The Penn's Grove record., 1914-08-21
"REMINISCENCES Of CAMP MEETING DAYS


More Local History Worthy of Note
The article published July 81 on
"Reminiscences of Camp Meetln4
Days" at PENIS GROVE was SO well
thought of that it was republished III
the Philadelphia North American and
also commentetl upon Ivy the Woods
town Monitor Register. Brother Pat
terson said:
mo doubt Rev. William G.. Stockton
n Rev. William b. OsbQul, the latter
The founder of Ocean Grove, were
among the preachers, fOlS they were
great camp meeting workers. The
writer has a very distinct recollection
OF attending this camp meeting and
the crowds present. This must have
been alter the close of the Rebellion il
the middle CO.'S and we are Under the
Impression That Rev. Joseph b. Turpin
was then pastor of Emmanuef M. E.
Church and ministerlng also at Haines
Neck.''
Every town and township has its
local history, industrial, educational,
religious and sociological. In looking
backwards over forty and City years IL
Is interesting 10 note the changes. go
put them accurately OH record is inn
portant for the present as we'll as for
future generations.
There were woods meeting near
Penns Grove at different times during
the fore part of the past century, but
the first great camp meeting in the
memory OF our oldest member, w. ID.
T0rton, Was that held III Newell's
woods, i'll lS54.5 50 under the ministry OF
Rev. BarLhOiome Weed who resided at
P~ennsvllle. Emmanuel Church did
not have a resident pastor until 1860,
but was previously connected with
townsville. 1t was tie camp meeting
l:eld under Rev. b. Weed and Rev. IL.
B.Beagle, i'll 1854 81, that gave strength
to The Church TO be a separate charge.
Brother Patterson is incorrect i'll
stating that the great meetings at
which Rev. Alfred Goodman preached
were he'd under the ministry of Rev.
j. B. Turpin. Rev. Joseph Ashblook
was pastor in lo66-6o. No meetings
were held IN Newell's woods after
1865. Camp meetings were held in
Divers woods during the ministry of
Rev. j. II. Payran (IS77-79) and Rev.
j.. Is. Iurpln 1850 S2).f
Rev. w. Z. Stockton had a large
tent i'll which he led holiness meetings
III Divers woods. Rev. VIM. Osborn,
one OF the founders OF Ocean Grove.
preached al these meetings during
1866 3, when Rev. Alfred Goodman
found Penns Grove TO b. ''the very
vestibuie of Paradise
Tho mOGt fannNnC n,an WbO prpa0linU
at the camp meetings in The 50s and
Us was William Taylor, who after
wards became Bishop TO Africa. Ht
began his ministry a1a street preacher
IN California during the pioneer days OF
gold finding. Later he founded SELF
sustaining missions i'll Africa, India
and South America. Having a Won
derful observing and relentive mind he
wrote several books on his great works
IL the mission fields Where lie did mole
to spread the gospel Than any Othtr
man who ever lived since the days of
81. Paul. His books which he sold
wherever he went are OF great historic
| value and his "Model Preacher'' has
never been surpassed i'll its advice to
young minis ers.
Iu 1879 VIM. Taylor took four young
men with him from Pennington Semi
nary to be missions ries in India. One
of the men was VIM. H. Stephens, OF
Camden, q native of Penns Grove,
whose father lies buri,d i'll Emmanuel
Church yard. Mi. Step ems continu $
to live in India as a missionary.
Rev. Alfred Goodman wrote his wife
in 1866 that Pemns Grove WAS ''the
vestibuIe of Paradise" 1t WAS he
cause he had a keener discerning mind
and brought the spirit of heaven with
him. Some think diffelen ly now.
Many did then, undoubtedly. 1t is