G.F. Playter on The Hay Bay camp meeting
Playter History of Methodism in Canada 85-86
As these meetings were prevailing in
several of the states, and were attended with remarkable
revivals of the work of God, some of the preachers after
conference resolved on having a camp meeting in Canada. The
Bay of Quinte circuit was selected, and the spot was a field
of Peter Huff's, on the Hay Bay shore, and near the chapel
in Adolphustown. The field was sprinkled with logs, which
served for seats. The meeting was conduced by the two
circuit preachers [Henry Ryan and William Case], but
[Daniel] Pickett [of the Yonge Street circuit], [Sylvanus]
Keeler [of the Oswegotchie circuit], [Thomas] Madden [of
Smith's Creek circuit], and Bangs, were present. A few
persons had tents in the field, made by poles, and covered
with cotton or linen sheets and blankets. A boat load of
Methodists went down from Sidney. The attendance was not
large, and scarcely exceeded a hundred persons at any one
service, excepting Sunday. The services began on Friday, and
ended on Monday, and were accompanied by a great display of
the awakening and converting, as well as sanctifying, grace
of God. A little incident produced a great impression on the
heedless youth present. The signs of conviction and
penitence seen on some sinners at the meeting, the young men
disbelieved, and boldly told the preachers, they were the
effect of scaring. At one of the services, when the
congregation rose from prayer, a lad of eleven years of age,
living at Casey's point, remained kneeling, weeping, and
agonising in prayer for mercy, at the hands of a gracious
God. Ryan noticing came to the place, and called the young
people to come and see the sight. He asked whether what they
saw could be done by scaring, for the sermon was not begun.
They all acknowledged that scaring could not be the cause,
and that it must be something else. "Well," said the
preacher, "it will do the lad no harm if we pray for him. So
let us all kneel down and pray." Gradually the youths
believed in a spiritual influence, and soon after felt it.
On Sunday, awful sensations were produced under the
preaching of the Gospel, many bowing before the Lord in fear
and penitence, while the pious were filled with joy
unspeakable and full of glory. A great revival of religion
was the consequence of this meeting, particularly on the Bay
of Quinte and Oswegotchie circuits, which eventuated in the
conversion of hundreds of souls. The meeting was quite
orderly, compared with camp meeting in after years. Indeed,
the people were yet in their happy simplicity, and had not
learned now to be mischievous.