Untitled Document

SWEDISH CAMP MEETINGS.

By Philip J. Stoneberg.

While it is believed that the first Methodist camp-meeting in the United States was held in Kentucky, 1799, and that possibly the first camp meetings in Illinois were held about 1807, in St. Clair and Madison counties, the first independent Swedish Methodist camp meeting was held in Andover township. Henry county, in August, 1855.

This first Swedish camp meeting was followed by a second and a third in '56 and '57 in Andover township, but there was no fixed location. In '58 and '59 the Swedes held their camp meetings in Knox county, but came back to Andover township for the one of 1860. After going to Knox county again they held three successive camp meetings in Red Oak Grove, Weller township, 1863-5. Lynn Grove, Lynn township was the location in 1866; Knox county, 1867; Lynn Grove, 1868-9; Red Oak Grove 1870; Lynn Grove, 1871; and Red Oak Grove, 1872.

The method of lighting the grounds at the pioneer camp meetings was to erect four posts at square angles and cross lay them on top with poles. On the poles earth was placed and then dry wood which was ignited and replenished as the need demanded.

Another means of giving light was to place in little niches in the trees, glass tumblers partly filled with water on which was a layer of lard oil about an inch thick. A piece of tin in the shape of a star had a piece of cork at each point and a hole in the center to which a funnel was soldered in which a candle-wick was placed. This mechanism was floated on the oil and when the wick was lighted, a light was produced.

From 1873 to 1883 the annual camp meetings were held in Charles F. Peterson's portion of Hickory Grove, near Ophiem. Some building was done here to give added comfort, although tents were used by campers from a distance.

It was in the meantime decided to buy a suitable site for future camp-meet- mgs. Accordingly ten acres were secured in another Hickory Grove, located in Galva township. The price was three hundred and fifty dollars. The trustees at the time the deed of sale was made were John Hoogner, C. F. Peterson, John Samuelson, C. J. Hofflund, Olof Stoneberg, Andrew Imberg, H. W. Eklund, Alfred Anderson and John Wigren.

The new grounds were put in shape, a dining hall and a house for the ministers were erected, and other needful im provements were made, bringing the total cost to about eight hundred dollars.

The first camp-meeting on the new site was held in August, 1884. A number of tents had been pitched, the main services were held in the open fronting the speakers' stand, while a "pilgrim tent" served for minor meetings. This large tent was superseded by an "Epworth league tent" some years later.

Since 1884 a camp-meeting has been held every year excepting 1890 and 1891 when "basket" meetings were held. Free will offerings were received until 1899, since when an admission fee of five cents a person above the age of twelve years, and five cents a horse has been charged on Sundays, the admission being free on weekdays.

In 1905 a tabernacle was built at a cost of about seven hundred dollars. It was calculated to seat about three hundred and fifty persons. Now and then a cottage has been erected by some congregation, gradually displacing the tents of old and adding to the permanence of the camp.

The camp-grounds belong to the Galesburg district camp-meeting association, Central Swedish Conference. The district superintendent is exofficio president of the association. The other officers consist of a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer. There are nine trustees, also one lay-representative from each charge on the district. There are four standing committees, namely: grounds and improvements, finance and subsistence, police and transportation and auditing accounts. The annual business meeting is held in connection with the camp meeting which is usually held in August, while there is a preliminary meeting several weeks before.

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