Year: 1872

perTnanence OF the camp meeting, as an American
Institution, is, Of course, singularV refreshing.
Originally hit upon as temporary expedlent 10
supply the spiritual needs OF the pioneers of civi
zation, who were necessarily too widely scattered
In the heart OF the border wilderness to afford the
luxury Of meeting house and pastor, 1t has
taken firm and lasting root among us and now
threatens to be as long lived the republic itself.
For, except on this theory, how can any one ex-
plain the enormous extent and evident popu-
larity OF the colossal gathering now being
held at the place from which this letter
Is dated Three months ago Sea Cin was for the
most part an uncleared Wilderness and had but
slender prospects for the future for 1t was believed
that there great deal Of trouble In getting
water, while two or three unsavory factories on
the other side of the creek that separates 1t from
Glen Cove village apparently precuded the idea Of
It's ever being appropriated for country residences
But some saints OF the National Camp Meeting AS
sOciation came here and saw and have conquered.
They bought, for the sum OF $10e,500, the entire
site OF the future town of Beulah or Sea Clin,
comprising some hundreds OF acres, and early In
the present spring set to work vigorously to i'm
prove their property. Admirable roads were spread
over the face OF the huge bluff Of bare gray earth
that has given the place its name; town was
laid out its summit, with avenues and
streets, and several wooden structures, some or
them Of portentous size, were built to serve as
meeting hall, lodging house, dining saloons, Post
Once and other necessary buildings. Then the
greatest camp meeting ever held In America was
announced and the sale Of lots was begun. And
II all the lots are sold at the present ruling
rates, and they are going Off pretty brtskly, gen.
tleman OF some arithmetical attainments has cal
culated that a profit of half million dollars will
be made over and above all preliminary expenses.


CHRISTIAN CLIOUES.


The camp meeting now being held was opened,
as stated in former letter to the HERALD, on
the Sd Of July About four hundred tents
have been put up and two thirds Of them
are now occupied. True to the spirit
Of brotherly love, the different congregations
seem to prefer keep together, and as you go
about through the lanes Of the little dwell
tngs that line the Streets hidden away In lit
tie cleaning suburbs among the trees, you every
now and then come across painted notice indi-
eating the church whose members have there tenn
porariy taken up their abode. These belong to the
Seventeenth street Methodist Episcopal church,
New York; the next clump is filed with the disci-
pies OF the Rev. Mr.. Boole, and to the end of
the chapter. This plan has its own advantages,
however; for the pastor or deacon in charge
II thus enabled to secure the orthodoxy Of
his flock from being blurred and confused
by the errors that must necessarily now and then
break out in promscuous preaching:


MORALS GOOD.


In OF its features the present gathering cer
tainy ahead of any Of its predecessors. The tents
are almost exclusively occupied by families, or by
persons beyond all suspicion OF taint and blemish
and guards ana policemen patrol the grounds all
night and keep their eyes wide open for the detec
tion Of Irregularities Young people, unattached
to families and liable to be tempted astray, are
housed In an immense lodging house, the gentle
men on one moor and the ladies on another The
hall In which the meetings are held too, has seats
enough for all, so that there Is no packing OF the
saints together in undistnguisbable mass at the
height OF the excitement. And last OF all
there is a stringently observed regulation that
everybody must 20 to bed at ten O'Clock. Before
that hour the public exercises are concluded, and
nny one caught taking stroll abroad through the
village after erwards Is liable to summary arrest and
expulsion from the camp.


MODIFIED STARVATION.


IT IL unfortunate, however, that the saints have
not exercised little salutary control over the
people to whom they have rented out the privilege
OF feeding the two three thousand people-more
or iess-that nave been collected together The
multitude in the New Testament were somewhat
spare diet, but they were, doubtless, good OF their
kind and there Ia the best authority for saying that
they were dispensed without stint. But the fare at
the dining halls Of tho Camp Meeting Associa.
tion-and no one Is permitted to Keep rival
restaurant on the gronnds-is simply a modified
form OF starvation. 1t is true that you get six
meals for 49, but surely 1t ought to be possible
some, decently cooked food at 81 80 q day. The
only show you have of being even tolerabiy fed is
70 % ace nres at table oe
distinguished brethren, Then, perhaps, you
may get an abundance OF ice water and
sufflciency OF bread and biscuit and
crackers, and possibly even glass OF milk. But Of
course the meal will still be asteless, stringy and
tough, and the other features of civilized repast
remain painfully absent.


"GETTING THE STEAM Up"


And now the religious features OF the camp meet
ing can briefly be referred to. Changed as it is in
certain material respects from Its prototypes, the
gathering at Sea Cliff Is marked by the same reck
leaders have but view OF what constI-
tutes piety, and that Is to excite the
emotional feelings to pitch approaching frenzy
to "get the steam up,' il the phrase may
be used and luxuriate in the agones of religious
mania In the morning after an ordinary service
ence meeting" at which all the saints In turn rise
and describe what the Lord is doing for them.
Most OF the saints tell their story in one or two
short, pithy phrases, or perhaps in an opposite
text. 1.-The Lord ia my refuge and my strength" "
says my soul is full OF love for Jesus: ieel
that could give up my life for Him." tremulously
cries some youthful sister. ~ have found rest and
peace and JOY in Christ" testifes an aged matron
And so runs the story, sometimes for nearly
couple OF hours. Some OF the more conspicuous
saints, however, occasionally break out into
lengthier rhapsodies. Perhaps the most note
worthy character in this regard present Is old
gro woman whose testimony would I'LL an ordinarily
sized tract, and who generally says some part Of
It that years ago she was a cook, with very heavy
responsibilities, In family at Lancaster and that
the spirit came upon % her with M sanctlying power
This Old lady fairly goes frenZied with excitement
and when she finds the religious intoxication wan
ing In its influence stimulates her tagging ener-
gfes by wildly clapping her hands and stamping
her feet. At every specially vivid Hash OF expe.
rience, no matter from whom the brethren and
sisters break out In loud. cries Of GLORY,
glory ~ "Blessing to the Lord" "Amenl" "Halle-
iujah ~ and similar pithy CALCULATIONS. favorite
Way Of closing up q testimony, too, 1t may be re-
Marked is to lapse into hymn, or rather into the
chorus 70 q hymn.


'sPRIvATE" DEvOTT0Ns.


There are regular morning afternoon and evening
services, and between the two former are sand
wiched ''private devotions In the tents" I'm,
be offered up with the canvas draw
closely. together, so as to veil the WORK
ings OF the spirit from curious spectators. Bu
need II be added that this regulation IL
commonly, almost Systematically set at naught