The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1919-09-11
THE OLD FASHIONED
CAMP MEETING
Former Weekly Sessions Now Held
in One Day

For over forty-four years camp
meetings have been held on the Meth
odist campground, a short distance
from North Anson village, and for
many years the weekly sessions held
in August were followed by temper
ance campmeetings on Saturday af-
ternoon and evening and all day
Sunday On the Saturday previous
to the weeks sessions, from all di-
rections might be seen teams coming
loaded with bedding, chairs, proVi-
sions and necessities for the week 5
camping. The cottages set around
the grounds were comfortable with
hunks and tables built in and among
the trees to the rear, at a safe dis
tanee from the cottage, a cook stove
was set and used by several families.
Community oneness and brotherly
love prevailed. Monday of camp
meeting week, team followed team in
the steady procession toward the
eampground. The entrance from the
road to the ground for years was al
ways muddy, but that did not mat
ter,-wthin the grounds were friends
and relatives grasping hands in hap
py greetings under Natures grand
CANOPY. The station of the Somerset
railroad was on the south side of the
Carrabassett river then. and every
train brought in quite a number who
had come for campmeeting. Cyrus
MoOre's two horse team and long COW
cred wagon with seats along the sides
made trips to and from the grounds
always carrying a load. There were
special trains run over the railroad
on Thursday and Friday, the two great
days of the week, when thousands
were on the grounds. 1t was esti-
mated that five thousand were there
on a certain Sunday when the tenn
peranCe campmeeting had John b.
Cough for a speaker. Campmeeting
John Allen was a happy familiar Zig
ure at the meetings and the know
ledge that this reverend gentleman
was to be there drew thither hosts OF
saints and sinners They all loved
him. In 1880, when he was eighty
FIVE years old, he testified here to hay
ing attended three hundred and two
campmeetings. J. y. & !. j. Smith
OF Skowhegan, then quite young men
took charge of the music, and every
body caught the uplifting spirit OF
song. Webb Gahan was one OF the
prominent figures near the organ ana
many of the older ones will remem
ber how his voice rang out, Hold
The Fort For ! Am Coming" There
was always the proyerbial campmeet-
ing rain. but it never dampened the
religious fervor OF the company. IL
il happened that a meeting at the
stand was caught in a shower, there
was a stampede for the larger tents
where the spiritual ardor continued
unabated The Arson tent and the
Skowhegan tent were the larger ones
and the singing always drew the
crowd until the tents overfloWed and
often the voices of brethren could be
heard given their testimonies OF God s
goodness and mercy, as they STOOD
outside the opening of the tent IN the
rain. There were always those VINO
came to laugh and sc0G who were
caught in the spirit of the revival and
fell on their knees in prayer. The
closing act of the weeks session was
the love feast at nine o'clock IN the
morning before going home. one
who had been there could never for
get it. when the little company drew
together at the altar and knelt for
Gods blessing, then the clasping or
hands and parting under another
year Gradually. there came ume
when the campmeetngs became
one-day session. as it was TINS year
There were splendid addresses by
great men on timely topics. Dr.
Dorian's theme was the labor problem
as connected with the cnurch ReV.
w. r. Pierce of WaterYiiie gave
powerful sermon.
The officers elected for the coming
years are as follows: President,
Perley Adams. Madison vice presi-
dent. George Weston, Norridgewock; ;
secretary. Chester V. Bailey of North
Anson: treasurer, G. w F. Merrill,
Madison. trustees, George Merrill Z.
L, Caswell. Walter McKenney, A. w.
Starbird. DR.. W. II. Kennison. Steps
were taken by the association for the
improyement of the grounds and
while there had been some talk OF
disseminating the meetings and SELL
ing the grounds there was strong
AGAINST II.