Memories of Church Camp at Leisure Lake

[Pragmatist]

This is posted from my mother, commonsense.


This is an attempt to preserve the history of a wonderful camp that began 50 years ago. If you listen to Rush you've heard him discuss revisionist history.I was afraid the camp would be wiped from the slate.


As I stumbled upon a camp schedule that was taken from my dad's desk drawer, I realized that this is probably not a well known camp in the grand scheme of things, and I want to share my memories. Obviously, the memory of an 8 year old, will be biased and somewhat limited but I'll give my story none the less.

I'm not sure why, probably just due to geography, but nine churches in northern WI and MN formed a fellowship circle. There were monthly fellowship meetings and in 1957....Bible Camp. The unique aspect of this is that it involved 2 states, 2 districts and 2 oneness organizations; the UPC and the PAW. The churches were in Duluth ( 2-one UPC and one PAW), Superior, Ashland, Spooner, Rice Lake, Butternut, Dairyland and one I don't recall.

I remember great preaching and a wonderful move of God in the services. My memory might not be totally accurate but as I recall...one year the UPC picked the eveing speaker and the PAW selected the afternoon Bible teacher. It was reversed the following year and the PAW picked the evening speaker and the UPC picked the Bible teacher. I wish I could remember all the preachers' names. The camp began in 1957 and continued until 1962 or 63. The only names I can remember are Bro Latta and Bro Billhymer.


I want to set the scene: approximately 10 miles from the highway, on a heavily wooded gravel road that eventually was more sand than road. They rented the campground from Washburn County. It was not intended for church. There were several cabins scattered on wooded hilly sandy terrain. There was a Dining Hall, that was also used as the Tabernacle. There was a pump in front of the dining hall and around the bend along the lake there were 2 outhouses. In other words, this was quite primitive. Not a big deal if you're going camping, but this was Church camp!

I'll try not to be too disjointed, but the memories may not be in sequential order. There was incentive to get to service early, since it was in the dining hall and that means no pews or chairs. There were wooden tables with a long bench on each side. If you got to service early the table could be in front of you. If you were late the table was at your back. Remember, I was only 8, but I recall the discomfort of the table in your back. Trust me, it was not a great back rest.

The power of God came down in those services and it swept through the entire "tabernacle". At altar call there were several that rotated playing the piano as we sang choruses. The rotation was necessary due to the length of the prayer time and the enthusiasm of the pianists. I remember they pounded the keys to the point there were nearly blisters on their fingertips. Therefore the changing of the guard. The rest of the music department was accordions, guitars, and a few horns or tambourines.

I remember the Holy Ghost falling down like rain; people getting the gift of laughter and they couldn't stop; seeing someone start speaking in tongues, leaving the altar, still speaking in tongues, going outdoors with his friends as they had an after service snack....and still speaking in tongues....it was a wonderful time.

This is 1957....no keyboards, no pantyhose, no permanent press clothing, all the church outfits were cotton and needed to be ironed ; no AC, we didn't even have fans in the cabins, we were probably lucky to have electric lights.
There was no bottled water, pop came in glass bottles.

At noon you could buy lunch ala carte, it wasn't included in the costs. This was also recreation time.There was a picture perfect blue lake so clear you could see the bottom 20 feet out. The girls went swimming first and all the males went to the softball field down the road and around the bend. Then when the girls were in their cabins putting curlers in their hair ( no curling irons or hot rollers) the boys went swimming. This was also our bath since there weren't any shower facilities. Maybe I can quote Dickens, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. In the early evening one of the local saints took people on boat rides....in a row boat using oars, remember...primitive.

The services were the best, great preaching, great fellowship, afternoon Bible study truths that are still in my heart. It was another era.

Could a group of pastors unite in fellowship today without the sanction of their districts or organizations? Were these renegade pastors?

I don't really want the good old days, but I do long for the fellowship and unity minus absolute control by districts.