HOLINESS CAMP MEETING IN ALBERTLAND. General Outline of the Proceedings.— The Closing Scenes.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 80, 13 December 1884, Page 6

HOLINESS CAMP MEETING IN ALBERTLAND. General Outline of the Proceedings.— The Closing Scenes.

(From the Auckland " Star," Dec. 6.) As I listened to some thirty or perhaps a few more persons sing on Sunday near midnight, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," I could not help feeling what a very low appreciation of any spirit of blessing was manifested in that tent which was stated to be dedicated to the Lord. The warfare carried on for the fifth day between the physical and spiritual man was not only thinning the ranks, but was leaving the holy army in a demoralised condition. No similar number of people ever met together with a stronger desire to do and say what wa,B right and good ; but the mental strain resulting from four or five months' religious excitement was too much for the greater portion of those persons who had followed this so-called Holiness Evangelist from place to place. Now a reaction and a feeling of humiliation has taken the place of fanatical enthusiasm. The more thoughtful, intelligent, and active participators in raising and stimulating the excitement until it had reached a state of frenzy now painfully regret the present aspect of things. It would be unwise to blame anyone. What I want to do is to stir up public feeling co that the evils associated with this "Holiness Camp Meeting" business shall not be repeated, at least in the province of Auckland. I will briefly sketch the plan or outline of proceedings of a meeting. As I have already said, this American evangelist made a " deep impression " in Warkworth previous to his visit to Albertland, so much so that several excitable persons were "moved" at the accounts received of those meetings. The Wesleyans as a body were the fiivst to adopt and foster this revival. The Wesleyan Chapel was given up to the evangelist, and he started with an excellent prospect of usefulness. At each and every meeting he started with — "I'm a holy man, free from all inbred sin, and wholly sanctified. He recited the history of his conversion nine years ago, but his sanctifi cation took place eight years since, or one year after conversion. He had sinned twice only in the eight years. Once he kicked over a stove because he was unable to got a long, crooked piece of wood into it ; and the second time he had sinned by dancing with a young widow (a very dangerous practice), now his wife. He then sings a solo, "Gathering Jewels," after which he tells his audience briefly the history of his conversion. Singing is made an important feature in the service, the most emotional songs being used, with the chorus loudly repeated, while the evangelist does his best to give emphasis by grotesque movements, waving his arms and sometimes walking about the building. Much effect is given by persons testifying. The testimonies of children eight, ten, and twelve years old are given, and children at these ages frequently declared they were " holy and free from all inbred sin." Sometimes these testimonies were simply ridiculous, but frequently formed the best part of the service. A mother would rise and give effect to a mother's feelings, and j the mothers would all more or less be " moved." But now for a few " testimonies" : — A man : "I was converted at 18 years old. It took place while in bed. (Evangelist : Hallelujah !) I felt something like a bullet pass through my heart (Glory to God !) I knew I was then converted." (A number of voices: Hallelujah !). A lad : "I went to Mr Thomas's meeting on Saturday and got converted, and I thought sanctified, but I wasn't, for I went to get up the cows on Sunday morning with the dog, and they went into the ti-tree, and I lost my temper, (Amen ! Amen !) I went to the meeting again on Sunday, and on Monday when I got up the cows I had no trouble, and I did not lose my temper, and I then knew I was sanctified." Scores of persons gave testimony of periods extending over many years, sometimes very feelingly. The " last testimony " was at midnight on Sunday, and it was in keeping with the proceedings of the whole day. A man about 50 years old said: " IVo gid up my pipe, that's some'at ,* and didn't I give you, Brother Thomas, the holy kiss ?" Brother Thomas : " You did ! you did .' and it was sweeter to *ne than the sweetest honey-comb. Had I a million pounds, I would give them for another such a kiss." (Voices : Glory ! Glory !) Immediately after this— some twenty are on their knees praying at the time, with two men standing in the centre of the tent with upturned hands, apparently praying— the evangelist asks all to sing, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow," after which he stated that the first holiness camp meeting was at an end. Then several women on the platform commenced to sing, " Come to Jesus ! Come to Jesus 1" but they were physically unable to sing loner, and stopped and stared each other in the face. All day Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, six ot the Auckland visitors were sitting or lying in a small tent, praying ; but on the Tuesday five of them (three women and two men) ejected one of their number for having a personal devil in him, and all that night a constable and several settlers stayed near the tents. A night's sound sleep has done much ; but on the Wednesday evening the three women— gentlewomen in its fullest sense— and two men, sat on rugs in a row, in the same small tent, each with an open tible, praying that the Lord would direct them what to do. They objected to leave, and the owner, a good, old, yell-meaning man, hesitated to give permission to remove them. The evangelist is off with his big tent and all his baggage, and I trust no body of Christian people will allow it to be erected again in New Zealand. The Auckland lady who was carried into and is now lying in bed at Mr Becroft's—is still (Thursday) in a state of religious frenzy, while her husband is walking about believing she is filled with the Holy Ghost, nothing more. And this is a " modern Pentecost ?' — and I hope the last. — (Own Carrespondent.)