Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-05

w ntli a. ntW tDib'i ffN IL eAi'y NAst'
Summit Camp Meeting remarks on
the height Of the trees and the beauty
OF the grounds. An "oid timer" is apt
TO remark "'rhe tallest trees have
all blown down. But camp In more
comfortable now than when I first
came out here"
Going TO camp was a great event
forty years ago. For days in advance.
the housewife prepared the furniture
that she was TO bring. Numbered the
family supply Of garments for the
camp season. and made sure that she
had sufficient sheets for all purposes.
Shortly before camp opened. a NOV
ing wagon drew up before the door
and tho furniture was loaded on.
Sometimes the family rode perched
on the moving and jolted over the nine
miles OF road to camp. a trip 10 and
from tho camp was n good days work
for a horse. they will tell you, and
after you hear the description Of the
rocky hill roads you will believe II.
Sometimes the families rode in a
hack with wooden seats running along
the sides Carpet was spread on the
| boards to mako them soft. Conversa-
| ton languished along the way. for the
rafting Of tho wheels over the stones
| drowned all other sounds and sud
den jolt was apt to make one bite a
| loquacious tongue.
When the journey was over, the
work began. The time about which
most campers grow garrulous was the
transition period between the canva.
tents that leaked during the famous
Beaver Valley thunder storms anc
the electric lighted modern bunga
lovs Of today. An empty one room
| wooden tent awaited the campers.
must be swept and cleaned to ge
rid Of the nut shells carried in b,
squirrels during the winter. Eaci
tent had at least one bunk built int
the wall Ticking was dragged t,
the large tent where meetings wer
held and there filed with clean straw
The walls and ceiling were lined witt
neat white sheets and a partitioninl
sheet divided the tent into two rooms
Camp stools were unfolded and tn
family was ready for the week 0
ten days Of service.
Meal time then brought no unwel
come suggestion Of preparing food 0
washing dishes. All families livin
on the main avenues or the circl
were required to eat at the boardin
table. Down the middle of st. Paul
avenue, where the fern beds nov
stand. stretched a long table sheltere
by an awning. At the outer end {
, Asbury avenue was spread a tab
for Grace, Scott. and Asbury. Cnio
and Sloan also had boarding table
; When the bell for meals sounded, II
tables were crowded while an ol
sequious colored waiter offered h
corn and other delicacies. Before Il
call to dinner. hungry children ar
young folks used TO gather. and u
older campers recall how as a. ted
= Gus preacher rambled slowly towai
and finally brethren" not only Il
- young folks fdgeted on their can
l. stools but even the pillars OF u
l. church melted away from their tents.
!. be discovered later. the first ones
the table.
Camp meeting IN those days Ia
the emphasis on the meeting. In Il
earlier days morning prayer was he
at $50, but that service was chang:
to later in the day. Three preachir
services. evening prayers. and chi
dren's meeting left little idle time. tt
regular campers carried their can
chairs with them and had front sea
! in the straw. The transient visito
sat in the rear on hard wooden bencl
es. innocent OF back rests or even Il
softening strip of carpet. Powerf
sermons were preached by visitir
ministers and many people were CO
verted in the old fashioned Methodi
way. Even the serious meetings we
not devoid of incidents which see
humorous after intervening veal
Sometimes on the opening day,
young lady was TOO vigorous in sc
ting her camp stool in the straw al
stirred up nest of yellow jackets.
During the meeting only one adj
was allowed to remain in the dwellil
- tent. Children had 70 play quietly b
hind the tents or be scolded for di
tCrbing the meetings. Young fol
we're severely reprimanded for ste;
ing away for walks in the countl
''Beulah Land" was a favorlte resC
for lovers. Whether it got its pio
name because It seemed like a for
taste OF paradise to the lovers or frc
the line in the then new hymn
view the shining glory shore" is r
known but at any rate the landsca
that may still be seen from that +
top. especially at sunset. is worthy
any exalting name. Games aSd spol
were frowned on for anyone except I
very young. Wading in the brook