Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1910-08-12
MARVIN GROVE CAMP.

"shNVtis OMVVL S1WT.
Speak of going to camp, to the un-
initiated. or almost anybody outside of
this section of Tidewater, and they won
der what charms can be found for ten
days in ''tenting" at such places. Those
that have never seen or tried it are
hardly expected to know. "Tenting, 4"
too, is misnomer; for hundred tasty
and tidy cottages. permanently built,
for the most part encircling a spacious
tabernacle in one of the prettiest hard
wood groves nature ever produced. on
what apparently appears to be a level
plateau but which in reality is the
backbone" of the ridge dividing the
slopes to the Rappahannock river on
one side and the Potomac on the other
a veritable watershed, so much so that
the rains from one side of the taberna-
Gle find their way quickly to the Poto-
mac and from the other side to the
Rappahannock - this can hardly be called
tenting in the general acceptation of
the word. So, right here and now, we
move that-fOr Marvin Grove and the
other two beautiful camps-the word
tent" be dispensed with and the
proper name of cottage" applied to
the comedy and cosy little domiciles.
We can't say ''cottaging", but we
might say ''summering', or season
ing"-the latter strikes us as good, for
do not the saints that gather there
come out seasoned and sound i'm the
gospel of their Lord and Master? And
do not the fresh young 'uns get dressed
down and seasoned up, taking off the
rough edges and leaving them with a
sublimer polish? Funning aside, we of
the Northern Neck want the rest of
the world to know that Marvin. Kirk
land and Wharton Groves are in no sense
''bush meetings, as outsiders and the
unregenerate view them.
For the thirty-third time old Marvin
Grove, on the border of Richmond and
Northumberland counties, is in the
midst of refreshing spiritual showers.
And the rain-god and sun-god have
both been generous, intermingling their
gifts freely and OPPORTUNITY, while the
zephyrs have coursed through the forest
as gentle touches upon .Eolian harps.
A week ago today cavalcades began the
tour towards this Mecca from all points
of the compass. On Sunday about
$500 people were on the grounds. and
Monday night thousand were occupy
ing cottages, for the most part to re-
main a week.
The preaching is of an exceptionally
high order, Rev. Thos. c. Reeves, the
successor of DR.. Cannon as principal of
Blackstone Female Institute. and Rev.
Frank Wells, of Ashland, having this
burden upon them. They are encour-
aged by large attendance and most
beautiful order, and fanked by the
preachers of the Neck. OF the lat
ter seen there are Revs. Ware. Will
liams, Hosier, Crutchfeld, Hudson.
Forester. Garland Unruh, Cuthriell
and Starke Jett. Presiding elder w. G..
Boggs presides over all with a genius
and dignity befitting his intellect and
station. He has the management well
in hand, and, with the active camp
committee, maintains an even schedule
for the spiritual work and commands
the best of behavior. AS to a hand in
the latter We should not forget Christie
pher Mozingo and his assistants. Mr..
Mozingo is the general utility man of
the camp, it being under his watchful
care the year around.
The singing is good-both by choir
and congregation. Prof. C. w. Wright.
OF Fredericksburg, is the leader. and
he has won the hearts of all. There
are various organists, but the chief
work is done by Miss Marsh, of Reed
vile. Miss Fannie Robinson is in her
happy element, and leading the chill
dren's meetings. Speaking of children.
few meetings here have ever seen as
many bright young faces and voices.
The inner-man is not neglected.
Some one remarked that the Lord and
Andrew Jones had saved the dear old
camp from the forest fires, and now
Billy Beane is keeping it up. In
large sense this is true. Beane's Hotel
is better equipped and his table better
supplied than ever beforehand this is
saying a good deal. The confectionery
stands of Bryant and Pierce & Daven-
port are also an attraction for epicures,
smokers and children. Both horse-lots
are open, and conducted by Howard
Straughan and assistants.
The meeting is on, and will not close
till Monday morning next. Much good
has been achieved and still more is
expected.