would believe, inspiring an enthusiasm for a pure life, were natural, and naturally soon became wide-spread, and as the writer believes, has done more in breaking away the shackles of ignorance and debasing superstition from the mind, than any other system of worship or doctrine of faith taught by man; and to this, in a great degree, is due the freedom of thought, independence of feeling and action, chivalrous bearing, and high honor of the Southern people.  Inculcating as it does the simple teachings of the gospel of Christ,—­to live virtuously—­do no wrong—­love thy neighbor as thyself, and unto all do as you would be done by,—­a teaching easy of comprehension, and which, when sternly enforced by a pure and elevated public sentiment, becomes the rule of conduct, and society is blessed with harmony and right.  This moral power is omnipotent for good, concentrating communities into one without divisions or dissensions, to be wielded for good at once and at all times.  Nothing evil can result from such concentration of opinions being directed by the vicious and wicked, so long as the moral of this faith shall control the mind and heart.

Camp-meetings, an institution of this church, and which were first commenced in Georgia, are a tradition there now.  Here and there through the country yet remains, in ruinous decay, the old stand or extemporized pulpit from which the impassioned preacher addressed the assembled multitude of anxious listeners; and around the square now overgrown with brush-wood and forest-trees, prostrate and rotten, the remains of the cabin tents may be seen, where once the hospitality of the owners and worshippers was dispensed with a heartiness and sincerity peculiar to the simple habits, and honest, kindly emotions of a rude and primitive people.

How well do I remember the first of these meetings I ever witnessed!  I was a small lad, and rode behind my father on horseback to the ground.  It was sixty-five years ago.  The concourse was large, consisting of the people of all the country around—­men, women, and children, white and black.  Around a square enclosing some six acres of ground, the tents were arranged—­arbors of green boughs cut from the adjoining forest formed a shelter from the sun’s rays.  In front of all of these, shading the entrance to the tent, under this friendly sheltering from the heat of the sun, assembled the owners and the guests of each, in social and unceremonious intercourse.  This was strictly the habit of the young people; and here, in evening’s twilight, has been plighted many a vow which has been redeemed by happy unions for life’s journey, and to be consummated when the cold weather came.  In the rear of the tents were temporary kitchens, presided over in most instances by some old, trusted aunty of ebon hue, whose pride it was to prepare the meals for her tent, and to hear her cooking praised by the preachers and the less distinguished guests of master and mistress.  The sermons were preached in the morning, at noon, and