A Short History Of The Methodists... - Media Sabda Org

A SHORT HISTORY
OF THE
METHODISTS
By
Jesse Lee
CHAPTER 14
The Conclusion
As I have frequently spoken of Camp-Meetings in the preceding pages, it may be of service to
many of the readers of this work, who have never been at a meeting of this kind, to have a
description of them.
1. With regard to the laying out the ground: we have two, three, or four acres of land cleared of
the under growth, in an oblong square, sufficient to hold as many tents as will be erected. We then
have the front of the tents on a line on each side, and at each end. Back of the tents we have a place
cleared for the carriages to stand, whether they be waggons, carts, or riding carriages; so that every
tent may have the carriage belonging to it in a convenient position. Just back of the carriages we have
the horses tied and fed. Before the tents we generally have the fires for cooking, and to help in giving
light at night to those who are walking about. But when it is not convenient to have the fire in the
front of the tent, it is placed behind it.
2. We have one or two stages erected; if we have two, one is near the one end of the ground and
the other near the opposite end; but both within the lines whereon the tents are fixed. At each stage
we have a sufficient number of seats to contain the principal part of the attentive hearers: who are
requested to sit according to our form, the women on one side, and the men on the other. The stages
are placed at such a distance from each other, that if necessity should require it, we might preach at
each stage at the same time. Or in case there should be a great degree of life and power among the
people at one stage, we might without interrupting their devotion in singing and praying, withdraw
to the other stage and preach to as many as might wish to hear.
3. We have the ground within the tents illuminated at night by candles, which we fix to the stage,
the trees, and other places prepared for the purpose. These candles, with the light of the fires, keep
the whole ground sufficiently illuminated. On some occasions, I have seen at these meetings as many
as 120 candles burning at the same time. These lights in a dark night, when the evening is calm, add
greatly to the solemnity of the meeting.
4. We generally appoint a guard, or watch, of a sufficient number of men, and request them by
turn to walk all night through and around the encampment, to prevent disorderly persons from doing
mischief, either in disturbing the people, or their property.
5. We proceed in our religious exercises as follows: soon after the first dawn of day, a person
walks all round the ground in front of the tents, blowing a trumpet as he passes; which is to give the
people notice to rise; about ten minutes after the trumpet is blown again with only one long blast