The First Camp Meeting
Fervent evangelist who left state ligliteil
spark which caused religious revival in
North Carolina.
One of the greatest evangelists North
Carolina ever has known was the
Rev. James McGrcady. From about
1791 to 1820 he was the Billy Graham
of his day and time. He stirred up the
folks in Tennessee. Kentucky and
North Carolina in unprecedented fash¬
ion and he was indirectly responsible
for the first camp meeting that ever
took place in this state.
McGrcady’s parents moved to North
Carolina from Pennsylvania while he
was still quite young. They became
members of the Buffalo Church con¬
gregation in Guilford County. The
young man soon decided that he wanted
to become a minister. He pursued his
studies in this connection and was
finally ordained.
Drinking at Funerals
In those days there was a lot of
horse-racing, gambling and drinking.
Any time that a crowd got together —
it didn’t make much difference what
the occasion happened to be — liquor
would be served in liberal fashion. The
habit of distributing liquor at funerals
had become prevalent throughout this
entire area. Plenty of food was set out
and spirits were offered freely for those
who desired to indulge. The solemnity
of the occasion was often lost in the
excitement that ensued.
To preserve the appearance of re¬
ligion, someone — an officer of the
church if he were present — was called
upon to open the scene of eating and
drinking by asking a blessing on the
refreshments that had been prepared.
McGrcady attended a funeral in Guil¬
ford County and, as a special honor
for such a young preacher, was re¬
quested to return thanks.
"No," he replied. "I will not be
guilty of insulting God by asking a
blessing upon what I know to be
wrong."
It created quite a sensation and for
a moment it looked as though the
funeral might prove to be a failure.
Someone else, however, hurriedly re¬
turned thanks, following which every¬
body started eating and drinking.
By CARL GOFRCII
His conduct at the funeral gained
McGrcady considerable publicity and
when he commenced preaching along
Haw River he was listened to attentively
by large congregations. Many of them
didn’t like his style because they felt
that he was being altogether too per¬
sonal in his references to their individ¬
ual habits. He lambasted all of the
vices of the day with enthusiastic fervor
and obtained a large number of con¬
verts. Other preachers followed his
course of action and a general revival
took place throughout North Carolina.
That was in 1791-95. In 1796 Mc¬
Grcady moved to Kentucky and it
wasn’t long before news of his success
out there began to be received ir. this
state. He just naturally went to town
with his preaching and the results were
truly amazing. No such outpouring of
religious feeling had ever been ex¬
perienced in that part of the country,
and the fame of McGreadv spread far
and wide.
In August. 1801. a communion sea¬
son was held at Cross Roads in Orange
County, North Carolina. The preacher
was the Rev. William Paisley. Nothing
of special interest appeared in the con¬
gregation during the days preceding
the Sabbath or during the administra¬
tion of the ordinance. Great solemnity
prevailed, mingled with evident anxiety
as well as prayer among Christians that
God would bless the congregation and
revive His work.
Brings Message
On Monday, the 28th. the public
service was conducted without any ex-
The Joint Bank Account
We have a joint bank account.
/
find I like it fine,
'/'/tat way, the cash I have is his.
A nd what he has is mine.
By mutual agreement
Which laws cannot revoke,
He puts it in. I take it out —
No wonder he's so broke !
Betty W. Stoffel.
pression or appearance of emotion
among the people. The pastor rose to
dismiss the people, intending first to say
a few words expressive of his sorrow
that apparently no advance had been
made in bringing sinners to God. Over¬
whelmed with his sensation of distress
that God had imparted no blessings to
his people, he stood silent a few mo¬
ments and then sat down. A solemn
stillness pervaded the congregation. In
a few moments he rose again. Before he
could utter a word, a young man from
Tennessee, who had been interested in
revival meetings there and had been
telling the people of Cross Roads much
about the state of things in the West,
raised his hands and cried out: “Stand
still and see the salvation of God!"
In a few moments the silence was
broken by a scries of groans and cries
from all parts of the house. All thoughts
of dismissing the congregation vanished
immediately. The remainder of the day
was spent in the exercise of prayer,
exhortation, singing and personal testi¬
monials. Midnight came before the con¬
gregation could
1ч-
persuaded to go to
their respective homes.
First Camp Meeting
In October following, the usual fall
communion was held in Hawfields, the
other part of Mr. Paisley's charge. The
expression of feeling was great front
the very first. The people from Cross
Roads were present in their fervency
of excitement and hope, and multitudes,
whom the report of what had been
done in the August meeting had
brought together, were full of expecta¬
tion. Some were merely curious: others
were earnestly seeking salvation.
People from a distance came in their
wagons and remained on the ground
all night. The meeting was continued
for five days without intermission, the
various religious services of prayer,
singing, sermons, exhortation and testi¬
monials succeeding one another with
only short intervals for refreshments
during the day and a few hours for
sleep during the night. Impressions of
( Continued on page 15)
THE STATE, January 5, 1952
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