THE HOLINESS CAMP MEETING AT AUCKLAND.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5490, 9 December 1884, Page 2

THE HOLINESS CAMP MEETING AT AUCKLAND.

(From the Star's Albertland correspondent.) Now comes the most striking and extra' ordinary meetings that have ever been held here, and perhaps in the colony. Large placards industriously* posted throughout the district announced that a ''holiness camp meeting " was to take place, and the feeling and interest, to say nothing of the sustained excitement, foretold a lively time of it. Beoroft's Blue-gums Grove was the camping ground selected. One morning the evangelist, with three converts — one and old and respected settler, together with a middle-aged man and a young girl, met ou the camping ground and held a novel service, the special object being to pray that the Holy Spirit would move the heart of some one, and cause them to give a tent. Mr Thomas says he went to Auckland and found a tent half made, and the giver a worthy Auckland citizen, C. B. htone. Plenty of labour was forthcomioe from local converts. The large tent was coon erected in the middle of a large blue-gum grove, and a string of smaller tenta quickly appeared alongside. On the one end was printed in large letters, " With* out Holiness No Man Shall See the Lord ;" the other " The Saint'B Rest." An adjoining barn was turned into a " Holiness Dining-room." Large numbers of people assembled from districts many mil s away on the Wednesday to witness the temperance demonstration. At one time it appeared a division would have occurred amongst the temperance party, but the ho mess meeting was kept distinct and apart from that of temperance. On T hursday morning, at a quarter before siX, bells were set ringing, and the camp was alive. Hallelujah ! hallelujah ! and a couple of score of persons compenced to shout, and the work was started in earnest. Clang, clang, like the ringing of the watch on board ship at sea, at 6, 8, and neon, and again at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., and it was midnight before rest was observed in the camp. The blue-gum grove was lighted up by many lamps hanging to the Irees. Boards bearing inscriptions 'No Smoking,' and many scriptural quotations were nailed to the trees about the camp. On Friday the number of visitors increased } but it is contended that the Holy Spirit much, more abounded. At six o'clo-k on Saturday morning, when the camp was aroused for the day'a worship, it was too painfully evident that human nature and the Holy Spirit were striving for the mastery. Eight women (three Auckland citizens of the number) were on the ground at full length, shouting and yelling, the evangelists' yells mingling with frantic woman (two young girls 18 years old). Timid woman aye, aud strong men, could not stand it. One Auckland woman was found to be a lunatic. The climax was reached on Saturday night, when it was thought five or six were suffering under religious frenzy, bordering on madness. A conflict occured between two evangelists— one Mr JSxley, belonging to the ChristainS Brethren, and the Holy Evangelist. Amidst such confusbn a large number of persons left the tent amazed or grieved. The woman were frantic, running about the tent. At ten p.m. one Ponsonby lady rushed out Tscreaming, md, suddenly stopping near where I waß standing, declared she saw "Jesus up in a blue-gum tree. " Another woman was challenging anyone to "Touch her anointed one," meaning Mr Thomas. At eleven p.m. another rush, and I was pushed agaiust a blue-gum tree. A woman shouted "a holy circle! a holy circle 1" and two woman, three men, and a young lad commenced running around some half dozen young men, who were like myself standing outside, a few yards from the tenta. "Seven times round the walls of Jerichoe !" cried a woman, and the women with uplifted hands and the men around they went. Mr Thomas yelled " Amen 1 amen ?" The young men who were supposed to form the ill-fated city mentioned, seemed to enjoy the fun. I appealed to the husband of one of the women, who was a lunatic I feel sure, to have pity on his wife. He replied it waa the " Holy Ghoat working with her," "Now the walls will soon fall," a woman exclaimed, and at a running pace they reentered the tent. I retired at midnight. On a seat outside one end of the tent a woman Bat faint, her husband nursing her infant. I spoke to a young girl, 18 years old, who stood j two hours in one spot, in one position, leaning against a tree, saying "I'm holy! I'm holy !" On Sunday (today), the most indescribable meeting has taken place. Four times one woman in a frenzy was placed in her tent ; bat she rushed back to the tent twice, and yelled, "Come to Jesus, come to Jesus." Two medical men who were present offered advice, but the husband said it was " The Holy Spirit ; nothing more. One person entered the tent with a number of men to forcibly take a relative out, but he requested to be allowed to sing a hymn first, and he would retire, whioh he did, to the great pleasure of his wife and family. Now a wild scene took place, several persons talking at the same time, the holiness converts singing and praying also. The afore-mentioned crazy woman rushed again outside her tent, and commenced to wrestle with the Tauhoa school-teacher, calling upon the Almighty to help her. Then a movement was made, and the horses were caught and saddled, and the people rode off in all directions, astounded and perplexed.