Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-08-22
Friday. August %, 1902.
OUR CAMP MEETINGS.


promotion and continuance of thes
excellent institutions. The view
and suggestions we shall offer are
some of them, original, while Their
are others that we have gathered a
the sentiment of reputable men whC
are interested in the success of tn,
camp meetings.
First of all, we have laudable de-
sire to see a growth in religious in,
terest ard results of these meetings
To attain this it is not necessary tc
employ the services of some great
and expensive evangelist. The
Spirits manifestations oftentimes
appear through the instrumentality
of the humblest of Gods followers,
and still more frequently become
lasting under such incentives. 1t is
more due to an aroused spirit with
in the church than any other hu-
man agency that great and effective
revivals occur, and we would accen-
tnate this point by urging those who
are interested in the religious well
fare of the community and country
at large to attend these meetings,
and equally as urgently request
those who are inclined to go for any
other purpose to stay away. The
spirit of worldliness to greater or
less extent will creep into all religious
meetings, and it is frequently this
that is the barrier to successful reyi-
ivals-possibly more SO than any other
medium. If these two suggestions
would be acted upon and carried out
there is no calculating the boundless
good that would result The direc-
tors of our camp meetings should
have this purpose in view above all
others, and pray without ceasing that
these ends might be accomplished.
While dwelling upon the spiritual
side of the question we must not
lose sight of the temporal or phys
ical comfort of those who go to
make up the crowds at the camp.
Ample provision must be made for
man and beast. But this does not
necessarily imply or in any way war
rant transgression of the civil and
religious code. Our pulpits on all
sides teach that man must have six
days in which to prepare for the
seventh, and if he does not do so he
walks into distress with his ewes
open.
Ihe time has come for change in
the whole program of these meetings
that have been going on in the Nor
thern Neck for quarter of a CEN
fury or more. Conditions and en-
are constantly changing.
and the man or enterprise that does
not keep up with the procession must
lrop into innocuous desuetude and
De forgotten in the surroundings of
nyriads of its kind. There was
line in the slow days of old when
ur patient forefathers could sit in
ne sweltering heat hour by hour,
nd maybe day at a time, and
lsten to evangelical preaching. In
atience they possessed greater vir-
ne than we, but to the blood and
erves of system of generations ago
due the credit, for good inten-
ions are no less evident to-day than
hen. The demand that an attend
Mt at camp shall sit under the min
itration of six services day in the
heat of July or August is
20 much to expect of the human
natomy as constituted in this TWEEN.
eth century. A faithful few"
hose consciences are of the quick
liver order will do it and profess to
charmed with the order of things. =
he lukewarm Christian, who needs
'viving, will go when he feels like
, which is the same with the world !,
ng, though the latter soon begins T
stay away altogether. When SER Il
ces become tiresome all but the d
an who is supposed to be criter- el
n in Christian living will not feel Il
hesitancy IL getting up and NOV q
& out; and SO the long-winded p
eacher at a continuous-seryice "
mp soon finds himself speaking to :.
faithful few" thanked by empty -
inches. Common sense points to n,
rvices of moderate length and NJ
oderate number. 10 catch the
re you must put yourself in his us
tn; he is not going to chase after tn
ar devices. This may be homely WI
astration, but strikes MS as being 'e'
rtinent. ~
~. tn
The time has come for the man ;.
of services and the program of or,
ertalnment to be radically de