Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-26
Indian Spring and the Holiness
camn MeetinQ

parbans there are many Of our read
ars who are familiar with Indian spring
and it's vicinity, but / take 1t Tor grant
ed there are a number who are not &C
ouainted with it's natural beauty anu
| Importance. Last Thursday L saw the
spring for the first time in my me- al
though I had been in Jackson and Butts
county many times. 1t was remarkable
for its medicinal properties when the
indians occupied all Georgia, and the
Indians were fond of camping around
medicinal springs.
Ny family are owners Of some springs
1 in Cherokee, Georgia, and when came
| young bride to this country nearly %
years ago the old residents that L got
acquainted with and who came here as
pioneer settlers (before the Indians
were removed by the government IRE
auentIy told me of how the Indians en-
| camped about the springs TO cure tnelr
4 ailments with the medicinal waters.
So they gathered around the spring
| in Butts county perhaps centuries ago.
| and as 1 stood near by the other uay,
| II was easy to imagine the delight OF
/ the Indians when they camped around
| this wonderful spring in Butts county,
Ga.
The spring itself is tiny affair as IT
I silently energies from the Immense
i boulder which ONeIIdheS It's ONNASNf 49,
i It would seem more than possible TO
drink 1t dry, but while there is only one
dipper full at a dipping there is always
dipper full to be had. Even when
| scores of people are waiting their turn
| dipper in hand all are given a drink
/ like the water, not that 1t Is icy
| cold In summer weather, but because IL
is clear and sparkling and not too
strong of sulphur. as some Of the medic
i inal springs are found to be.
1t is a most romantic place naturally,
at the bottom Of a ravtne' an old-fash-
toned mill with overshot wheel in plain
view.
The size of the hotel would indicate
the popularity of the spring II the con-
/ tinuous stream Of visitors made the
I question necessary.
But my time was mostly given to the
camp ground, the holiness camp meeting
| grounds.
| Having been accustomed to camp
meetings ever since / could remember,
there was nothing novel in the assem-
bling together, although the tents, so
called, are excellent one-story cottages,
mixed along with well built two-story
houses, containing a number of rooms,
and encircled with piazzas, above and
below stairs. This arrangement gives
the visitors assurance that they can
| defy stormy or prolonged wet wether In
case either should happen to come dur
| ing their meetings. and the upper YER
andas afford increased space when the
inside rooms are overcrowded. II Is not
| only a comfortable place to go to but
| the accommodations are superior to any
camp grounds that I am acquainted
with anywhere.
The auditorium is a large one, located
on the gentle slope of two hills. and af-
fording sitting room for thousands OF
people. 1t seems to be an easy-speak-
ing place, for the preacher is in full view
of every worshipper, and there is room
to crowd in additional hundreds when
the crowds are immense as they often
are.
But there are daily religious meetings
on the verandas of the homes, especially
lust before the evening service begins,
and there is strict compliance with rules
| in regard to everything allowed and dis
allowed on the grounds.
There is an abundance of excellent wa
ter piped int the grounds, with public
! comfort places for both sexes. When
the great Ocmulgee power dam is COM
pleted. but a few miles distant then
there will be an abundance or light IN
every part of the grounds.
The association has gone on, and on
for over 20 years, improving and extend
ing, until they have valuable real es-
tate which is held solely for the bene-
fit of those who go up to worship the
Living God at that place.
The selection of this camping place as
sures it's long continuance, because OF
its accessibility. Fifty miles distant
from Atlanta, and also from Macon,
with the Southern railway passing with
IN a short distance, there is solid COM
fort as to getting there and also getting
away.
A dummy line runs from Flovilla to
the spring, and it is taxed to its utmost
to move the incomers and outgoers'
When electric power reaches these
places then the transportation will be
vastly improved.
The meetings are going on nearly all
day and from $3.50 in the morning until
10 or IL at night There is magn11l-
cent singing and I heard some sermons
during my brief stay that were as fine
as / ever heard in the church OF the
metropolitan cities.
The camp meeting stands for the doc
trine of holiness, the Wesleyan doctrine
OF sanctification. There has been more
or less friction as to the use or the
terms and much MISUNDERSTANDING mas
grown out of the misuse of words IN
defining the second blessing But II
everybody felt as do there Would DC
an avoidance of friction and general
Willingness to abandon all creeds except
faith in Jesus Christ, and to meet there
for worship in a spirit OF loving kind
ness. for the sinner and saint both in
tent on reaching the saving power Of the
gospel in its depth and height and width
and full extent.
II there is saving power In the gospel
and God is willing to save to the utter
most there is no limit to the good gifts
which our Heavenly Father is willing
to give to His children who hunger and
thirst after righteousness.
have lived long time and been as
ISOLATED with religious meetings times
without mention and my experience goes
10 prove that those who enjoy most re-
uSion are those who put aside the hin
ORANGES and seek the main good or oene-
FIT without carping criticism or doctri-
nal Disbursements in the effort to save
souls.
There is excitement and shouting at
the mourners bench always. There
are some happenings that maybe jar on
those who are intent on more quiet and
orderly worship but there is always ex-
citement and shouting wnen great rescue
work is going on.
II a shipwreck is witnessed there is
loud shouting and intense feeling after