History of gospel tents and experience

Front matter

'vwid.

TumaZea;/

HISTORY

Dedication

As our last born, little Earle St. Clair, has so suddenly been taken from us by death, on the 11th day of December 1883 ; and as he was with me at Broad and Spring Garden in the Tent work so heartily, especially with the Workingmens' Meeting at noontime, and sang hymns and repeated the Lord's Prayer amongst them; and as the little creature so attracted the attention of the great congregation at one of the Sabbath afternoon meetings, that they raised ten dollars for Tent purposes to constitute Earle a life member of the Tent Association ; and as he was so true to religion, and as he used to say, " I love old fashioned hymns ;" and as his little heart was delighted to attend Divine service, and funerals, with his father :

Therefore this Tent History is dedicated to his memory, with the most

profound affection, by

Preface

I will give a few reasons for publishing this unpretending volume.

1. I hope by so doing to create a greater interest in the welfare of non-churchgoing people, and convince any that may be doubtful on that question, that if we will go after the people with solicitude and open the door, they will readily come to the Gospel Feast.

2. I hope to stimulate my fellow-laborers to use simple, sensible and earnest means, and that by so doing, even in midsummer, great spiritual victories can be won right in the city full.

3. I hope to impress all my readers with the idea that if the Christian Church will assiduously work for the heathen at home as well as abroad, and if the people can see us saving the poor drunkard and really "rescuing the perishing," the means will be furnished to carry on the work from people not accustomed to sustain the Church.

VI PREFACE.

4. I am hopeful that our meetings, being conducted on non-sectarian principles, and gladly accepting fellow-laborers from the Church of Christ generally, which seemed to give much pleasure to all, will have a tendency to prompt my fellow Gospel laborers to go and do likewise; demonstrating the truth of the Psalmist, when he says, " How good and how pleasant a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."

5. The first book I ever wrote, more than a quarter of a century ago, "Thirteen Years in the Itineracy," was read in manuscript by that now sainted man of God, the Rev. Bishop Scott. He also wrote its preface. Bishop S. was my most intimate ministerial friend ; to him for aid I cannot go. " His loss I deeply feel." But my readers, I trust, will not view my little Tent History " with a critic's eye ;" but as they read, say of the humble author, " He hath done what he could." And I earnestly invoke God's blessing to rest on this " work of faith and labor of love."

6. Finally, I will not disguise the fact that I want to be free. " From all entanglements beneath, call off my peaceful heart." I do not hold forth the idea, as in my former publications, that it is to aid the funds of this or that humane and Christian institution ; but with the past and present work, and my future "Forty Years in the Wilderness," coming by and by, like my now sainted friend,

Rev. John H , who was oppressed but preached, wrote

and scattered stirring volumes until he "owed no man

PREFACE. VI 1

anything but love." My faith is strong that I shall live to see the year of jubilee and enjoy its benedictions.

" If forced from faith forever miserable, For what is misery but want of God, And God is lost if faith be overthrown."

Andrew Manship.

Philadelphia, Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 30th 1883.

Contents

CHAPTEK I.

Converted in a Tent when a Boy — Hon. James L. Bartol — Hon. Eli Saulsbury, U. S. Senator — Samuel G. Smith, founder of Bloomery — Dedicatory Sermon — Tents the order of the day — " I have put off my coat, how shall I put it on ?" — An old Sea Captain converted in a Tent — An Old Man Converted and his son blessed, while praying in a Tent — Red Lion Camp Meeting — New Tent from Union M. E. Church, Wilmington — Pitch Tents Sixteenth and Coates Streets in 1853 — Bishop Waugh lays corner-stone in the Tent — - Friendly spirit of the Churches in loaning Tents — Soap used to good advantage — Uses made of North Penn Tent — First soul converted — Rev. Thos. T. Tasker and Rev. A. Atwood at Seaside in Tent — Tent goes to the war — Venango street Tent Meeting — A soldier converted in the Tent — The Great Wigwam in Girard Avenue, 1866 — I tried to get brother Ministers to help in Tent work — Simple means effectual — Successors of the Apostles — The Camp Tents at Chestnut Hill lithographed, ..*..... 13-27

Chapter II

The Leadings of Providence — Dr. Webster Superintendent — The Sanctuary Trustees — The Saturday Night Meeting — Rev. Anthony Atwood — The Young People's Meeting — Rev. Jerome Lindermuth — The Writer did the best he could at Night — Monday Afternoon and Night — The Inquirer's kind Notice — Tuesday the great Battle was fought — Wednesday night fully Dedicated — None saved till Saturday night, 27-36

Chapter III

The first Convert — Several take the Pledge — An interesting Letter — Our object to benefit the Churches — All classes attend — Laborious day — Young McAllister — Kind Notice by the Philadelphia Inquirer

(ix)

X CONTENTS.

— Rev. Mr. Kurtz — Anecdote forty years ago — John Huggins, the Poet — Colored Clergymen helping us — Brooklyn Evangelist — Two remarkable Funerals the 9th of August — Death of Harry Smitten — The results of the labors ot 30th November 1882 — Great Children's Meeting — Praise to Tract Societies — Took several to Sanctuary — A glorious Union Meeting — Rev. James Morrow, D.D. — Endorsement by the populace — The Doxology was sung — Rev. J. R. Merrell's Faith increases — Rev. J. Y. Ashton — Rev. Mr. Young — A thrilling Conversion — Kindness the best — Two Colored men singing with their Children — Ethiopia stretches out her hands — Great events to follow — The Ledger's Editorial- — Refrain from these Men, 37-61

Chapter IV

Workingmen's Meeting — Specimen Sermons — One thousand Circulars sent out — The Funeral of a Workingman — Ministers, Laymen and Christian Women helping — Meetings non-sectarian — Professor Foster and Lady Volunteer to give us Music — Volunteers better than Conscripted Men — The Philadelphia Newspapers kind — The two Lectures towards the second hundred — One noble man buys fifty — Faith in God, the People and ourselves — " You did not believe you could" — Complimentary resolutions relating to lectures — The Prodigal comes home — The Holy Ghost fell upon us — The testimony of converts — Mr. McNichol — The Police Force kind — Little Earle made a life member — Handbills and Hymns sent out — A tribute of respect to Friends — Mr. Joseph Clough — Eight Denominations represented — Predict a bright day to-morrow — The Onesimus Sermon — Faithful helpers — Sketching a Sermon — Rev. Mr. Denning and Rev. Mr. Hambleton — Rev. Mr. Smith of Salem M. E. Church — Rev. Mr. Golday — The Bible Society — Rev. Irvine Torrence — Lost, perhaps saved, by a Mother's Prayers, 62-93

Chapter V

Rev. John F. Meredith— Change our Bulletin— Christian Union- Keep the Churches open — Rev. Mr. Anderson— " I will cut the ropes" — Mr. Geo. Burnham shows his respect — Mrs. Young's courage in the Workingmens' Meeting— Presentation of Preamble and Resolutions— My last Sermon to the Men— I invite them to Sanctuary— They give me their cards in return for mine— Rev. Mr. Harrison takes Rev. Dr. Vernon's place— Rev. John A. Roche, D.D.

XI CONTENTS.

— " Certainly ! Certainly ! Certainly !" — "Are the Consolations of God small with thee?" — Rev. Dr. Roche my first guest — A two Months' Review — Grand Ministers — Rev. James Morrow, P.P., Rev. Dr. Curtis F. Turner, Rev. Adam Wallace, P.P.— Reach the Masses — The Race for Glory and Fighting for a Crown — The closing Services — Rev. Pr. Roche at Mr. Rose's Funeral — Tent stored for another Campaign — The Narrow Way— A Soul saved in the Plank Tent — The German Parade utilized for Tent Work — All People indebted to the Church — The Sale of Lumber by Faith and Works — Led by the Lord — The Pedication of John Wesley Church, Salem Co., N. J.— A Tent Pitched— The Webb Family and Rev. Mr. Still — A Straight up and down Shout, . 93-127

Chapter VI

" Streams in the Pesert " — " Owe no man anything " — How is this to be avoided in some cases ? — Work manfully, " Peliverance will come " — Kind Letters which show the Tide is turning — Bishop Peck — Light thrown on the subject — Help on the Indians — Get out of the old ruts — "His usefulness ended in this city" — "Work while the day lasts" — Pying words valuable — "Bury him. if he were dead " — Burying City Officials — If you are a Minister, that's enough. — "Why run after that crazy Fanatic?" — " Pon't weary in well doing " — " With joy we greet you " — " Victory, victory." — " Cast

thy bread on the waters " — S. P. Godwin, Esq. — Mr. B 's Letter

of Gratitude — Streams of Salvation into Sanctuary M. E. Church — Promising young men — "Joy cometh in the morning" — The Revival seen by Faith in Sanctuary — How are we to lengthen the cords ? — Grand and sad results in thirty years — St. George's on the top wave — The children promising to the church — The sensible choir — Short step from activity to helplessness — The Conference worker's report — The sermon on the river — The letters responded to beautifully— Rev. Bishop Simpson — " Pefence of the Fathers" — May the last days be the best — Kind words in behalf of Local Preachers — The tide rolls on — Respect to the memory of Earle St. Clair — A little child shall lead them — Rev. Thos. Hanlon, P.P. — Valedictory— " Coming by and by." 128-189

OF

GOSPEL TENTS.

Chapter I

(" How goodly are thy Tents, 0 Jacob, and thy Tabernacles, 0 Israel.")

Numbers, 24 : 15.

Converted in a Tent when a Boy — Hon. James L. Bartol — Hon. Eli Saulsbury, U. S. Senator — Samuel G. Smith, founder of Bloomery — Dedicatory Sermon — Tents the order of the day — "I have put off my Coat, how shall I put it on ?" — An old Sea Captain converted in a Tent — An Old Man converted, and his Son blessed, while praying in a Tent — Red Lion Camp Meeting — New Tent from Union M. E. Church, Wilmington — Pitch Tents Sixteenth and Coates Streets in 1853 — Bishop Waugh lays corner-stone in the Tent — Eriendly spirit of the Churches in loaning Tents — Soap used to good advantage — Uses made of North Penn Tent — Eirst soul converted — Rev. Thos. T. Tasker and Rev. A. Atwood at Seaside in Tent — Tent goes to the war — Venango street Tent Meeting — A Soldier converted in the Tent — The Great Wigwam in Girard Avenue, 1866 — I tried to get brother Ministers to help in Tent work — Simple means effectual — Successors of the Apostles — The Camp Tents at Chestnut Hill lithographed.

T AM sure it will do good to tell'' my readers my

-*- humble experience in connection with Tents and

Tabernacles. First, I was converted to God in a

Tent, " The Denton Union Tent," when I was a youth at Three Bridges' Woods, about three miles from Denton, Md. As I was going in to seek the Lord, a class leader restrained me and endeavored to hold me back, but I persevered, with good results. We do not restrain the children now. This is progress in the right direction. I recollect so vividly a tall young man being near me, also sought the Lord very earnestly ; I remember his position ; he was flat on his back, looking up to the " Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world." He was faithful to the end, and though he filled high positions in the state, he was ever true to the church of his early choice. The person I refer to was Governor Gove Saulsbury, of Delaware. That was a glorious meeting, and lasted till the break of day. We wrestled like Jacob, the patriarch, till the angel had to say, "Let me go, for the day breaketh," and measured up to the spirit of one of the grandest hymns ever written by mortal man, where the poet says,

cc With Thee all night I mean to stay, And wrestle till the break of day."

The second sermon I preached, after having been licensed when quite youthful, was in a Tent, the forerunner of Bloomery M. E. Church, in Caroline Co., Md. It was a cold January day; I spent Saturday night with Eli Saulsbury, now U. S. Senator from Delaware; he was an official member at Wesley Chapel, and after voting for me to receive license, and hearing me preach my first sermon, took me home with him to his mother's house and kindly entertained me ; and bright and early next morning I started on horseback to my Tent, Bloomery meeting ; I had the use of lawyer James L. Bartol's fine horse. Mr. Bartol was then a rising young lawyer in Denton, Md. His kindness to the young preacher and kindred acts have won for him an enviable reputation, and he is now the Chief Justice of the State of Maryland. How I would like to meet the now venerable Judge and thank him for his kindness to me in my early ministry in the home field. The Tent was on a sand bank; the winds whistled, the boards of this plank tent rattled ; the young preacher did his best, and assisted by the glorious leader Samuel G. Smith, we made a joyful noise, and as the work of salvation went on and as we saw souls converted we thought of the passage, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth ; so is every one that is born of the spirit." Grand meetings were held in that Tent; many Soldiers of the Cross, enlisted to fight for Christ and liberty, so that the work commenced in the Tent culminated in the building of the beautiful church that is an ornament to the neighborhood, and in 1854 I had the honor of preaching the Dedicatory Sermon.

On my early circuits, Tents were the order of the day. We held camp meetings, and woods meetings in my childhood's home, and on all my early fields of labor, "Pratt's Branch," "Combs' Woods," " Ross's Woods," " Kent Island," the Tents were a prominent part of the arrangement. At one of those Tent meetings at Combs' Woods, as it was then called, between Camden and Dover, the enthusiastic young preacher could have been seen singing and shouting with his coat off, standing on the central bench in the Tent, the perspiration rolling down his youthful face profusely- No doubt some might have said there is more zeal than brains, there is a lack of dignity; but at that camp meeting the ministers were all quite zealous; my senior preacher, Rev. Wm. Connelly, long since gone to heaven, was flaming with the glory of God, and in that heated fiery meeting where I could say in the language of the bible " I put off my coat," an old captain, the father of an eminent minister, was most gloriously converted. Yes, in that Tent meeting, the devil seemed to throw him down and tear him, and he foamed at the mouth, and speaking as one having authority, and not as the scribes, Rev. William Connelly said, apparently addressing the devil, " I command you to come out of him." " And devils were subject to them." The devil was literally cast out. In 1843 Kent Island was a great attraction ; the camp meeting was a grand success in Stephens's Woods; what grand ministers we had — Revs. Enos R. Williams, James Allen, Rev. Dr. Roberts, of Baltimore, Rev. William II. Elliott, and others. All that I have named, except Rev. William H. Elliott, are dead. Scores were converted ; the present Dr. Roderick Earkison, the lady (Miss. Goodwin) whom he afterwards married, and young Mr. Carter, the son of a rich man, who died happy in two weeks after camp meeting, were among the converts. Many conversions took place in the large meeting Tent. I recollect a Mr. Bryan, a thrilling case of conversion ; his father was converted in the stand, at that camp meeting; he was an old man who fought in the Revolutionary war; his conversion shook the camp meeting from centre to circumference. Late at night we started a meeting in the big Tent; his son had never been .converted, though a nominal member of the church. I took the liberty to call on him to lead in prayer, and while he thanked God for converting others, among the rest, his venerable father, the power of the Holy Ghost came upon him, and he shouted " I am saved, I am blessed ! glory to God for what he has done for my soul to-night !"

My next official connection with a big Tent was in 1851, at Red Lion camp meeting. I was at Union Church, in Wilmington ; though we had built a new church in Wilmington, we felt moved to get up a large new company Tent. What power came down upon us at the dedication of that white-winged messenger of salvation ! What glorious men I had associated with me from our church! such as Isaac McConnell, Jordan Staggers, Wm. Edmunson, Cyrus Stern, Albert Thatcher, and many others. What glorious women we had ! such as Miss Margaret Rumford, Miss Elizabeth Hollowell, Miss Mary Temple, Mrs. Ford and others, the most of whom have pitched their Tents, never more to strike them, on the banks of the river of life. Though it has been thirty-two years, how vividly I remember the conversion of a

gray-headed man from Brandywine Hundred, by 2 the name of Webster ; and in that Tent — their name was legion, for they were many — over twenty were converted in one night. How this large beautiful Tent built us up in our most Holy Faith.

My next official Tent arrangement, and the largest of my life, was in connection with the erection of the new church on the St. George's lot, 16th below Fairmount Av., Phila. We were ready for the laying of the corner-stone in 1853. The day was bright. Bishop Waugh came on from Baltimore. I met him at the Baltimore Depot. I showed him the Ledger with the advertisement, headed, in the language of Scripture " To your Tents, 0 Israel." Said the Bishop, "that sounds like you, Brother Manship." "No, Bishop, not me, but it sounds like the word of God." We had tents pitched to screen us from the sun. The churches were friendly — St. John's, St. George's, St. Paul's and Wharton street. Rev. George R. Crooks, pastor of St. John's, came to our help, and after the Bishop had successfully laid the corner-stone, we continued the Tent Meetings. It was a city camp meeting, and so published in the city papers. The corner-stone was laid on, Thursday, and by the Sabbath we enlarged the borders and had Tents pitched sufficient to hold two thousand people. In the Sabbath Service, as I stood in the pulpit, like a camp meeting stand, some one threw at me a big piece of hard soap ; it struck one of the posts and fell harmless jat my feet. I said, "this will answer a good purpose; to-morrow is wash-day, I will take it home, and the washerwoman will use it in washing linens that we will soil in getting just such sinners converted to God !" We worshipped in the Tents all the time, until the weather became too frosty and cold, then we changed our base and struck our Tents; hundreds were converted to God under those canvas sacred white Tabernacles. I like the white snow-like Tents, they indicate purity. As soon as the frost drove us from the tented field, we erected a more substantial Tent, viz., the temporary plank Hedding M. E. Church, and while the brick church was being built, nearly one thousand were converted to God. Glory to his name ! That work will never stop — it will go on throughout eternal ages.

My next arrangement with Tent work was at North Penn, nearly a quarter of a century ago. We used our Tent for various purposes : first, we pitched it on the lot or near the lot where we expected to build the church — the Mission Church. The night of its dedication one soul was converted to God, a Miss Bodenstine, now Mrs. Drum, and a most effective worker in the present M. E. Church there, and in the providence of God, able with means and energy to do good service to the cause of Christ. Second, we used this Tent on an excursion to Atlantic City, pitching it on the beach ; that was our Excursion House; we had a full supply of ice water, nothing stronger; we had grand music; we sent down an instrument, we had glorious religious services by the seaside. Rev. Thomas T. Tasker, and Rev. A. Atwood, were the principal speakers ; nobly did they do their work ; I am glad they are still living and happy on the banks of Jordan. Thirdly, this glorious Tent finished its course in the service of the country. Rev. Brother Sewell, Chaplain of Col. Murphy's Regiment, asked me for it, as a place of religious worship for our noble boys in blue; I could not resist. Like thousands of patriotic men who went to the front, the grand glorious Tent never returned, but their works do follow them. What a patriotic and Christian act was performed by this Tabernacle!

We laid the corner-stone of the church in Venango street, east of Richmond, with the help of Tents pitched in the field in 1866. We repaired the North Penn M. E. Church in 1866, with the help of God and Tents, we re-dedicated it. We spent the day gloriously inside and outside of the church. The Tent meetings were the great attractions ; a young man who fought in the war was gloriously converted in the Tent meeting that day, and God's power was displayed gloriously.

In 1866 when the north and the south met in the great wigwam to smoke together the pipe of peace, and hold patriotic grateful services, as a watchman on the walls of Zion, I looked out for a chance to advocate the cause of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I was then city missionary of the M. E. Church. The wigwam was secured for religious purposes the Sabbath after the national meetings were over. I preached to a vast multitude ; we had meetings all day ; a great Presbyterian minister preached in the afternoon — Rev. Dr. Landis, of Tenn. ; General Gregory, in full uniform, also told the old, old story of Jesus and his Love. He was a Presbyterian.

Ten tnousand tracts were distributed; one thousand small hymn books were there for free use. The instrument of music was sent from my house. My own boy, Levi Scott, played all day; the penny collections run up to near one hundred dollars. Such a meeting never perhaps was held in the City of Philadelphia. Why should it not have gone on ?

Monday morning I went to the Preachers' Meeting ; I laid the subject before the brethren ; I asked them to " come over into Macedonia and help us ;" I said, "let us hold a great city camp meeting; I can get the wigwam free, for Christ and his cause ; it will hold ten thousand ;" but I am sorry to say I was not encouraged, but discouraged. I remember one of the speakers charged the meeting with being the means of breaking the Sabbath.

That day the Girard Avenue cars run for the first time ; but how flimsy was the allegation ; better charge the company whose main aim was to make money regardless of the command of God, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy!" I have often thought since I made a mistake in not taking the name of Jesus with me, and going ahead, relying on the promise, "Lo! I am with you always; even unto the end of the world !" How many opportunities we allow to pass, which, if improved, would result in the salvation of blood-bought souls !

If we do not enter into these open doors, can we blame others for so doing? Can we find fault, with propriety, with the Holiness movement, ineluding Tabernacle and National Camp Meeting arrangements? Can we find fault with the Salvation Army, and the hosts of Evangelists going forth, and Evangelistic efforts that are being inaugurated ? God hath chosen simple, earnest means for saving souls ; " plainness and simplicity becometh the Gospel," and if the Church gets too dignified to follow in the footsteps of the Apostolic Church, and too high-toned to follow the example of Wesley and our Fathers, He will raise up a people that will go out into the highways and hedges, and reach the masses. " The poor have the Gospel preached unto them." My idea is, that all ministers ought to be full of Faith and the Holy Ghost, and gladly could we then "do the work of an Evangelist," make full proof of our ministry, and feel that we are in the most glorious sense of the word, " The Successors of the Apostles ;" and convert sinners from the error of their way, and say, " Ye are my epistles, known and read of all men."

In 1871, while in my third year at Chestnut Hill station, I had tried almost everything that was proper to create a religious interest, and, as a finality, I told my brethren I wanted to hold a Camp Meeting in the beautiful grove near Willow Grove station. All united with me ; we had fine arrangements, good seats, an excellent pulpit, a good bell, a fine organ, and we had a few Tents ; none lodged on the ground but myself and family.

The greatest thing and the "central point of bliss," was Rev. Andrew Dowden Davis's grand large Tabernacle. This indefatigable clergyman was then stationed at Harrington, Delaware, and by his enthusiasm and industry, helped on greatly by his grand Tabernacle which he had built to order, succeeded, not only in winning souls, but in erecting the beautiful M. E. Church in the town of Harrington, now one of the most flourishing towns in Kent county, Delaware. I had the honor of assisting in the dedication, both of the Canvas Tabernacle and the beautiful Church, which is the greatest of all the enterprises of that flourishing place. I place the Church at the head of all; she is the superlative good, and I do not wonder that David said : " I will not give sleep to mine eyes or slumber to mine eyelids, until I find out a place for the Lord — a habitation of the mighty God of Jacob."

Owing to the fact that I was quite intimate with the Rev. A. D. Davis, I ventured to ask him for the use of his Tent for my Chestnut Hill Camp Meeting. We did not deem it too much trouble or expense to bring this Tabernacle up from the State of Delaware. It nobly did its work, and made itself an immortal history. The most terrific thunder storm I can remember took place on Sunday night at the camp, accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning and heavy rain. The masses of people who were in attendance that Sunday night, were, from the raging storm, driven for shelter into this large Tent. We certainly took advantage of the circumstance. We sang appropriate hymns, such as —

" The God that rules on high, And on the earth surveys, That rides upon the stormy sky, And calms the roaring seas."

Rev. John Klein, of Philadelphia, preached from the text, " Prepare to meet thy God." He seemed to be inspired ; never did he preach so powerfully as on that occasion. A stately oak at one end of the Tent in the meantime was struck and split open, a ball of fire passed through the Tent with the speed of lightning, and the great crowd of living humanity made a narrow escape. The preacher waxed more earnest and eloquent as the storm wildly swept over our camp. One young man starting to run at full speed for his home in Chestnut Hill, fell and ruptured a blood vessel, and died ; the fear and trembling that came upon the people was intense. We held a glorious prayer meeting after the sermon was over, and felt happy in the work, and could sing sincerely,