Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-08-11
MARVIN GROVE CAMP.
Twenty-eighth Year of This
PioneerMethodist Resort now
at its Height.

The old eompaigners that have been
coming TO Marvin Grove for quarter
OF century or more, and spreading their
tents before their Lord, have never seen
the hallOwed spot more beautiful than
today. Nature endowed this secluded
and primitive spot beyond the neighbor-
ing plains and forests. Man has added
artistic and artificial touches that but
enhance the charms nature first bestowed.
The horseshoe circle of cottages. with
lateral avenues and their rows of cot
tages, seem extra spank and clean this
year, for the committee had in time
melted the owners to cleanse, embellish
and repair, and such cottages as were in
ciined TO decay have been removed and in
their places are pretty plats of green
sward. More than a hundred cottages
remain, and three-fourths of these are oc-
eupied during the week-on Sunday there
being but half a dozen that were not
tenanted. The trees had been robbed of
any doty branches and the grass well
swept. So that in all, the appearance of
the grove was never SO pretty. This has
STRUCK every eye and mind that has been
mere before and now revealing in it this
nth year OF new century.
SO much for the physical appearance of
dear old Marvin Grove in its 2Sth animal
eneampment. AS this is being written
strains oil old Methodist songs are aris-
ing from the experience meeting under
the tabernacle, and those old anchors of
faith and gibraltars of creed seem never
TO have been more lusty ormore spiritual
IN the expressions. The Corners here early
got into the spirit of the meeting, and by
Monday night the church had been
wrought up to the purpose for which
GODS children have assembled. and n
number not identified with His kingdom
have asked to be pointed the way of life
That consecrated man of God. DIR. H
johnson, who is preacher, presiding
eiderand general manager of the spiritual
end oil the meeting, is pleading in persua.
sive tones and with spiritual fervor
and love as it has not been the fortune of
these people to hear for some wears. He
is ably seconded by Rev. G. H. Spooner,
OF Richmond, not unknown to the people
OF Marvin Grove and the Northern Neck
whose original and catchy manner is
driving sledge hammer blows into the
ice-hoes that DIR. Johnson's gentle and
warm demeanor has cracked open. A
goodly company Of the ministers from
surrounding charges are aiding in the
work. Among these are Rev. f. +. Gar
ner, j. S. Wallace, W. ]. Williams. WE.
Davis, j. NJ. Anderson, Porter Hardy. !.
w. Fizer and L. l.. Pearman. Sunday
DIR. &. w. Beale, OF the Baptist church.
was on the stand and delivered an effec-
tive prayer.
Members ofthe committee-Rev. w. w.
Walker, Hon. C. II. Walker, W. Y. Nor
gan and I. Augustus Jett-are. or have
been, here, and untiring in their labors in
behalf OF the work. The committee and
preachers are doing their part. Are the
tenters and visitors doing as much as
they might or should towards the perpet-
uation OF the sacred spot from whose
shelters have gone thousands OF renewed
souls, and which has bedecked Heavens
arches with hundreds of iewelsP I'm n
temporal sense we are persuaded to
answer No. Year by year expenses for
the maintenance of the camp increase
ana year by year the contributions
dwindle. This should not be. A few men
nave to give more than they are really
able to keep the good work going"
The concessions pay little return to the
managers or the committee. Ii is an
acknowledged fact that guests get far
more toward their comfort-to say moth |
ing OF Tree spiritual grace-than the small |
pittance they part with as decomposition. |
SO, without the committees knowledge
or consent the VIRGINIA CITIZEN urges |
those attending to enlarge upon their
contributions and not cause the mama
gers to face n deficit this year. The
more hearty the support, the greater the
comforts provided. To get preachers
from distance means a heavy expense.
Tor they cannot travel for nothing and
board themselves" There has never
been but one Independently rich man
interchangeable Schoolheld. Gods faith
ful servants must be rewarded; the
laboreris worthy OF his hire.
New songs of the Gospel, No. 2"
within the reach of all for 10 cents
is the excellent book used by the
choir. Elliott Wallace leads the sing
ing and he has the best choir
that has been there for some time. So
say MIR. Wallace and DR.. johnson. Ger
tainly the local talent has rallied to the
work in admirable manner, and the way
thesongs jostle the leaves puts a quietus
upon the katy-dids-at any rate during
The daytime The congregation has
allen In with the spirit of song, and Mr..
"ailace's end OF the work is no small
actor in the success of the sweet meeting
hat is in progress. /,
we cannot pass from the physical con-
Initions here without adding that cool
Weather, with refreshing showers or
'wo Monday and Tuesday, the songs of
he birds in the grove and surrounding
crest and the pure and delicate zephyrs
lave 80 far added untold charm and
omtorts to the whilom denizens of this !.
rove. The harsh, discordant twitter of !;
hat ''noisome pestilence," the English !.
parrow, is nowhere to be heard, and in
ne places that he will desecrate in the
lture are yet to be found the knocking
ard, thrush, pee-wee, tomtit, wren and
title ground-sparrow, each calling to his
ind and uttering mellifiuous MARBLES to =
is Maker.
but AMID the serene peace and pent-up Z
~ there comes ever and anon a shadow
sadness. Some tents are vacant o
theirs have new occupants; some faces q
re gone, and some names are uttered in "
lbdued tones lest the spirits that one Il
els are lowering about the hal,owed v
Dot should startle at mans harsh sound o