BRO. FORNEY.--The camp meeting that was advertised to commence August 12th, on the St. Mary's circuit, in West Ohio, was held according to appointment; and, thanks be to the Great Head of the Church, we had a glorious and refreshing time.

      The meeting commenced on Friday and lasted until the next Monday a week, and we must say in praise of the people that the best of order was observed during the entire meeting.

      Brother Ensminger preached the opening sermon--an able discourse on the power of God--which was animating, and well adpated to the occasion. The first Saturday it rained the principal part of the day, hence we were obliged to hold our meeting in the tents, which was done to the best advantage, and, I trust, to the glory of God.

      On the Sabbath the sun shed his beautiful rays upon the tree tops, and all nature semmed to rejoice, and as cloud after cloud disappeared, and the bright blue sky made his appearance, we saw the force of the Psalmist's language when he sang, "The heavens declare thy glory." When we congregated in the altar to sing the song of Zion, and to offer up our prayers to a throne of grace, we forgot that the weather had been inclement. The first of the week brought more ministerial help, for which we were thankful.

      The ministerial brethren present were as follows: East Ohio, Brothers S. Lilly and W. H. Oliver: West Ohio, Brothers Ensminger, D. S. Warner, and the camp meeting veterans, Brothers Hickernell and Dobson, whose presence alone was valuable. Also your unworthy servant was present, of course. Brother Petry, from Illinois, (German) and Brother Stiner, (German) of West Ohio. The labors of our visiting brethren were much appeciated. Our prayer is that God may bless them in their labor of love.

      There were only ten tents on the ground all told, which was not a very good turn out for the size of the circuit, but I think if there is another camp meeting here there will be more tents out, as camp meeting, to the rising generation, is a novelty here, and at this time they did not understand the nature of it. The meeting, I think, was a grand success. True, there was not as many converted as we had hoped, but the brethren were strengthened and the doctrine of the Church was preached to many that had never heard it before.

      The last Sabbath there were about five thousand persons present. In the evening we attended to the ordinances of feet washing and the Lord's Supper in the presence of a large congregation. On Monday, at eight o'clock, we came into the altar for the last time to hear short farewell addresses from Brothers Lilly and Petry, after which we gave each other the parting hand and left the place where for a few days were enjoyed one another's society.

[The Church Advocate 35 (September 14, 1870): 2.]

      J. M. Cassel's "Camp Meeting on St. Mary's Circuit" was first published in The Church Advocate, Vol. 35, No. 20 (September 14, 1870), p. 2. The electronic version has been transcribed from a copy of the article provided by Jean Leathers, Archivist of the Churches of God Historical Society.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 19 April 1999.
Updated 15 July 2003.