Camp-Meetings—Their History.
Camp-meetings possess a high antiquity. Nearly four thousand years ago they were instituted by divine authority. God commanded the children of Israel to celebrate three great festivals: Passover—Pentecost—Tabernacles. The last was, in all the essentials of the case, a camp-meeting. It continued a full week, including two Sabbaths. The people dwelt in booths or tents. This feast was designed, not only to commemorate an important event in the history of the Hebrew people, but especially to fan the flame of devotion and develop a deeper gratitude for providential blessings “Ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days,” was the divine direction, which shows that the feast of tabernacles was eminently a meeting for thanksgiving and religious worship. (Lev. 23 : 33–43.) This ancient feast, however, was long since discontinued. We pass silently over the lapsing centuries, until our attention is arrested by what seems to be a revival of the old institution. The modern camp-meeting originated only seventy-five years ago. Two brothers were living in Tennessee, whose names were William and John McGee. They were both ministers; the former a Presbyterian, the latter a Methodist. Their sectarianism was so weak and their love for dying sinners was so strong, that they labored together as missionaries for Jesus. In 1779 they took a tour through Kentucky. Arriving at a settlement at Red River, they stopped to attend a sacramental service in a Presbyterian church, under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. McGready. John McGee was invited to preach. He did so with great unction and power. Other sermons and exhortations followed, attended with the Spirit’s awakening energy to such an extent that it seemed impossible to close the meeting. Sinners were crying for mercy and the whole community was thrilled with supernatural influences. The news spread, and a large number of people came in from the surrounding country. As a matter of convenience and necessity they brought their provisions with them, and lodged in covered wagons and such temporary huts and booths as they could construct. The meeting continued several days, crowned with glorious results. It was really, though somewhat informally, a camp-meeting. The McGees were so encouraged by these results that they soon appointed a second camp-meeting, and afterward a third. These meetings were signally owned of God. Thus began one of the most powerful and extensive revivals of religion that ever rejoiced the hearts of God’s people. It will be seen that modern camp-meetings did not originate with a single denomination.—Sel.