The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1901-07-01
TURNER
CAMP
MEETING
An Observer Talks About
the Old Times Up There.
Thinks the Rain, Suppression
of AmuSementS and Public
Sentiment the Cause.

TURNER, June 2S,--Campmeeting has
nearly dried up with the wet. 1t was
like new mown hay, spoiled by the
rain.
Ten years ago there were campmeet-
tings. People came from far and near,
and there were crowds of "glad -to-see'
you" people. Everybody came and
met everybody, and smiles, and hand
shakes and cordiality was in order.
Trading booths were on hand, the
merry-go round was off to one eide but
within easy reach, and people enjoyed
the go.abroad.
For the fact remains that the religious
services is but a diminitive factor in
bringing people out to camp.meeting,
the vast majority came for the annual
meeting, and the enjoyable time they can
get out it.
And why not2 Why sho"ld the road
that leads the way to Heaven be all one
sterile stretch of thirsty sand. Why
should not here and there along be
given green trees and flowers to deck
the dreary land2
Anyway the people demand these
things or they wont come. And II 1t
is any object to "entlce sinners to
repentance" it behooves the campmeet.
ting managers to take some thought OF
the wherewith to entice them. And
though they furnish good music and
eloquent speakers, and set good
restaurant table, yet the way TO all
peoples hearts are pot through their
stomachs, and they want something else
besides the gospel, and good things to
eat.
So, as the outside enticements have
gone glimmering, the crowd has followed
suit, until the campmeeting is become
but a ghostly skeleton of its former self,
For however sinful the managers before
said may regard amunements, "The
people" refuse to coincide with their
view and the time of driving "souls 10
Christ" s long since past: whether
campmeeting managers recgnize the fact
or not.
Anyway the campmeetings are
gradually dwindling in attendance, and
It bids fair to peter out entirely. And
it the unimportant opinion OF this
reporter, that less repelling austerity,
and more show of sociability, would
back the "last sheep" into the "fold"
again. People don't fear the Devil, nor
banker after after Heaven near as much
as they used to DO. They are out grow.
ing all that.
This is written in all good feeling, but
the campeemting folks don't have 10
pay any egard TO il II they don't want
TO. 1t is their funeral. And this writer
in not mourner. He is only we'll
wishing attendant.
Another "bone Of contention" and
factor of dissatisfaction 10 10 cents charged
at the gate on Sundays: when thecrowd
comes. The kickers say, "gives too much
OF commercial aspect"
We: Do they expect a campmeeting
TO be run on mindP The Commercial
aspects" and revenue condition Is
inseparable from the running Of any |
institution whatever. People have to
live, and expenses cannot we'll ba paid |
where everything is closed up but the
preacher's mouth aud ten cents 10 "A
mighty small sum TO make an unearthly
howl about and II by diyesting the camp.
meeting of "commercial aspect" 1t is
also diyested of the crowd, stagnation
follows and it is doubtful il the restaur-
ant, candy and sc la stand literature
stand ,etc on 'the iuside, has less OF the
Commercial aspect than those on the
outside. Doubtless the rainy weather
has been a cause of nonattendance this
year and in some other years. But the
diminuition has been constant, rain or
no rain. This writer has b EN- in posi-
ton to observe, and it is no guess work.
From some cause the Turner campmeet,
ing is becoming 'small by degrees and
beautifully less