Year: 1877

The Summer Camp-Meetings.


With July began the monster camp.
meetings which will probably increase in
numbers, if not in fervor of spirit, during
this month. Every thoughtful man,
whether a church or not, feels it
TO be Il dangerous experiment to question
publicly any well-meant effort for the
world. Criticism of churches and church
work, while it may reform those inside of
the church-doors, usually drives outsiders
further from them, and adds strength to
the blatant popular clamor against the
clergy. But even at the risk of this we
must urgently suggest that more care be
observed in the conduct of these mammoth
religious gatherings this season than was
done last Summer, if it is not wished that
the evil accomplished by them shall very
nearly counterbalance the good.


The object of these meetings is sound
and rational. 1t is right for people to 90
out of the city in Summer, it is right for
rhem to associate together on holidays; and
it is undoubtedly right for earnest Chris
tians to make this occasion II season of
prayer and praise and of effort for the con-
version of sinners, as we'll as of social enjoy
ment. We have nothing but commenda-
tion to give to this phase of the meetings
When the Master would teach the highest
truths He led the multtudcs out close to
Nature, to the fields and mountains.
Neither have We any intention of holding
the leaders of these meeting responsible
for the disorder, drunkenness or any other
evil practice to be found among the crowds
that flock to them. Wherever there is a
popular place of meeting there is an attrac-
ton for whiskey dealers, tramp, and every
other class who prey upon human weak
nesses or vice, and it does not matter to
them whether the object be horse-racing or
prayer. The police and other restrictive
regulations are, we are told, as thoroughly
arranged as is practicable. That is all
which can be demanded of the managers.
1t may be that in the great multitudes that
followed the Great Teacher there was
frivolity and irreverence which was not
cowed even by the Divine Presence.


The danger in these meetings is that the
frivolity and irreverence too often seem to
creep into the pulpits and the prayers.
We would not rebuke or encourage a smile
at the most ignorant utterances of a sincere
man pleading for God. Such utterances
never yet failed of their effect. The most
successful preacher of the present century
is an illiterate man, outside of the Word of
God. Neither is there any extravaganza of
thought or diction which is not pardonable
to the rapture of devotion or intense feel
ing. But man rises very seldom in his
life to these supreme heights of devotion or
feeling. He cannot finish his mutton
chop at breakfast, and at will be carried by
the Spirit up to the Hills of Beulah, coming
down precisely in time for more chops at
noon. Yet the prevailing tone adopted in
these enormous crowds in prayers, hymns,
and preaching, is that of this exceptional
intense excitement. We do not wish to
speak harshly when we say that it is the
fashionable tone. Truths of awful import
are chartered about in the tents in the
same breath with the sale OF oysters and
CLAIMS. The salvation of human being.
the story of Christ's death-every subject
indeed which the thoughtful man APP
proaches in contrition and reverence Of
soul, knowing how profound and awful are
the mysteries on which he treads-are
made topics of hourly vulgar chatter, and
that expressed i'll the grossest hyperbole of
feeling. Some of the trains coming and
going to these meetings last Summer con-
tanned spectacles to make q wise man
weep: hysteric women, pale from nights
and days of excitement, with men and
children, alternately singing hymns of
rapturous JOY or despair, and joking,
COarsely enough, with their acquaintances
at each station.


We want to be understood. We have
not word to say against this excitement or
rapture when it is real We should hesitate
to condemn even the "falling Christians
in the memorable epidemic in Ireland.
But we do assert that when it is simulated
when extravagant religious emotion
becomes a hackneyed, fashionable thing,
initiated half unconsciously by weak men
and women, that great and serious
damage is done to tie cause of Christ. All
that is required OF the leaders of these
meetings, to make them the engine fol
good which they purpose, is absolute sin
cerity in themselves and that high rever
ence in the treatment of the awful truths
they teach which shall command at least
decent respect for them in others.-Nes
York Tribune.