The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-07-20
VAST SUMMER VACATION SCHEME
SHAPING UP IN THE MOUNTAINS
All The influences Working In That Decto-Everv Square Mile I'M
mesey Valuable FOR Picturesque Beauty, Rejuverang Gil
mate and Outdoor Charm

means that you can go to Montreal,
take your family, send your family
alone, and you know that all is safe.
IL means not only you, but all the
world. 1t means these Presbyterians
nave built summer resort which en-
joys one advantage that only a few
other resorts share with 1.-THE whole
world is able to figure that it can go
TO Montreal and not be met on any
side by anything that is objectionable.
Therefore Montreal is blazing
trail from all parts Of the country to-
ward the North Carolina mountains
and making every Presbyterian in
f1ucnce an advertising agent and eX-
hOrter for the land of the Sky. I am
not booming Montreal. 1t really does
not need it. l am trying to show you
that Montreal has become automati-
cally vast publicity bureau for this
part of the State, and the results are
beginning to be seen.
The Congregationalists were the
founders of Montreal. They surren-
dered it to the Presbyterians, who
will never surrender it to any one.
The MethOdists have established a
settlement over about Waynesville,
and no doubt they will bring that sec
ton of the mountains into about the
same prominence that the Presbyteri-
ans are doing here. The effect is the
| same. Any step forward made by
| the Preshyterians here is a suggestion
to the Methodists at Waynesville, and
| anything they do there is quickly seen
by the Presbyterians here. The
| friendly rivalry is wholesome, for il
is rivalry for good.
Efforts have been made to establish,
| the Episcopalians, the Catholics and
! the Jews at some point in the vicinity
of Black Mountain. The Baptists
are giving an account of themselves
at Ridge Crest, and the Southern
Baptist Assembly, with its hotel ant
cottages is beginning to command the
attention Of it's church people anc
their friends. This is another force
that is turning visitors to the noun
tains from all sections. Ridge Cres
is two or three miles from Blaci
Mountain station, about the same
distance as Montreal is to the north
} and with a good road and excellen
, facilities for getting back and forth
Brother John D. Rockefeller, who i
! | q substantial Baptist, is said to hav
opened his pocket book in the aid 0
, Ridge Crest and it is going forward
Blue Ridge Association.
; Looking down from the mountain
l above Montreal a large building t
the westward of Ridge Crest is oh
! served, and the wise man who ans
) wers the questions says it is tn
Robert f. Lee hall Of the Y. M. c.
: This organization has eStablishe
' around the Lee hall the Y. M. G.
: Blue Ridge Association, a branch o
: the National Association Of the Unite
e States. and here big pilgrimages c
. young men and women gather a
4 specified times and hold the import
t ant conferences of the society. Ao
a commOdations are to be had for SO
: tc 600 people. and the boys cor
t ference, the girls conference, the mis-
8 siOnary conference, ETC., fill every
; thing. Tents and cottages are goin
: up, and amusement facilities lik
f tennis courts, swimming pool, an
|. such things are provided.
e It is likely that the Y. M. c. I
: will make of the Blue Ridge assembl
: ground a summer camp that will be
e come prominent among the religion
y summer resorts of the United State
h for the location is ideal, and alread
e the place is very we'll established
e Rapid growth from now on seems a:
e sured. On the summit of Mt. Mltche
# is a cairn of stones with a tall sla
h of mountain rock standing from tT
d tcenter of the pile. On the slab
j. cut in rude letters "Y. NJ. c. A
n Pilgrimages to the summit are mae
n by the visiting delegations, and 1t
e the intention to put sultab
it monument on the top Of the pea
v before long, thus placing on tt
H. highest pinnacle for two thousan
miles the badge of this useful org;
Is nization. Occasionally the pilgrim
,r who go in bodies to the mountain to
e camp there over night, sleeping
n the open air in their blankets, ar
le they come away no worse Tor the e
It perience and full of enthusiasm ov