Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-08-12
MARVIN GROVE.

Sunshine and Showers Greet Metho
dists in their Annual Encamp
ment.
For more than a quarter of a cen
fury the Methodists of this section
have annually gathered for a ter
days religious feast and outing a.
lovely Marvin Grove-equi-distant
from Wheaton, Sharps and Coar
wharves-on the border line OF
Richmond and Northumberland
counties.
This year the ehcampment began
Friday, August 9Th, aud will close
on Monday morning next. SO far
the attendance surpasses that of last
year. More of the cottagesare occu.
pied, and on Sunday there was
approximately $500 people on the
grounds. The grounds have been
thoroughly renovated and several
Anticipated cottages removed under
the direction of Mr.. w. Y. Morgan,
the member of the committee who
bears most of the burden.
Rev. J. Il. Whitley, ID. d., presid-
ing-elder for this district, is in charge
of the religious part of the program,
aud he has been assisted by DIR. II.
h. Bennett, Rev. j. T. Mastin, Rev.
Frank Wells and the preachers Of
the Northern Neck, among whom
we saw: Revs. +. F. Garner, j. w.
Fizer, W. +. Davis. J. NJ. Anderson,
@. L. Thrift, Lee J. Crutchlield and
possibly others not now recalled.
The order of service has been
slightly changed. There is no early
morning prayers under the tabernacle,
but cottagers are requested to hold
morning worship in their tents.
From Q to 10 a. m. is prayer and
experience meeting; IL a. m. and s
p. m. preaching, and at 3 p. m. q
service styled symposium, a dis
cussing of various beneficial topics
by any who will engage in it. AT
this meeting a question box is opened
and the written questions answered
as best the pastors can. The preach
ers, one and all, are laboring zeal
ously and the meeting must result
in good.
The singing is very good, conduct
ed by Elliott Wallace, assisted by II,
A. Jet and an array of talent.
Misses Rock, Haynie and others take
turns at the instrument.
Miss Fannie Robinson, District
Secretary, is active in the Woman's
Missionary work and is interesting
the lady tenters.
Marvin Grove is famed for It's
good behavior, and the social feature
is of the highest order. The best
known of old faces have passed year
by year, until only few remain.
This year there were some of the
old-timers, in late years living at a
distance, who came to revive sweet
memories of the past. At the same
time there are many strange faces
who are making good impressions and
new acquaintance. Ladies and
children are largely in the ascend.
ancy as to numbers; there seems to
be dearth Of men.
The hotel, confectionery stands
aud liveries are, perhaps, SURPRISING
the usual in their service. The en-
iarged dining tent GO long tables)
of w. G.. Became is quite popular
resort. About every one oil the
grounds may be found vending their
way thither regularly morning, noon
and night. Capt. Lee Sanders, NJ.
(. Ficklin, j. b. Kirkham and
Archie Became preside over the vaIi-
Gus departments of the hotel. Eddie
Stakes, assisted by Frank Settle, is
conducting one confectionery stand,
while W. A. Bryant, with several
efficient assistants, manages the
other. II. b. Rroun, with full
corps of assistants. is looking we'll
after both liveries, and horses are
getting all that's coming to them.
Thus has passed half of the 9th
encampment of Marvin Grove, and
indications all point to still more
successful and enjoyable finish.