Hortense Camp

in the Wesleyan tradition

100 Years Celebration: 1904 - 2004

Rev. A.C. & Betty Clemens

(Camp musicians in 1966, 1968, 1974, 1975, and 1979)



In July 1996, the Clemenses moved from a pastorate in Birmingham, Alabama to Covington, Georgia to accept a pastorate there.  Brother Raymond Hicks, Conference President, contacted us to see if we would lead singing at the Hortense Camp Meeting in August of that year.   And we accepted.

We arrived with our four boys: Clifford, Steve, Jon and Paul, with enough clothing for the six of us for ten days, our little dog, Topper, and our cat - a Siamese named Cicero.  When Sister Lewis saw the cat she thought it was a raccoon.

Monday after camp meeting, we took the boys down to the coast, spent the day on the beach, then came back late Monday night.  We were given permission to stay in our cabin an extra night.  As we drove up to the door of our cabin, there was a large rattlesnake lying in front of the door.  I ran over it, backed up and ran over it again to kill it.  I got out to see if it was dead and heard some people laughing.  Sister Lewis had killed the snake with a hoe during the day while they were cleaning up the camp.  They laid it there to scare and fool us when we drove in that night.  The boys kept the rattles from the snake for a long time.

In all we helped three different times at Hortense Camp.  Our boys loved it there - they still talk of the wonderful times they had at Hortense.

Rev. Paul Eger, a man of God, was one of the evangelists.  I can' remember the other two, but I know they loved the Lord.  Those were wonderful days and many of the saints have died and gone on to Glory.  We plan to meet them in Heaven someday.

We look forward to seeing many of you at the 100th reunion in 2004.