Year: 1874

4
The Opening Services-Descrtptton OF


tho Lake and It's surroundings-The
Grounds md the Residences-Prayer


and ProRt-Charaeter OF the Exercises.
| ROUND LAKE July Q, 1874


About dozen miles down the road leading from
Saratoga Springs and in one OF the most delgntIui
sections OF this part OF the State the little sheet Oh
water known as Round Lake Is situated. Here on
the shore OF this beautiful lake and AMID the
beauties with which nature has adorned 1t, have
! the Metnodists as in preceding years, pitcheoJ
their tents. and for the next two weeFs
will devote themselves to the praise
and service OF the Almighty No pAore
suitable more lovely spot could have been
chosen for camp meeting tnan this. Shady
! groves and rich meads hill and dale, all border
round the waters edge Yesterday was the first
! day OF the meeting, and the number who were
present at the opening service serves to indicate
! the success which will attend the gathering this
! year. Bishop James formally opened the religious
service with sermon to about 500 attentive and
| fervent hearers.


THE GROUNDS,


which are entered as soon as one passes from the
railroad depot, comprise about 300 acres extend
ing from the track down almost to the waters
edge. Through the thick grove, streets and ave-
nues running at right angles to each other, are





the cottages and tents Of the worshippers. As
nearly as could be ascertained there must be be-
tween 400 and 500 OF these permanent and tenn
porary residences. Many OF the cottages display
considerably beauty IN their construction and
freshness cleanliness and neatness Is everywhere
apparent The Remtngtons, OF Lion; the Pecks
and Hmans, OF Troy; w. L. Kelly, OF Albany;
Professor Wilson, the Rev. D. B. Ames and about
forty others have handsome cottages in the shady
grove, which skirt the slope leading to the quiet
waters OF the lake. These are the favored ones.
Side by side with these, however, stand the white
tents Of the less pretentious, who, leaving home
for the time, have also come to join voices and
socate their prayers in the open air with their
brethren.


THE RELIGIOUS SERVICES


commence At ten O'Clock in the morning, in the
afternoon at two. and In the evening at seven.
Prayer meeting before the stand follows, and it is
on these occasions that the religious fervor Of the
congregation becomes worked up to such an ex.
tent that in many cases 1t is painful to behold.
Is called, summons the brethren to hear the
once the services have commenced no moving
about or talking is permitted.


THE GRAND STAND,


cnnes the cemr nosun IN the
Around 1t cluster cottages and tents: 1t is taste.
fully decorated With eveIgreens, and fresh MOVERS
wise would appear too severely simple or bare.
From this stand, morning noon and evening.
them. There Is seating accommodation for nearly
1000 people, and 50 dense is the foliage
grove that during the hottest day there Is cool
ness to be found beneath Its generous and protect.
or 500 people bent their heads in prayer, and be-
fore the meeting draws to q close 1t is thought
not be room sufficient for those who win be pres
ent. In addition to the grand stand there is also
large tent, which win 'be used in case OF rainy
WHERE THEY COME FROM.


the great majority Of those who are here come
resented, however. Every train going north or
south and making stop here is laden with Me-
4h eoSrs snd
turning out Of a railroad car, carpet bag in hand
after the issnion Of the poor Immigrants as they
arrive at Castle Garden, sight 10 witness The old
Of his lfe the ather and mother Of the growing up
family of little ones. Young men who have not
seis Who would have no objection to be settled IN
! hfe, pass through the avenues OF the encampment
the Of the churches to which they belong
generally meet them with welcome smile and 2
a1 aad sraued at the ersstins a. and to pus many
Of ,hem no ,s doubt n., the week @ ,-or.. or two
your genuine country Methodist At prayer meet.
ing in camp wnen worked up to that extent that
toned TO such a scene he acts as If crazed. OF
summers day, with the thermome ter at 92 In the
! shade, IT fs much harder work than rowing in .
the conscience, however, and the physical strain
don't count, as you can build 1t up again on good


A CAMP MEETING RESTAURANT
| is by no means an Improvement on its city name
sake. They have one at Round Lake; 1t looks well
| enough from the outside and inside, for tnat mat
and the plates cleared away afterwards you have
only very faint recollection that you have eaten





! remarkably that 1t removes the recollection OF
your having dlned. friend who sat BY. me at
which which he ' mad Just taken had had made made so strong
an acquaintance with the spring water close
by that save in color, there was little resemblance
| to the most Of the lacteal fud he had taken.
1t would not require any very determined EFFORT Of
coffee were not made within the usual time OF
making such decoctions, and the pie served would
OF it's richness. And this 10 the country II this
is the general fare no wonder that nearly every
lett their iaces.so saiow and careworn looked the
majority OF them.


The grounds of Round Lake, as before stated,
are splenoidIy situated, and II Is not difficult to
see that in course OF little time neat, thriving
pied by the camp meeting. Perhaps tue shrewd
and thrifty managers had this IN their minds eye
sation with gentleman VINO appears posted,
Methodisis @ began holding their annual meetings
! the ground, | am informed, was purchased at
about $40 An acre. 1t Is now laid OUT cut up into
lots, twenty-five by hundred, and brings most
winch peep here and there through the trees en-
hance the value OF the grounds, and over forty OF
them have been erected during the past season.
The railroad company, believe, allows the asso-
citation o certain Hoety on each passenger stop.
ping at the grounds. and the restaurant pays
percentage on Its receipts. Apart from the great
good OF the camp meeting, relig1ously considered,
1t Will be that profit and prayer are not mimi
cal, and the interests OF both can be made TO run