The Camp Meeting in Swamps and Soirees
One of the unifying images and settings in Swamps
and Soirees is the idea of Camp Meeting. Camp Meetings were historical
gatherings that began in the late 1700’s during the Great Awakening. Francis
Asbury, one of the founders of Methodism, travelled and preached at these ad hoc campgrounds as residents in the area gathered for a week-long revival of
Christianity.
Through the years, the camp meetings morphed into something
more than their strictly religious beginnings. At the inception, tents were
erected for local residents to sleep in and rest between the meetings. Later,
crude wooden structures were built to replace the fabric tents. These wooden structures
were built with only a couple of feet between them, had dirt floors, an open
floor plan and a loft for sleeping. Porches extended from the fronts with primitive
benches under them, which encouraged folk to sit outside to socialize with their
neighbors. Some families have owned these cabins for generations, passing them
down to successive generations.
Initially, these “revivals” could occur at most any time of
year; however, as they became annual gatherings, the meetings were organized
around the harvest in the fall when campers could enjoy the fruits (and vegetables
and meats) of their labors. There was always a pig or two sacrificed for the
occasion. Many families even hired cooks that had worked the camp meetings for
practically their whole lives. Camp meetings are still known for their amazing
Southern foods.
At the center of the circle of “tents” an open-sided wooden
Tabernacle with simple benches became the central gathering place in the
evenings for services. This Tabernacle was physically and symbolically the
centralized reason for fellowship and a revival (or rebirth or an awakening) of
faith for the entire community.
A fictitious camp meeting is a unifying motif in Swamps
and Soirees. Throughout most of the novel, the characters look forward to the
meeting, plan for the camp, and enjoy friends and family during the revival. It
is also where some very important “events” happen that change the outcome of
this inspirational story. I hope you enjoy learning about camp meeting as you read this funny, inspirational story of hope, love and courage!
