The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-24
Revival of
Freak Religions:

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lion wna continued for hours and nt
tie end tho noor was covered With tho
sInin," Their cries for mercy were ter
tlblp 10 hear, Some found forgiveness
but many went away spiritually
wounded" and suffering unauffernble
agony of soul.
This wns the beginning OF a revival
lhnt nan no equni IN the history ~ tie
country. The excitement spranl like
n prairie fire throughout tn" State.
Men fitted their wagons with beds and
provisions, and travelled ffty miles to
camp upon the ground and hehr the
magnetic preacher speak. Other camp"
meetings were established liiatorl-
ans Of this period say that neither dis
tnncr, lack of houses, nor scarcity Of
food nor daily occupations. prevailed
to keep the people away. Families
Of every Protestant denomination hur-
fied to the camp ground leaving crops
half gathered, every kind Of work un-
done. Cabins were deserted and IN
solne large settlements not single
remained.
Camps In the Forest
The camp meeting was always held
In the forest near come church. a
ruic stage was erected NJ the end Of II
clearing aud around /, the stumps and
fallen treca were utilized aH beuehes
for the auditors. Abou, The clearing
tents and wagons were arrhyod IN
rows ilk" sirccts The praying preach
ing, and cxhorting would sometimes
last for seven days. mud would be pro-
longca every iny far into tho night
Men, women and children took part
nv oxhor,era. The OLD records toll NJ
n lilt6r Hiii ~! N|fEH "H' WV bP't W."
shoulder ~ man ana preached 10 the
multitude until she sank eahantcd on
the benrer's mead II ia related that
at Indian Creek IL hoy Of twelve mount
al stump ana cxhorted until hs
grew weak, ,hereupon two men sup
ported him, and he continued hiH
preaching until further speech waH
Impossible. Scores of sinners" fell
PROSTATE before him.
II was at these meetings that the
falling exercise" the Jerks and The
aoly laugh had their origins and be-
came part Of the religious worsaip Of
the time, persistlng In isolated local
ltins down 10 the present day ana
breaking out with fresh vigor In the
new wave Of revivalism, The failing
exercise IN thus described by McMns-
ter from Investigations Of the orisi-
nal documents.
"At no time was the falling exer.
cises' az prevalent az at night Moth"
Ing was then wanting that could strike
terror into minds weak. harassea ana
ttmld. Tnc red glare OF the camp fire
reflected from hundreds If tents and
wagons, tho Icuse blacknes or the
nlckrrlug ahadows. the darkness OF
the surrounding forests made stlll
more terrible by the Eroans ana
screams Of the spiritually wounded,
who had fled to II for comfort the en-
treaty Of the preachers, the sohs and
shrieks Of the downcast still walking
through the valley of the shadow oI
death, the shouts and songs OF praise
from the happy ones who had crossed
the Delectable Mountains, had gone
through the Fogs nf the Enchanted
Ground, and entered the Land of Beu'
lah, were too much for those over
whose minds and bodies lively imng'
nation held sway The heart swelled
thenerves gave way, the hands and feet
grew cold. and motIonless and speech
less thcy fell headlong to the ground
Fell by Thousands.
This was the failing exercise" anc
in a moment crowds would gather
around them. praying and shouting
Some lay still as death; others passed
face and limbs. At one camp meeting
SO many fell that, lest the multitude
should tread upon them, they were Ia
kken to the church and laid In rows
| At another campmeeting 1t IL record
| cd that 3, 900 people had the railing
exercise" at the same time Some
beat the floor with their heels; some
shrieking with agony, bounded ahou'
like live fish out of water Many
rolled over and over for hours at
time, Others recovering would sprint
wildly to their feet, jump over stump'