Smyrna times., 1901-07-31
RELIGION IN THE WOODS
IS BECOMING UNPOPULAR
ABANDONMENT OF CAMPMEETINGS CAUSES
TALK on THE PENINSULA.
Presiding Elder Baker Declares That the
Tendencies of the Meetings We're Toward
Simple, Worldly Sermons.

fFSsiulng EiOer bdker declares NAT the
Tendencies of the Meetings We're Toward
Simple, Worldly Sermons.
The abandonment of the big Meth
Odist campmeetings of Camden and
Concord on Dover district, which were
founded by the Philadelphia Metho-
dists early il the last century, when
this Peninsular garden was a part of
the Philadelphia Conference, has
created great STIR throughout this
section among both the churched and
the unchurched, the latter charging
that this was but the beginning of the
passing of the church.
But the principal line of argument
used by the uOn-church-goers in both
public and private attack is that the
magnetic and thoughtful ministers
have risen above campmeeting work,
and that they would much rather
ENJOY summer vacation elsewhere
than get down IN the straw with sin
ners and participate in a glorious revi-
val of religion as those which charac-
terized the campmeetings of twenty
years ago. The vacation ministers"
are also charged with encouraging the
separating of the membership. the
wealthy churchmen seeking handsome
edifces to themselves in the suburban
resident sections, while the poorer
flassess are left to shift for them
selves.
Rev. &. S. Baker, presiding elder of
the Dover district, who has 13O Metho-
dist churches under his direction.
gave out a strong interview IL rebut-
tal Of the theories with which the
Methodist church is being attacked.
''The abandonment of the big camp
meetings, says the presiding elder,
sis the result Of careful thought on
the part Of the Christian people of this
Peninsula, who have long seen the
tendencies Of these time-hOnored ms
tltntlons to become simply worldly
reunions, for show and vain-glory, the
one driving out the other spirit of graf
itude TO God and renewals of the
pledges Of lives to his service.
''Our strongest and most successful
ministers stand ready to-day, as they
have ever stood ready-God- fearing
men that they are-to give their time
and hardest labor, and to DENY them
selves OF their vacations the moment
the people who attend these camps
manifest the sllgntest desire to seek q
higher life at the feet of the giver of
every good and perfect gift. Yea.
they are anxious, as in years gone BY,
and there is not one Of them who
could not be secured this very dav to
sacrifice everything for the advance
Of Christ's kingdom.
But why the need of so MANY camp
meetings now? Twenty years ago.
about which time the campmeeting
spirit was probably at its height, when
religious workers from many miles
around centered their labors. There
were few churches then where 1 have
l3O to look after. These are only from
three to four miles apart, holding SER
vices from twice to three times on
Sunday and at least twice through the
week, keeping the religious workers
busy at home and doing a mighty
work for Christ and the church.
The Methodist church is alive and
doing its duty, but is determined not
to uphold worldly institutions within
its fold, and when the people of the
church abandon them, the managers
have nothing to do but to close up the
business. -
The remarkable movement among
the Methodists of this Peninsula bv
which they have raised in ninety davs.
S35, ,OOe to pay of an old debt on the
Wilmington Conference Academy. was
referred to as very vigorus and con-
v1ncing testimony that the church is
still here, doing her duty.
ppETTV auyN naD-u - u1x,-r