The religious fervor and revivals of 18th-century England crossed over the Atlantic and resulted in the revivals in America called the Great Awakenings.
The Great Awakenings were when camp meetings and revivals were held up and down the eastern American colonies during the 1740s. This expanded to the American frontier of the new nation in the early 1800s, as people moved west into Tennessee, Kentucky and beyond.
Congregationalist minister Jonathan Edwards preached the sermon “Sinner in the Hands of an Angry God,” which is still studied to this day. Great crowds gathered to hear him and others preached and concerned about their eternity and wanting to flee the wrath to come. Part of the power of the Great Awakening were people seeking and receiving the assurance of salvation.
George Whitfield preached numerous Camp Meetings, as people flocked to hear him. Benjamin Franklin heard Whitfield and they became friends. Whitfield preached salvation and campaigned for the creation of an orphanage in Georgia.
Once, Franklin was listening to Whitfield’s appeal and he was determined not to give to the offering, but listening to the message he could not but give all he had in his pockets. Such was the pervasive power of Whitfield’s preaching.
Camp Meetings were held in the spring after planting time and in the fall after the harvest. People would travel from miles around and bring their chickens, milk cows and camp. Stages would be built for the preachers and the worship services would be held morning, afternoon and evening. The meetings could last for weeks at a time.
The Second Great Awakening began not long after our nation was born. One of the most influential was the Cane Ridge Camp Meeting held in Kentucky in 1801. The Rev. Barton Stone was one of the organizers. It is estimated between 10 and maybe as high as 20,000 people attended sometime during the services. Prior to this time the Presbyterians, Baptist and Methodist would all separate into their groups to serve Holy Communion for their members.
At Cane Ridge, denominations were cast aside and the people came together to share Holy Communion as one. Again, many were saved and received assurance of salvation. Cane Ridge is one of the great revivals in American. Long after, when a revival was held a prayer would go up, “Let it be like Cane Ridge.”
There are still a number of Camp Meetings that meet each summer where people tent and come to socialize, sing and hear the word of God preached. One is the Robert Sheffey Memorial Campground in Pearisberg, Va. Rev. Sheffey was a 19th-century circuit rider in the Holston area called the “Saint of the Wilderness.” Once called the Wabash Camp Meeting for the name of the nearby stream, it was changed to Sheffey in honor of the preacher. It meets every year under the arbor the first Friday after July fourth and continues for five days.
Where they be another Great Awakening? If so, Lord, let it be like Cane Ridge.
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.