Abel Stevens and Nathan Bangs on the
third day of the camp-meeting
Stevens Life and Times of Nathan Bangs 153-154
"On Sabbath morning, as the natural sun
arose in splendor, darting its rays through the forest, we
presented ourselves before its Maker, and poured out our
songs of thanksgiving to the Lord of the universe. We felt
that our early sacrifice was accepted, for the 'Sun of
righteousness' shone upon our souls and made all within us
rejoice. We could sing with faith:
"'None is like Jeshurun's God,
So great, so strong, so high!
Lo! he spreads his wings abroad,
He rides upon the sky!
Israel is his first-born son:
God, the Almighty God, is thine:
See him to they help come down,
The excellence divine.' [*]
"After breakfast, a host being now on the
ground, we held a love-feast. The interest and excitement
were so great and the crowed so large that while some
assembled around the stand, a preacher mounted a wagon as a
distance and addressed a separate congregation. The
impression of the Word was universal, the power of the
Spirit was manifest throughout the whole encampment, and
almost every tent was a scene of prayer. At noon the Lord's
supper was administered to multitudes, while other
multitudes looked on with astonishment and tears. After the
sacrament, a young woman, of fashionable and high position
in society, was smitten down, and with sobs entreated the
prayers of the people. Her sister forced her away; a
preacher went forth without the camp and led them both back,
followed by quite a procession of their friends; a circle
gathered about them and sang and prayed. The unawakened
sister was soon upon her knees praying in agony, and was
first converted; the other quickly after received the peace
of God, and wept and rejoiced together. A backslider, who
had become a maniac, and was in despair, was brought to the
camp. His symptoms were like those of the New Testament
demoniacs. It required the strength of several men to hold
him, especially while prayer was offered for him. We first
besought God for Christ's sake to restore his faculties,
which was done. He then earnestly prayed for himself, and
before the meeting closed, he was not only delivered from
despair, but filled with joy and peace in believing.
"The time was at hand at last for the
conclusion of the meeting. The last night was the most
awfully impressive and yet delightful scene my eyes ever
beheld. There was not a cloud on the sky. The stars studded
the firmament, and the glory of God filled the camp. All the
neighboring forest seemed vocal with the echoes of hymns.
Turn our attention whichever way we could, we heard the
voice of prayer or praise. As it was the last night, every
moment seemed precious; parents were praying for their
children or children for their parents, brothers and sisters
for one another, neighbors for neighbors, all anxious that
before they left the consecrated ground they should be
'sealed' as the 'heirs of salvation.' I will not attempt to
describe the parting scene, for it was indescribable. The
preachers, about to disperse to their distant and hard
fields of labor, hung upon each other's necks weeping and
yet rejoicing. Christians from remote settlements, who had
here formed holy friendships which they expected would
survive in heaven, parted probably to meet no more on earth,
but sang, shouted aloud, and had at last to break away from
one another as by force. As the hosts marched off in
different directions the songs of victory rolled along the
highways. Great was the good that followed. A general
revival of religion spread around the circuits, especially
that of the Bay of Quinte, on which this meeting was held. I
returned to Augusta [then the Osewgatchie] circuit and renewed my labors, somewhat
worn, but full of faith and the Holy Ghost."
* John Wesley, A Collection of
Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists
(1830), #407