Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-07-14
BETHESDA

BETHESDA, Ohio, July l3.-te" res
ideuts of this section require an intro
auctIon TO Epwortn Park, Bethesda
nretty outing ground. II 10 any one IL
seems a stranger 1t Is to the old reader
OF the Register, whose happy excursion
DAYS are past and who recalls bethesda
as he knew 1t years ago. linen tnis
growing little business centre was
struggling village OF implanted houses,
and what is now the park was the camp
meeting grounds so popular with the
whole country side. He pictures TO
himself the hot Sundays he spent there
with his family and some friends who
went out TO listen to the preaching-lf
Il happened to be good-but more espec-
tally to rest and enjoy the shade while
they watched the motley crowd which
always made Sunday the big day OF
this occasion. Early in the morning the
wagons began coming in from the coun-
try, the farmer determined that he and
his folks should get the worth OF the
ten cent admission which the good nat
ured gate keeper demanded, as well as
the full enjoyment of the day. Perehed
high on the spring seat of the wagon
he and his wife sat radiant in all their
Sunday fnery, while at their feet and
slowed in behind were the children and
the dinner baskets, the former intent
on making the most OF the holiday they
had worked hard all week to earn. and
the latter bristling with bottles of milk
and cold tea and weighed down with
substantial picnic fare. Filling into the
fast growing procession came sun
Drowned country beaux on horseback,
, often accompanied by their sisters or
sweethearts, each one ready for race
with anyone so inclined.
BY 3 o'clock the excursion train came
In and the dust became almost impene-
trable and came up In great clowds half
smothering the crowds of people who,
giving no heed to the ruin which threat
ened their best clothes. pushed on into
the grounds and paused in delight be-
fore the red lemonade stand and peanut
counter. Regaled by these innocent re-
| freshments they soon turned toward the
circle OF board and canvas tents where
a few families spent the week the meet
| ings we've In session. Here a covered
platform was built and partially sur
rounded by rough board seats resting
on stumps OF trees. stones and anything
that promised a support-the bare
ground covered with straw, which did
service OF prayer rug. On these hard
boards, minus back or foot rest, the au-
| dience sat and listened to gospel teach
\ ings ardent and soul stirring, inter-
| rupted frequently by the falling of an
overloaded seat or the crying of tired
| baby. Night meeting and long ride
home concluded the big day of camp
meeting TO be remembered until the
next year.
These meetings were held yearly from
| 1872 TO 1890, when the attendance hav-
ing grown smaller and the outlook indi-
eating an early abandonment of that
form OF religious worship, it was de
cided about 1890 by. the trustees of the
! grounds and those interested to widen
the scope of entertainment In 1891 the
first auditorium was erected and a hotel
followed in 1892. In July of 1891 the
/ first Epworth Assembly was held. with
Revs. Mills, Lane, Manchester and Hal
! lett acting as programme committee.
Since then the excellence of the assem-
| bly, entertainments has Increased with
! the years until the names of the best
talent the day affords are found on its
programmes. In the large, comfortably
seated auditorium sermons by noted
and readings by men and women of
widespread prominece, while concerts,
vocal and instrumental, vie with each
other and aid in compromising a menu
OF entertainment suited to all tastes and
moods. The improvements in the
grounds are equally marked and few
4 summer resorts are prettier and more
| inviting than Epworth Park. To Supt.
7 \ lot, lob srlu t, NH
] siveness and executive ability SO much
| OF the success OF the assembly is due,
! the tired business man and WARY brain
| worker owes deserved thanks for the
rustic beauty and wholesome restfulness
OF these grounds. At every turn the
visitor finds some woodland beauty ar
, ranged and trained by an understanding
hand, evincing a retaliation of the fact
| that in preserving the natural advant-
ages OF the place lies its charm Banks
of fern cluster round the lake upon
which pleasure boats float. wild fow-
ers and veins trail from cleverly devils
ed vindGw gardens and well hung bas-
kets, while comfortable seats are scat
/ tered about under the shade of the old
! forest trees. Many Improvements have
been made this year A number OF new
/ NOAtdttS nave DtfH 10 the lutte
village where families from all the
neighboring towns and cities spend the
heated season most delightfully."- The
auditorium has been enlarged and other
changes made inducing an outlay OF
about $500. The cottages are being
| filled by the summer occupants and i'm
provised entertainments. hay-rides and
berrying parties are being planned and
soon all will be gaiety at Epworih
Park.
Mrs. ". c. Downey. OF Washington.
| d. c.. who is occupying her summer
| cottage at Epworth Park returned
Thursday from visit to eiends at st.
Mary's.
A board meeting OF the Park trustees
was held Thursday al which final ar
rangements for the coming season we're
completed.
Mrs. Robb. of New Cumberland. and
her daughters. Miss Ola Robb and Mrs.
David Gregory. OF Wellsville. visited
relatives In Bethesda this week.
Miss Edna Judkins and Miss Reed OF
GAINESVILLE. were az the Park this week
preparatory to their return for assem-
bly, season.
| The family OF James Tallman. of
Bellaire. visited Park friends last week.
Miss Mary n I0nes rauular .aaah