The District Superintendent was the key leader at Camp Meeting. I have some recollection of that person being J. S. Mitchell, but most of the time it was R. (Ralph) L. Page. He had a great heart for the camp; he and his sons, Kenny and Bob, made a deep investment in working to make the campground a nicer place. I believe it was his idea to build the restrooms under the dining hall patio.
He had a yearning for people to turn to Christ and live for Christ. I remember being a boy and seeing him walk across the front of the tabernacle weeping and pleading with people to come to Christ. His passion for the Lord impressed me!
At the same time, it seemed like an unwritten rule that it was the job of the youth to frustrate the district superintendent.
Our District Youth Leader at the time was John Diddle. John lived near the camp and was a fun-loving character. His humor endeared us to him.
My mother (Hazel Haire) was extremely active in supporting Free Methodist World Missions! One year, she and Ernie Hissom had worked together to construct an African hut in the center of the campground. It was very well done and impressed everyone who came on the grounds.
Some of the youth decided that the hut needed a cow! We took our idea to John and he helped us make it happen. Early one morning, with John's help, we tethered a cow near the front of the hut. It was a foggy morning. In our excitement, some of us hid in the tabernacle to watch the early morning reactions of the campers.
The cow participated so well. Just before rising bell, she began to bellow. It echoed through the camp. Suddenly, the door to Ralph Page's cottage burst open and he stepped out in his pajamas to peer through the fog across the camp. He looked and looked in disbelief - literally rubbing his eyes - as he inspected our prank.
We were beside ourselves with joy and so proud of ourselves for pulling it off! Most people saw the humor in our deed. Our bond of silence kept us out of trouble - although I don't remember John being our District Youth Leader for long after that camp!
THANK YOU for telling this whole story!!! Bob Cowsert found a photo for me that I scanned with this hut in it and told me briefly about the cow, but now, as Paul Harvey would have said . . . I have the rest of the story. PERFECT! But, lol, how is it when YOU were in charge WE were NEVER allowed to stick a TOE out from our cottages at night to even CONTEMPLATE a harmless prank?! Had I know allllllll of this then . . . ;-)
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