Spalding County GaArchives News.....Mt. Zion Camp Ground Celebrates 115th Anniversary
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Linda Sparks Starr    lsstarr@pilgrimage.us


**Note from contributor: The following are various newspaper articles covering 
GA related topics (mostly obituaries) which were pasted into a scrapbook by 
Pauline (Rankin) Starr, wife of Harry -- descendant of Benjamin & Charlotte. 
They probably subscribed to a GA newspaper(s), but these may just be articles 
sent them by people 'back home'.  She was from Calhoun (Gordon Co.) and he 
from Sunnyside. The name of the newspaper, and alas date of obit / marriage 
announcement is not given in most cases.**


Mt. Zion Camp Ground Celebrates 115th Anniversary

         When the Mount Zion Camp Meeting opened last Monday night it 
celebrated its 115th birthday. Rev. LeRoy  Smith, Pastor of the Mount Zion 
Methodist Church, introduced the minister of the week, Rev. McLowery Elrod, 
pastor of the First Methodist Church, Griffin. The song leader for the week 
is Bill Layton, Grace Methodist Church, Atlanta, with Mrs. David Harris and 
Mr. Frank Phillips serving as musicians. The opening prayer was given by 
District Superintendent Henry H. Jones.

         People have been coming to Mt. Zion Camp Ground since before the 
War Between the States. In 1834 Judge John Reed gave 200 acres of land to 
the Methodist church which was organized as the Mount Zion Camp Ground. The 
first Camp meeting was held under a brush arbor and three families erected 
"tents" of slab wood and lived there during the meeting. During the War 
Between the States meetings were temporarily abandoned. With the revival of 
the Camp Ground following the War a few "tents" were added. During a 
meeting held under the direction of Rev. Sam Jones a downpour of rain came 
so that everyone who attended had to raise their umbrellas. Money was 
immediately raised to build the first wooden structure. Mount Zion Camp 
Meetings have continued to be held every year since.

         The meetings at the Mount Zion Camp Ground are held under the 
jurisdiction of a Board of Directors and Managers, of which Mr. Warren 
Coppedge, Rome, is Chairman. He has been a regular atendant (sic) of the 
camp meetings since his childhood. Other members of the Board are: W. P. 
Blanton, Williamson; E. B. Connell, Williamson; G. H. Coppedge and F. M. 
Philips. Atlanta; J. O. Futral, E. G. Harper and W. M. Murphy, Griffin; I. 
W. Wheeless, D. A. Robinson, Mt. Zion; Neville Brown, Williamson; Albert 
Swint Orchard Hill; and W. C. Maddox, Griffin.


Linda Sparks Starr    lsstarr@pilgrimage.us
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~lksstarr