ENNALL'S SPRINGS CAMP-MEETING.

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and with great power. On one occasion he remained up the whole night, going from tent to tent, instructing penitents, and praying with them."

Nowhere was Mr. Cookman more at home than at Ennall's Springs, Dorchester County, Maryland. He had been accustomed from his early ministry to resort to that beautiful spot, honored of God in the conversion of so many people. This year was the semi-centennial of its appropriation as a place for camp-meetings. The most delightful memories thronged about the place; thousands on earth and thousands in heaven had been brought to God there, and it was proposed to observe the occasion by suitable services. The account of the meeting by a correspondent of The Methodist will be read with pleasure by all lovers of the sacred place, and all who prize genuine campmeetings:

"Rev. Mr. Prettyman, who was present at the first meeting held on the ground, which was under the charge of Father Boehm, was present, and spoke frequently and with thrilling pathos of scenes witnessed on the ground half a century ago. President Wilson, of the Wesleyan Female College; Professor Bowman, of Dickinson College; Professor Fischer, of Philadelphia; Mr. Hurst, of Baltimore; Rev. Alfred Cookman, of Wilmington, were present, and, with Rev. N. M. Brown, preacher in charge, Messrs. Buoys, Watson, Tompkinson, Burke, and others of our own locality, rendered efficient service. This meeting has been specially favored for a number of years with the earnest labors of the sweet-spirited Cookman, who seems, when there, to be as one with his own kindred. Fondly cherished as he is by the people, his services are signally successful. His name is identified with the greatest triumphs of Christ in this locality of late years, and his annual visitation is highly appreciated by the people, and his absence would be greatly felt by them. We may express the hope here that, for the honor and success of Methodism on the Eastern Shore, this meeting may be remembered by our ministerial brethren and friends in the laity in future years. Its influence has been very great in concentrating the feeling and interest of our people in the old Church, and it has contributed, perhaps, as much as any other single influence, toward holding the people together, and keeping them loyal to the Church in the trying times of the last nine years.

"The meeting this year has not fallen behind former occasions. Besides

the ordinary services, special meetings were held each day for ministers, conducted by Rev. A. Cookman; for the children, in which occurred a number of conversions; and for the young ladies on the ground, the latter conducted by Mrs. Cookman, Mrs. President Wilson, and Miss Emily Stevenson. "The most liberal arrangements were made for the entertainment of the preachers in attendance. The lodging-rooms consisted of a well-arranged frame house attached to the preaching-stand, where every home convenience was found. The honor of this arrangement belongs to Mr. Robert Thompson, who erected the building at his own expense. But these good people are not satisfied with extending a week's hospitality to the preachers that come to assist in the meetings, but they gladly welcome their wives and families as well, and the richest provision is made for their entertainment.

"The Sabbath was kept holy, and, although large crowds assembled to listen to the preaching, there was nothing to complain of on the score of show in dress, or time wasted in promenading, or any disorder. The services were ushered in by a prayer-meeting of interest at five o'clock, followed by an old-fashioned love-feast at eight. The latter was held in front of the stand, and was conducted by Professor Bowman.

"The ground soon became densely thronged, and a score or more of ministers were on the stand, when, at ten o'clock, Rev. A. Cookman arose and announced, as the text for the morning sermon, the words: 'Be filled with the Spirit.' His sermon was listened to with undivided interest and attention."

At Brandywine Summit, a few days later, he was preaching and working with equal power. It was not enough for him to deliver one of the sermons on Sunday, but he must occupy the pulpit the last evening of the meeting. He was found, too, among the children, lifting, by his tender, Christ-like spirit, the little ones to God.

"Rev. A. Cookman on the last night of the meeting preached a searching sermon, calling upon the people to estimate the value of the soul, and what is lost in losing it, and what profit it would be if all else in this life was gained but the soul lost. At midnight, in the greatest solemnity, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered to about thirteen hundred persons.

"The children's meetings, held during the progress of the camp, and under the management of Rev. Messrs. Cookman, Clymer, Gracey, and Pancoast, were of more than usual interest. They were not mere occasions of amusement in story-telling and pleasure in singing, but the most searching

PLEASING INCIDENT AT SPRING GARDEN.

367 appeals were made to the children, and prayer-meeting followed, when scores presented themselves at the altar for prayers, and many were converted. Nothing during the meeting was more impressive than to see these little ones of the household arise and tell of the love of Jesus as they felt it in their hearts. In these meetings, little boys and girls, from ten to fourteen years of age, led in earnest prayer. While a sacred stillness prevailed in the immense tent in which the services were held, the voice of a boy or girl arose in sweetest tones to the throne of heavenly mercy, aged veterans knelt before God with faces bathed in tears, and vast crowds looked on, while a little child should lead them. On the last day, the brethren above mentioned stood in the midst of this exceedingly large and interesting group of children, and, while many tears were shed, shook hands with each, and invoked on each the divine blessing. Mothers came leading their little ones forward

to be prayed for by Christian pastors."*

In connection with the children's meeting referred to, a pleasing incident which occurred while Mr. Cookman was at Spring Garden may be appropriately mentioned. A gentleman from the far West, writing immediately after his death, said:

"I attended his ministry at Spring Garden, Philadelphia, during the winter of 1866. I loved him then, but not as I have for the past five years. *** I shall never forget one incident that occurred at that church—that was when a dear little son of his, of only eight years, presented himself as a candidate for probation. My heart melted then, as hundreds besides, when I saw the strong man bowed like a child, and heard him ask the Church if he should receive that lamb into the fold. I saw the loving father then as never before-also the Spirit of Christ, when he said, 'Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.'

"When I saw Brother Cookman years afterward, I asked him if he remembered that incident, and if that little boy had remained faithful. 'Oh, yes,' he said; he is about twelve years old now, and is a sanctified boy.'"

While on this subject it will not be amiss to insert an extract from a short speech which fell from his lips on one occasion at a Sunday-school convention:

"The Rev. Alfred Cookman arose, and expressed his confidence in the conversion of children, declaring that he did not believe 'the way to heaven

*Correspondence of The Methodist.

lay through the territory of sin,' but that children at an early age might be brought to a saving knowledge of redeeming love; citing as an illustration the case of a boy who was converted at the age of ten, who was a pupil in the Sabbath-school, became a teacher, a librarian, an exhorter, afterward a minister of the Gospel, and who then stood before them, to speak his faith in the power of regenerating grace in the hearts of the young.

"Mr. Cookman of course referred to his own history; and those who are familiar with his love for children, and his rare power to interest them, can not but feel grateful that he was so early called of God, since perhaps to this may be attributed that sympathy which he entertains for them; a sympathy which has encouraged many youthful hearts to beat with holy aspirations for the favor of that Saviour who said, 'Suffer little children to come unto

me.

After his return from these meetings, Mr. Cookman wrote to the Rev. L. R. Dunn, of the Newark Conference :

"You will be glad to know that the banner of full salvation is flying gloriously in the forests of this time-honored section. The spirit of holiness that made Abbott and Garrettson and our fathers great, is coming back to the churches founded by their hands over all this historic region. The breath of the Divinity is stirring. Hallelujah!"

CHAPTER XXI.

GRACE CHURCH.-SKILL IN THE PASTORATE.-NATIONAL CAMPMEETINGS AT HAMILTON, OAKINGTON, AND DESPLAINES.

THE camp-meetings over, the devout pastor was once more quietly seated in the bosom of his family, and again engaged in those regular pastoral duties which to him were more congenial than all besides. It was in vain that he was invited to step aside from his chosen work into an educational institution -whatever might be the advantages of a settled home and school facilities for his children, his mission, to himself at least, was clear. The immediate care of souls was to him unspeakably precious; to feed the flock of Christ, an employment beyond any other which the Church could offer him. The state of his feelings and the state of his parish are reflected in a letter to his friend, Rev. J. S. Inskip, President of the National Camp-meeting Association:

"WILMINGTON, November 5, 1869. "I thank you for your kind letter. Your debtor in correspondence, I was thinking of discharging the obligation, and thus writing another missive, when, lo! my large-hearted brother heaps favor on favor. This is like the Divine; and I know you want to bear the image of the Heavenly.

"Before your last note arrived, I had received from Brother Gray the articles of agreement respecting the Oakington meeting, which I read, signed, and forwarded to the brethren at Havre de Grace. They seemed to cover all the points that had occurred to my mind. Their desire to have the counsel and co-operation of Brother Samuel Hindes is, I think, wise and well. He will prove, I believe, a most valuable helper. I deeply sympathize with all you write respecting the magnitude of our responsibilities, and the great need of power-physical, intellectual, and spiritual-that we may stand in our lot, and quit ourselves successfully as the servants of holi