CAMP MEETINGS.

THE origin of camp meetings in the United States was among the members of the Presbyterian church. They were first held in Logan county, Kentucky, during the revival of 1800. The multitudes which came together were so great, that accommodations could not be found in the neighborhood of the place of worship. Many of these people had recently removed to the west from Virginia, North Carolina, or Pennsylvania. On the road, while they were removing, they had camped out, and cooked their own provisions, and provided their own lodgings. The idea originated among them, during the great revival, that they could camp out near the place of worship, and take care of themselves, as well as they had done on the road, while on their journey. The experiment succeeded admirably. The country being new, this mode of holding large meetings seemed peculiarly adapted to their circumstances. Indeed, it was believed to possess a striking resemblance to the "feast of tabernacles" in the Old Testament church. Moreover, these meetings were crowned with precious divine blessings. Among the Presbyterians of the west and south, also the Methodists, the Baptists, the Cumberland Presbyterians, and other denominations, such meetings have been held, with great and good results. In many parts of the west

and south, they have now worshipped in this manner, occasionally, for the space of fifty years. During that extensive and powerful revival in the state of Ohio, from 1828 till 1831, quite a number of camp meetings were held, at which many thousands assembled to worship God. One of the ministers engaged in these meetings spoke on the subject thus:

"The camp meetings in Ohio were not undertaken without much serious and prayerful deliberation. The ministers of Jesus Christ in that country saw, with much concern, an immense population spreading over the land, while the regular preaching of the gospel was neglected by at least two thirds of this living multitude. They also saw a deep, dark, blaspheming infidelity, rolling far and wide through the country, scoffing at the Bible, cursing religious tracts, trampling on the Sabbath, and breathing out bitterness against all that is sacred. They saw that if the deadly pestilence was suffered to spread and extend its pernicious influence a few years longer, not only would our religious institutions be destroyed, but our civil liberties would be jeopardized; the monster would break down our churches, set up the guillotine, and dip its hands in the blood of the innocent, as deep as did the infidels of France during the 'Reign of Terror.' They felt that something must be done to arrest the conquests of the enemy, who was flood;' and the only weapon successfully oppose him, was which is the word of God.' among whom the plague was raging, could not be assembled in the regular houses of worship, the 'soldiers of the cross' resolved to take the field 'in the

coming in like a with which they could the sword of the Spirit, And as the multitudes,

name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel.' Preparations were made, seats in a shady grove sufficient to accommodate a vast assembly, and a 'pulpit of wood,' erected. The day appointed arrived, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.' It was a season of the right hand of the Most High.' The tide of war was rolled back from the gates of Zion, and trembling was in the camp of the enemy. The infidel renounced his blasphemy; the Universalist fled from his refuge of lies; the grayheaded sinner cast himself at the feet of the Savior; and infant voices were heard proclaiming,' Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord!'

"Meeting after meeting of this description was held. The everlasting gospel was preached, the blessing of God sent down, sinners converted, the church made glad, and heaven filled with rejoicing."

and

"Look at the example of our blessed Savior. He might have preached every Sabbath in the Jewish synagogue, if he had chosen; but he did not. On one Sabbath, he preached in the temple; on another, he preached on a mountain; at another time, he entered a boat, and thrust out a little from the shore, taught the people from thence; at times, we find him in the wilderness, or in the grove, surrounded by many thousands, who had nothing better to sit on than the green grass. Nor did these crowds come out in the morning from their homes, and return the same evening; but they continued together day after day, to hear the Savior's words. At one time, we learn that they continued with him three days, where they had nothing to eat; and how much longer they continued

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on other occasions, when they had made better preparations, we are not told. I have no doubt, that while the Savior designed the miracles that he wrought to confirm his divine mission in the view of all inquirers, he, at the same time, designed those miracles to wake up the public mind, and excite attention, that the people might come together, that he might have an opportunity of preaching to them the word of God. cordingly, we find, when he began his wonderful works, that his fame went throughout all Syria. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.' The immense results of the Savior's ministry to these vast congregations are amongst the things that are not written' in the New Testament; but, doubtless, the disclosures of the great day will show that they were worthy of the time and labor thus devoted.

"Now, if we wish all the inhabitants of our land to feel the blessed influences of the gospel, we must be willing, after the example of our Savior, to bring vast multitudes together, and let them remain together day after day, and preach to them the word of life. This must be done, this will be done, before all flesh sees the salvation of God.

"In this age of benevolent effort, Christians and Christian ministers are doing much to push forward the tract cause, the Bible cause, the Sunday school cause, &c.; but we have not made corresponding efforts to push forward the preaching cause, and yet it is by the foolishness of preaching that God is pleased to save them that believe. While we have been solicitous to prepare the way for the salvation of the rising genera

tion by Sabbath schools, and the education of suitable young men for the ministry, have we done as much for the present generation as we ought? Have we employed the ministers now in the field to the best advantage? Without slacking the hand in any other good work, can we not make a more vigorous effort to save the present generation, who are past the period for Sabbath schools, and who must die, many of them, before the young men now in a course of education can enter the field? Yes, let a great effort be made to save the present generation.'

CAMP MEETING ANECDOTE.

Great care was taken to preserve good order among the thousands that came together at our camp meetings. This was essential to the accomplishment of good. It was also of great importance because of the enemy; for there were many watching, eager to find fault, and raise the cry that our meetings were scenes of confusion and disorder. I would just here quote the remark of the venerable "skeleton preacher," that fault-finding is an easy business. It can be set up with a very small capital. It requires neither genius nor talent, neither education nor goodness, to fit out a faultfinder in business. I have seen men of little or no valuable endowments, men who were scarcely worth a straw for any useful undertaking, or any effort at doing good, who were, nevertheless, capital faultfinders, and could make themselves noisy and conspicuous in opposing the labors of others. Fault-finding — I repeat it — is a business that can be set up on "very small capital." Our plan was, to have seats prepared