iLaymen Invaded Every Cot
# iBtaee on the Grounds.
OLD CAMP GROUND" MOUNDS
WILLIE, Aug. 9.7--The camp meetings
following the close of the war were
very successful. from n spiritual stand
point, for, a number of years, or up to
the time when the stay here was lin
tied to ten days Those who came to
the ground TO tent. with very few ex-
ceptions; were$the old time Methodlsts,
many of them the "halIelujah" kind,
and when the meeting began the old
ship moved out with sail spread and
there were put forth great efforts by
preachers and people to induce sinners
TO take passage. The revival spirit was
way UP in the gauge when the meet
ing began. and It was no unusual oc-
currence for the members Of entire
families to be gathered into the fold.
When the meetings closed this relig-
ious feeling would be carried home and
over the entire district would follow
meetings, which resulted in large ac-
cessions to the churches. Like the SOL
diers from the battlefield, they returned
home. every flag bearing a wreath. ev.
cry soldier rencwn, and their happy
hearts full Of song.
| Those were the days when the
preachers were backed by laymen,
|mighty in prayer and works-James
Bags. Louis Hall. John Riggs, Alfred
Gaines, Alfred Tomlinson, Mr.. Dunn,
"A. Policy, Samuel Jones 10 camp meet
| Ing veteran). James and Joseph Bod
cry, Arthur Little. John Bailie and
many others that fail to recall. These
meetings were In charge OF the presd-
Ing elders of the Wheeling district.
and many will recall the meetings
Al in charge OF Rev. Franklin Ball. For
religious power, spirit and number Of
conversions, there has been none to
excel and few, II any, equals. No bet
ter general ever commanded the forces
on this field of battle than he. Always
on the alert. never allowing his meet
inss to drag, but up to the highest
gauge In enthusiasm, he led the people
!, Compulsory Conversion.
Some may recall the Tuesday morn
Ing ofithe national camp meeting when
Rev. Inskip stated at the $3.50 o'clock
prayer meeting that The camp was to
be taken that day for God. He instruct.
ed the preachers and laymen to go
from cottage to cottage and have
prayer service In every one. From the
large tent went forth the troops to bat
tie. At many of the cottages none
were found at home. When the news
was carried Of the order of the day
many cottages Wa: deserted. the oc-
cupants going to the woods and walk
ing about the encampment. 1t was un-
safe to visit your neighbor, for fear
of running into n prayer service.
I recall one instance where lady
was visiting some friends who had all
gone TO the meeting In the big tent.
fore their return, Rev. Mcdonald OF
the national association, obeying In
structon, struck this cottage first,
and. entering, said to the lady: Sis
ter. get down on your knees and let's
pray Down she got. and the preach
er prayed. the lady remarking after
wards that she was so frightened that
she scarcely realized that prayer was
being offered.
The young folks all took o walk to
the woods. returning about noon, when
It was considered safe.
i The result of this movement did not
reach the expectation OF the leaders.
as many of the cottage holders did not
take kindly to the wholesale invasion
OF their homes. and their spiritual ar
dor was somewhat dampened as the
result of It. There was probably more
criticism passed on the manner Of
conducting that mesting than OH any
held before or since.
Among the men composing the Ma
tonal Camp Meeting Association were
some intellectual giants. Eevs. 1nsklp.
Mcdonald and John Thompson. who
j for a number OF years conducted the
i camp meeting at Mountain Lake park.
\ were the men OF power. men who could
hold and sway an audience seemingly
at their pleasure While they were
strong in pulpit efforts they were equal
ly strong In altar and personal work
in the congregation. The Sunday OF
this meeting, the crowd In attendance
was estimated at 5000 people. Excur-
sion trains were run from Grafton.
GAINESVILLE and Little Washington.
| A Friend Of the Young.
The organization OF the present rs
ISOLATION occurred June &c, 1874, and n
certificate OF incorporation was granted
with the following as incorporators: D.
r. Bell. Joshua Lancaster. James Bod
ley. Franklin Ball. Samuel Jcpson.
Arthur Little, George Edwards, w. P.
Gibson. NJ. Dunn and John S. Riggs,
on July 10. 1874, signed by Thomas
Finn, clerk of the court at Moundsville.
or this number but three are now ilv-
ing-Georgc Edwards and NJ. Dunn, OF
Moundsvlle, and Joshua Lancaster, of