The Martha's Vineyard Campgrounds

Last week Paul and I celebrated 43 years of marriage.

I mention that to give the reason for my choice of locations for today's blog post. There is a book in Google books, A History of the Wesleyan Grove, Martha's Vineyard, camp meeting: ©1858' that will give you a great overview of what we now refer to as the "Campgrounds." The gingerbread houses bring tourist from all over. As a kid I used to sell bunches of flowers to the "old" (I may be that age now) ladies in the campgrounds. I also attended the Methodist church in the campground, and our high school class graduation ceremony was held there. I have many other memories associated with the campgrounds but that's not why you come to read my blog.

The first camp meeting was held in 1835 and the book linked above only covers to the year 1858. People came with their tents and camped on the grounds. The preacher's tent was elevated and in front of the group. There were only 9 tents that formed the first circle. However makeshift tents were made from sails and awnings. A well was dug for pure water. The land is right off the Oak Bluffs harbor. A quote from those first meetings was "Surely the Lord is in this place." God moved and continued to move for many years and decades. So much so, that tents were replaced with wooden camp houses. The grand illumination, which we grew up knowing as Illumination night, was filled with lighting paper lanterns and hanging them from houses and lines strung for the occasion. It's still owned by the same camp meeting association of 1835 and in August, they still host the Grand Illumination Night.

Here's a picture I took on my last visit to the Vineyard showing one of the gingerbread houses.

The Philadelphia Bible Society

The Philadelphia Bible Society was established in 1808. This society still exists today. Their purpose was/is scripture distribution. In their 1809 report they stated they purchased 300 English Bible, 300 English New Testaments and 300 German New Testaments and their stock was quickly exhausted. So the managers ordered 1000 English Bibles, 200 German New Testaments. 

This information tells me a couple things. One, the need was great in the city of Philadelphia. Two, that German immigrants made up a significant amount of the overall community. 

Later on they also directed cheaper New Testaments be made in German and ordered another 300 copies. Then they ordered 100 French, 100 Welch and 50 Gaelic Bibles and 50 English New Testaments in large type. At the time of this report they were expecting this shipment soon.

At this point they distributed to the area of Philadelphia but saw the need to help missionary work as well. So they sent some to Muskingum to be distributed among the Indians and poor white inhabitants.

Their second report notes that 1514 English Bibles, 387 English New Testament Bibles 54 German Bibles, 196 German New Testaments, 45 French New Testaments, 1 Welsh Bible and 1 Gaelic Bible had been distributed. And again they cited bibles given to missionaries or other clergymen in different states to distribute.

They also mentioned in their report their purpose was not to "preoccupy a field which could be better cultivated by other labourers." and reported a list of other societies who also distributed scriptures:

The Massachusetts Bible Society, The Young Men's Bible Society of Ncw-York. The New-Jersey Bible Society, The New-York Bible Society, The New-Hampshire Bible Society, The Connecticut Bible Society.

In 1812 they printed 1250 copies of the bible, they hired Philadelphia printer William Fry. This became the first stereotyped Bible printed in America. Tomorrow's post will be about stereotype printing.

Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

In honor of Christmas Day and the location of Jesus' birth place I thought this 19th century hymn was very appropriate. Phillip Brooks wrote this in 1868. Three years after being inspired and overwhelmed by a visit to Bethlehem.

O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.

How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

Where children pure and happy
Pray to the blessed Child,
Where misery cries out to thee,
Son of the mother mild;
Where charity stands watching
And faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.

O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!


Have a blessed and merry Christmas this year.

Angels From the Realms of Glory

Angles from the Realms of Glory written Christmas eve 1816 by James Montgomery. It was republished in 1825 then again later in 1855 Isaac Gregory Smith wrote another version.

Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o'er all the earth;
Ye, who sang creation's story,
Now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Come and worship,
Come and worship,
Worship Christ, the new-born King.

Shepherds in the field abiding,
Watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant Light: Refrain

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar:
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen his natal star: Refrain
Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In his temple shall appear: Refrain

Angels We Have Heard on High

This Christmas hymn was originally penned in French and translated in English in 1862.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tiding did you hear? Refrain

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King. Refrain

See him in a manger laid
Whom the angels praise above;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While we raise our hearts in love. Refrain

Away In The Manger

This Christmas hymn was first published in 1885, the author is unknown but the music was composed by William J. Kirkpatrick in 1895

Away in a manger,
No crib for His bed,
The little Lord Jesus,
Laid down His sweet head.

The stars in the bright sky,
Looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus,
Asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing,
The poor Baby wakes,
But little Lord Jesus,
No crying He makes.

I love Thee, Lord Jesus,
Look down from the sky,
And stay by my side,
'Til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay,
Close by me forever,
And love me I pray.

Bless all the dear children,
In Thy tender care,
And take us to heaven,
To live with Thee there.

Cane Ridge Revival

This meeting house was originally built a few years before the 19th century, 1791. Today it is housed within another structure built to protect it from the elements.

The Scots-Irish Presbyterians came and settled in Kentucky after the advice of their guide, Daniel Boone.

I encourage you to check out their website to get a feel for the history there. The Revival that took place in 1801 military personal estimated to have reached 20,000 to 30,000 persons of all ages and backgrounds. The same site three years later, 1804 was the birth place of Springfield Presbytery.

I also have another link here of person's visit to this historic location The Xenohistorian Weblog. This blog has several pictures of the building.

Blessed Assurance

Enjoy the Lord's Day with this classic hymn from Fanny Crosby written in 1873.

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain:
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
(Refrain)

3. Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
(Refrain)

Jesus Only

The words for this hymn are from Albert B. Simpson ©1890. Albert Simpson is the founder of the Christian & Missionary Alliance. He believed in the fullness of Christ through what he called the Fourfold Gospel: Jesus Christ our Savior, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King. He also believed strongly in the need to send missionaries out to a lost and perishing world. Simpson wasn't seeking to start a denomination but merely a tool to send missionaries out with the Gospel message to all peoples.

Below are the lyrics to Jesus Only

Jesus only is our message,
Jesus all our theme shall be;
We will lift up Jesus ever,
Jesus only will we see.

Refrain

Jesus only, Jesus ever,
Jesus all in all we sing,
Savior, Sanctifier, and Healer,
Glorious Lord and coming King.

Jesus only is our Savior,
All our guilt He bore away,
All our righteousness He gives us,
All our strength from day to day.

Refrain

Jesus is our Sanctifier,
Cleansing us from self and sin,
And with all His Spirit’s fullness,
Filling all our hearts within.

Refrain

Jesus only is our Healer,
All our sicknesses He bare,
And His risen life and fullness,
All His members still may share.

Refrain

Jesus only is our Power,
He the Gift of Pentecost,
Jesus, breathe Thy pow’r upon us,
Fill us with the Holy Ghost.

Refrain

And for Jesus we are waiting,
List’ning for the advent call;
But ’twill still be Jesus only,
Jesus ever, all in all.

Refrain

D.L. Moody

"I remember when I was a boy I used to try to walk across a field after the snow had fallen, and try to make a straight path; and as long as I kept my eye on a point at the other side of the field, I could make a straight path, but if I looked over my shoulder to see if I was walking straight, I would always walk crooked—always. And where I find people turning around to see how others walk, they always walk crooked. But if you want to walk straight through this world, keep your eye on the Captain of your salvation, who has gone within the vale. Just keep your eye on Him, and you will have peace and light.

I remember, too, I used to try to catch my shadow. I used to try to see if I could not jump over my head. I ran and jumped, but my head always kept just so far ahead of me. I never could catch my shadow, but I remember when I was a little boy, I was running with my face toward the sun, and I looked over my shoulder and I found my shadow coming after me.

And I find since I became a Christian, that if I keep my eye on the Son of Righteousness, peace and light and joy and everything follow in the train; but if I get my eye off Him, I always get into darkness and trouble. So if you want to keep in the light, keep your eye fixed on the Son of Righteousness and follow Him."

Excerpt from Dwight L. Moody:the man and his mission ©1900

D. L. Moody was one of the most well known evangelists during the 19th century. Moody converted to evangelical Christianity in 1855. He moved to Chicago in 1856. It was there that his ministry began.

An Intinerant Preacher

Below is an excerpt from "An Intinerant Preacher or, Sketches from the Life of Rev. Charles Haime ©1865. This was written by his son who was also an ordained minister. Charles was a Methodist Preacher living in England. He started his preaching ministry in 1800.

" Newport, June 1, 1839. "

My Dear Brother,

"In the year 1800 I began as a local preacher in the Salisbury circuit, (my first plan, by Mr. Horner, I have now); then I was called out by Mr. Longley to supply the place of a young man who left the work in the Salisbury circuit. For years I was employed by Dr. Coke as a home missionary in the north of Devon, now three good circuits, Barnstaple, Bideford, Holsworthy; then I had another mission, which took in (parts of) Somerset, Dorset, and Devon, now also three circuits, South Petherton, Brid- port, and Axminster. After this I was in the great revival — at it night and day; conversions by hundreds and thousands, and many believers made perfect in love. I had a back for any bed, a stomach for any food, a face for any weather, and strength for any work. Moderation in religion I knew not. Thus I werit on, in the name of the Lord, till a month since. Now my infirmities are many. From great strength I am brought to great weakness and giddiness in my head ; my voice also fails. And now, what do I feel ? what do I fear ? Almighty God! save me from living to be good for nothing! I pray that I may be of use in the country as a local preacher.

' If in this feeble flesh I may
Awhile show forth Thy praise,
Jesu, support the tottering clay,
And lengthen out my days.'

" Be so kind as to put me down for Newport, supernumerary not by age, accident, or disease, but by extraordinary labour in the Lord's vineyard; worn out in the work."

Extraordinary labour! to some this may sound like the boasting of the old man; but the calm review of his life will prove that it was no vain boast. Few are the ministers, now or then, that could or would do what he did. lie was a labourer in God's vineyard, and never stinted time nor toil.

In the first plan here referred to, his name appeared as " an exhorter;" in this letter he describes himself as then a local preacher. There was a reason for this, which will also show that my father's work, as a preacher, commenced with extraordinary scenes. He had gone forth to exhort in some neglected village, and, whilst delivering his message, he was arrested by order of the man who had the cure of souls in that parish. He appeared to answer for his conduct before one of the magistrates, a certain "Squire Harris." The clergyman brought forward the charge, that this-said Charles Haime had been preaching in his parish; without any thought of evasion or extenuation, he replied that he had not been preaching, but simply exhorting. The Squire very convincingly showed him that an exhorter was a preacher, and then asked- him what right he had to go about preaching. All fear was taken away; and in answering the question he commenced preaching, though not exhorting, and that with such liberty and power, that the listening parson turned very pale, and the listening magistrate felt deeply interested, and then said, " That is enough, I see you are called to preach; go about your business." As before he had willingly obeyed a similar command from a military officer, so he obeyed the command of this civil officer, therein fulfilling the behest of a higher power.

The magistrate's lecture on " exhoiters, alias preachers " was ever remembered, and to the last his plans only acknowledged " preachers and preachers on trial." As an exhorter and local preacher he continued to labour on till the year 1804. At the March quarterly meeting the Rev. Thos. Longley proposed that he should be recommended to the ensuing Conference as a fit candidate for the ministry. This was cordially agreed to by all, save the good old class-leader and himself. The former thought that he was already in a galloping consumption, and that the work of a travelling preacher would soon kill him ; the latter deemed himself unfit for so great a work, and therefore hesitated. Time, however, has proved the mistake of the former; and thousands of converted souls have also proved that, however unfit for the work the subject of this memoir may have been in himself, yet God had doubtless called him, and his sufficiency was of God. The quarterly meeting had scarcely passed when Mr. Longley's colleague retired from the work, and the following note was sent to Charles Haime by his affectionate superintendent

Bethel Baptist Church

This being Sunday, I always like to highlight a church that was built, a hymn that was written, or something else regarding Christianity and it's growth in the 19th century.

Today I've selected the Bethel Baptist Church in Caseyville, IL. This church had it's roots in Virginia and in 1809 the church split and two congregations were formed. One believing in slavery and Bethel Baptist Church not believing. The decision was made in a friendly manner but I can imagine it wasn't a comfortable place until they decided to split.

You can read further on the history of this church at Church Web Page

Islay Bowmore Baptist Church

During the rennovations of this church a letter was found dated 1869.

Baptist Church Bowmore: A letter from the year 1869.

Return to Churches Index Page
During renovation works in 1992 on the Baptist Church in Bowmore a copy of a letter was found in a bottle under the pulpit. Closer examination learned the letter dated back to more than 120 years ago. A stunning discovery. The original letters are kept safe in the Islay Museum. I received a copy from Rae Woodrow who was kind enough to "translate" the letter into a readable Word document. Please find below the original text, it may contain some errors because the original letter wasn't of the best quality after so many years.

Bowmore, Islay
23rd Sept. 1869.

This is intended to preserve the remembrance of the repairing of this place of worship, which is (henceforth to be called The Bowmore Tabernacle). Previously to these repairs, the place was most unsightly to behold, and most uncomfortable as a place of worship, by reason of cold and damp. The house was built about the year 1849 while the Rev, Angus Mc Naughton was minister of the church. Mr Mc Naughton was minister of the church, Mr McNaughton having emigrated to Canada, he was succeeded as missionary in Islay by the Rev James Miller who was minister of this church for upwards of twenty years, until the end of 1868, when being nearly 87 years of age, he retired on a small allowance granted by the Baptist Home Missionary Society for Scotland, which Society has supported the causes in Islay from its commencement.

Towards the end of February 1869, the present missionary, Mr Alexander McDougall who was formerly pastor of the Baptist Church in Rothesay, and had been educated at Mr Spurgeon’s College London, was engaged by the acting committee of the Baptist Home Missionary Society for Scotland, to labour in connection with the above Society in Islay and Colonsay, preaching in Gaelic and English. Immediately on entering upon this field of labours, Mr McDougall determined to make an effort towards repairing the place of worship and the ministers’ dwelling house above it, neither of which had ever been of ?? Although the house had been built 20 years.

For the rest of the post go to: Link It's quite a letter to read.

Christian Campgrounds

On Martha's Vineyard there is a great campground with gingerbread houses and a center tabernacle. My graduation exercise was held there and from what I understand it is still being used today for High School graduations.

During the 19th century there were a lot of these Christian Camp meetings set up. Old Orchard Beach (approx. 1842) in Maine, The Methodist Campground (1835) in Oak Bluffs, MA and Simpson Park Campground (1865) in Michigan. Each of these played an important part on people's lives but also on the general economy of a region.

Today, few Christian Campgrounds remain and those that have, have changed how they run the day to day of the camp. Many can not move their families for the summer to a campground.

I have not done an extensive search but I believe the Methodist were pioneers and leaders in the Christian Campgrounds and revivals.

Blessed Be the Tie that Binds

Blessed Be the Tie that Binds

1. Blessed be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like that to that above.

2. Before our Father's throne
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one
Our comforts and our cares.

3. We share each other's woes,
Our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.

4. When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart,
And hope to meet again.

5. This glorious hope revives
Our courage by the way;
While each in expectation lives,
And longs to see the day.

6. From sorrow, toil and pain,
And sin, we shall be free,
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.
@1845 by John Fawcett

Pioneer Preachers

In keeping with the theme of Wagon Trains, I thought I'd post a link to a webpage about a pioneer preacher named Keathley Bailes. They traveled from Missiouri to Oregon for six months by oxen in 1861.

Keathley Bailes

Beacon Press

In 1854, a Book and Tract Fund was established, with the goal of
raising $50,000, and educator George Emerson, cousin of Unitarian
minister Ralph Waldo Emerson, headed the fund-raising effort. New
AUA headquarters, replete with a street-accessible bookstore, were set
up at 21 Bromfield Street, near Boston Common. With the fund and the
storefront in place, the precursor of Beacon Press—then called simply
the Press of the American Unitarian Association—was officially born.

On March 9, 1854, AUA president Samuel Kirkland Lothrop
addressed a gathering at 21 Bromfield to explain why regular and
planned book publishing was the logical next step for the AUA. In the
nineteenth year of his incumbency, Lothrop was pastor of the very
wealthy, very distinguished Brattle Street Church.

Honey out of the Rock

Hi all,

Being Sunday I try to post something that relates to Christianity and, or Christian Churches. I make no apology for this, it is my faith, my life and my relationship with God through Jesus that has directed my writing life.

So with that in mind I'm sharing a link to an 1857 book called "Honey Out of the Rock," or old testament stories for children. I find it fascinating that children's stories from this time period were not too simple. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this taste from the past.

Honey Out of the Rock

What A Friend We Have in Jesus

This old hymn is still song today in many American churches. The words were written by Joseph M. Scriven to comfort his mother who was in Ireland. It was 30 years after he wrote it that he received full credit because it had been published anonymously at some point.

The music score that most of us sing today was composed in 1879 by John Zundel


What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

Bible

The rule of thumb when writing historical fiction is to use the King James Version (KJV) and for most of the 19th century it was the most published version of the Bible.

But in 1881-1885 the English Revised Version (ERV) came along and offered some serious competition to the KJV.

The rest of the translations came in the 20th century to today.

I'm fortunate to have Bible Software that can change versions with the click of the mouse. I do love today's technologies even though I enjoy writing about the past.

I have in my possession a bible that was owned by someone in my family in 1831. Unfortunately the person who received it did not put their name in the Bible. It was given to them by the Ocean Park Sunday School in 1831. It's hard to believe how white the pages still are. There are three notes in the back: Hebrews 11 Faith, Ecc. 3 There is a season, and Luke 2 Christmas Story. That's it.

I have another Bible that also came down through the family it was rebound after years of use. It has underlines, notes all throughout the Bible.

At first glance you might think the first Bible wasn't used all that much, and it is probably true, I don't know. What's your Bible say about you?