In my limited experience of cph events, I'd have to refer back to an old Army TV commercial:  "We do more before 9 am than most people do all day."

Not many of us are paragons of physical perfection.  Even the younger among us, military excepted, are much softer than an original CW soldier.  The amount of exertion we can reasonably tolerate over a weekend is finite and minimal.

When Saturday morning begins at 3 or 4 am and 2-3 hours of fighting/marching ends at 8, we're gonna wear out earlier in the weekend than for a SOYA event with First Call at 7 and maybe an hour's worth of semi-drill in the morning, all while waiting for the hour-long spectator battle.

The absolute worst time at most reenactments for me is the long periods of dead time in the mid morning and evenings.  However, at Outpost III, I was monstrously grateful for the late morning to early afternoon cease fire.  I slept the sleep of the dead for as long as I could get it.

It still doesn't help me understand why people who go to an event set to end at 3 pm leave earlier, but it may explain why some events are designed to do so.

Grumpy and Bernie, I think you both have good points.  

If the event offers a repeat of Saturday on Sunday, fewer people will be inclined to stick around unless, as Bill points out, they have a ton of gear and can't get their cars in.

If Sunday begins with reveille at o-dark-thirty and a furious firefight at dawn, following on a busy Saturday, then people can easily feel they got their money's worth from a 32-36 hour event.

I've been to a couple of events this year that I very much enjoyed but was glad to see end on Sunday morning.  On the other hand, one of them had already lasted about 96 hours.

What might have kept folks around for the full event at Bristoe and others like it, would have been the scheduling of some interesting and different activity for the last morning, like say the foraging expedition at W64.  Then when guys asked what they'd be doing Sunday morning the answer could have been something other than, "I don't know; just kinda hang loose till the noon spectator battle."

Just a short note on Catholic Services. The "At High Tide" event in June had a Priest for Mass on Sunday morning. It was at the head of the sutler area. Also last year at Cedar Creek a Priest (from the Harper Ferry area) had Mass. He had some Alter items from the 1860's and old vesments.
yours,
Dirk Behana  

--Last edited by Dirk on 2008-10-18 11:34:40 --

Dirk,

Wow!  That's awesome!  I wish we could have more of that, but apparently there are problems with needing to get permission from the local Bishop/Parish and such.  I wonder if they were local preists, or if not (like Cedar Creek), how they were contacted.  Glad to see it happening, though, if only on an occasional basis.  I would love to celebrate the Mass in camp!  That Cedar Creek one must have been amazing.  

Tom Mandrackie

The point about religious services is well taken. Believe it or not, there is a group of evangelicals who will come to events and hold church services, if asked. Nice folks, and one of the most pleasant open air services I can remember was behind a nice home where the pews were freshly felled Pecan tree trunks. I almost said "Pecan logs," but having recently stopped at a Stuckey's for just that sweet purpose, I know better.  

If you are interested in the services, I can dig up the link. If you are interested in the candy, well, Stuckey's is beside the road in many locations. The small log is enough to send a man into a sugar induced orbit.

One of the best sermons in the field was at Pamplin Park in the fine March 1997 LH with the 155th NYVI. Some period services are a bit bland, but this one was very good. Hearing "near this spot, this sermon was given on Sunday ----- 1864" perks up ears.

Rev. Mike "Rogerer" Peterson usual gave a good sermon when he was available. Any geezer who goes on active duty in his 50s has my utmost respect. We have lost a reenactor, but the military gained a fine counselor.

I enjoyed the dual services at Winter 1864. Steve Tyler put considerable worth into truncating the 2.5 hour long "Keeping the Sabbath" sermon into a 20-minute message. Having Rob Carter minister to the Catholics in the Pine Cottage was very nice.  I'm not sure Erasmus Hopkins would have approved of his sutlery being transformed into a chapel, but it was a fine group project, and it was nice to see a USCC impression that wasn't a farce.

A number of years ago, we had the great honor to enjoy the services in White Oak Church with the regular congregation. The circuit rider had chosen the 23rd Psalm as the focal point of the message that morning. Other than some new stoves in 1890, and the addition of electricity later on, not much has changed in the original structure since the war.

Many other services take place, of course, but one must take the time to find them. Fellowship comes in many different forms, and if nothing is scheduled, take the time to gather a few men and open the Good Book. Anytime two or more....well, you know the line.

Westville had a fine service this past Sunday, too.

I'd sure like to know any technique Steve used to cut down that period sermon.  Of course, not having actually heard that sermon since nobody came to escort the laundresses to the military street........

Once Westville was suddenly without a preacher, and after I volunteered five other folks to do the job, the last man standing and able was the last one on my list--Jim Bruce.  And, since I volunteered him, I had to go sermon digging.  

Eight good, applicable period sermons later--all running in the two hour range, I was having big trouble cutting one down, even with the better part of a seminary education under my belt.  

We had to resort to some other time-honored means to cut the service short..............otherwise I imagine the Judge would have sent somebody looking for us for Court.....

Quote :

Spinster wrote : I'd sure like to know any technique Steve used to cut down that period sermon.  Of course, not having actually heard that sermon since nobody came to escort the laundresses to the military street........

Mrs. Lawson,

I was having enough trouble escorting myself on the ice skating rink, also known as the company street.

Bill

Terre,

Did you know that when our chaplain, Dr. Bill Grant, died he had already made prior arrangements for the bunch of us off down here to conduct his funeral?  For someone who is not a preacher that was an humbling experience to sit with a man and listen to him tell you how he wants you to do his funeral.  I handled the church part of the service.  Bill was proud of his Indian lineage.  He also wanted a small Indian portion inserted into his funeral.  Our mutual Cherokee friend from Citronelle performed the Cherokee part of Bill’s service in the cemetery.

Yes Curtis, I knew Bill had planned his service rather throughly, and chosen carefully those who had the Gifts and Graces necessary.

I have forgotten now what it was than hindered me from traveling that long road at the time.  I do know that it was an absence I continue to regret.  

And, not long after that, I came to the conclusion that there is simply no reason to miss a funeral.