Evening journal., 1915-08-07

Brandywine Summit Camp 1865
Sitting in my room alone, my
thoughts turned to the Brandywine
Summit Camp of fifty years ago. Oh,
the sacred memories that come
crowding in as / look back over that
fifty years. stand solitary and alone
among those who were at that first
camp on this ground. when few
from Sloan Church held their first
camp as an experiment for one week.
which at that time, was the limit
On Sunday some folks from VII
mington came out 10 spend the day
having heard of the meeting. They
were asked TO Join the next year.
1867. They were told they might Sc
letc their own place on the grounds
to locate their church tent Grace
Asbury, ST. paul's Union. Scott and
Brandywine accepted the invitation
Asbury, Grace and Scott formed a
company and located on what is now
Asbury avenue; their large tent faced
the circle. There was a boarding tent
on the avenue with a lady from Bran
dywine in charge. Then up the main
with a boarding tent in back of it,.
Where now is Bethel avenue was
Bethel tent
AT that time no avenue was in
good shape, as there was no uni
, formity in placing the tents as many
of them were several feet out Of
line; then our tents were not en-
closed only sheets being used
for curtains II It was cold or damp,
comfort was hung up. Our stoves
we're outside and when il rained we
would pick them up and carry them
| inside; wood was used for fire. and
there was always plenty of smoke.
All the water used had 10 be carriei
/ from spring down the hill at the foot
of Asbury avenue. No pumps were OF
/ the grounds for several years When the
quarry was opened and after il hai
reached a certain depth our water wa
cut of. Something had to be done, 81
the pump back of St. paul's avenue WI
then put in. Others soon followed.
In those days we were not alway
safe and so we had a policeman nj night
Someone had to always be in the tent.
The lower element came I'M after nigh
service was over and took possession an
We had no protection nearer than Medic
That is why the morning prayer wa
held
And now a word about the old tenter
of long ago. Father tlancc preached IA
first sermon on Sunday morning until h
was ir his nineties Next Wesley Hanr
then the Hinksons, Wilson's, Johnsons
on the east side were Reese and Abba
Baldwin. Jacob Dcrickson; in Asbur,
were the Woods, Hawkins. Sharps NJ,
Canllcys, Pickles, Iaggarts. Foulkc,
Heislers; in st. Paurs were the rhatcl
ers. GUYS. james and Joseph Frame
Humphrey and Joseph Pyle, Magargal
Stidhams, Fred Simpson, Aldrichs, Phi
lips, Rilc Crouch. Bright Iehley, Mo
rows and many others that mig
name. Az those'have gone mp to Teee'
I their crowns.
ST. Paul's cook tent was where Il
tables now are, and ore table, without
cover. extended from the cook tent
the large tree just beyond my ten
When it rained onr dishes were put c
the bonch in the large tent and we %
down on the straw TO eat II NEAR
work for our boarding mistress, all Il
I iNthiN hitNE ftiiNU lNt lNii linEiN
the avenue. My tent is the only OF
that has not been moved it being iu'
where father put it 40 wears ago al
the only one left of those. not havir
missed a camp in these ~ years.
have seen some wonderful meeting
on the grounds, sometimes meeting
every large tent at the same time. =
there We're no protection to the altar
the preachers stands were enclosed q
three sides. leaving Just room enough fc
six preachers. A small canvas. litt
more than a sheet in size. with two .
the corners tied 10 the stand, and wit
the other two tied TO two trees, serve
as p protection. We either took ou
choirs or else we sat down in the straw
In those days the meetings commence
with the morning prayer at 6 o'cloc'
and did not close until the evening SCI
vices. At S O'Clock an experience meei
ing was held followed by the preachiu
service. with prayer meetings all throug
the noon hour. Many times have | see
the altar crowded.
I remember one meeting in rs tina
began in St Pauls tent at s o'clocl
in the morning and did not close un
til the next morning II was a rain,
day and night and a time never 10 b.