318 elYtrittipollittrat. OPEN AIR MEETINGS. BY REV. EDWARD PAYSON HAMMOND This country has something to learn from Great Britain with regard to the utility of open air meetings. It seems now as if this was the only way in which the Gospel can be successfully carried to the masses, especially in our great cities. A large proportion of the population of this "enlightened" : land never attend the house of God. Cannot something more be done to reach what Dr. Chalmers called the unexca‘Ated mass than has hitherto been attempted? This is a question upon which the expe rience of Scotland, for the last few years, throws much light. MEETING AT HUNTLEY CASTLE, The first of a series of open air servi ces, intended especially, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to lead the masses to Christ, was held at Huntley, in the Castle Park of the Duchess of Gordon, on' the 25th and 26th of June, 1860. It was stated in the public prints that 10,000 assembled; at least a hundred of the most distinguished ministers, of dif ferent denominations, together with a large number of earnest laymen, capable of addressing the people with good effect, were gathered from all parts of Great Britain. Printed requests were sent to the churches, far and near, ask ing theta to pray that the Holy Spirit might be poured out upon those who should be present. The great prepara tions for the coming meeting engrossed the attention of the good people of Huntley for weeks. A large tent, hold ing thousands, was erected where, in case of rain, public services might be held; and where, in any weather, those who were convinced of sin, might gath• er to be conversed and prayed with. The people of God, it was evident, ex_ pected a blessing. Early morning prayer meetings were held in the different churches, where thespirit of grace and supplication was poured upon God's remembrancers, (Isa. xliii. 26). When the hour arrived, the large concourse of people convened in a sort of natural amphitheatre. Each speaker was allowed by General Anderson, the chairman, fifteen minutes. The address es were interspersed with prayer and praise, THE INQUIRY MEETING The audience were often reminded that an inquiry meeting was in progress in the tent just at hand, and it is a sug gestive fact that nearly every speaker was followed thither by those who were asking the groat question, " What shall I do to be saved ?" As one after an other of those earnest men repeat ed the story of the cross, I was remind ed of the first verse in the 14th chapter of Acts—" And it came to pass in leo nium, that they went both together into the temple, and so spake that a great multitude, both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed." Many in Huntley also, by the Spirit's aid, "so spake that a great multitude believed." An awful solemnity settled down upon the people. TESTIMONIES Says the author of " The Blood of lons," who took an active part in the exercises, "As regards outward decorum there was nothing whatever to offend even those with whom the secondary precept, ' Lot all things be done decent ly and in order,' has passed into the first and great commandment of the .slaw, and who so confine the ordinances between lines of iron as to render the apostolic injunction void by leaving no room for its application." The following graphic account of these union services appeared at the time in one of the secular papers : "At an early hour the quiet of our street was broken, and the sound of bustling feet played ceaselessly upon the oar. As the large iron gateway , of the park swung onen, Castle street 13ecame ono stream of quickly moving figures, dressed all neatly, some elegantly, but none flauntingly. All moved along in dense masses, eager as crowds ever are, but serious, as crowds seldom are. Then mark the centre to which all were tending—the simple declaration of a truth older than our nation, more faint liar than our fireside legends, more repugnant to the unregenerate heart than any figment of the vast cycle of universal truth; but yet, when appro priately displayed, more potent to fas cinate and mould than any metaphysical principles or philosophical codes; a truth more fitted to enthrall than any " system of beauty and .grace that can enlighten the reason, or sparkle its brilliance in the imagination of man. It was a triumph of the unseen over the visible; a victory of the spiritual over the secular. The mute majesty, of truth was divesting itself of the trap pings of conventionaliim. The gospel was ridding itself of the incrustations of ceremony that dulls its 'radiance and dims its effulgent lustre. The ornate furnishing of church or chapel were for a time disused, ang men worshipped God in the temple ,of (disown uprearifig. We knelt on the velvet ''ward" beneath the lofty archway of' thersiky."' TIIRILLING SCENES I can never forget the sight to which the last sentence refers. The Scotch in their public services are always accus tomed to stand in the act of prayer. But at the close of a most solemn ad dress by the well known Capt. Trotter, of the Home Guards of London, he called upon the vast audience to fall upon their knees before God and cry to him for mercy. At once every form was bowed and every knee rested upon the green grass. It was a sight never to be forgotten. The mighty influences of the Holy Spirit brooded over that as sembly of ten thousand sonls, and what, at another time, would have seemed forced, was then only natural. Hun dreds wore in tears. It reminded us of the glorious scenes witnessed by Whit field, at Cambuslang, in 1740, by the youthful Livingstone, in 1630, at the Kirk of Shotts, when, under one ser- mon, it was recorded that 500 were led to Christ. Every hoar of those two day's meet ings increased the uepth of feeling and conviction. It was supposed that about half when first convened, were uncon verted persons, and when upon the morning of the first day's meeting, crowds came pouring into the depot from the surrounding towns, not a few in their gala•day aspect, appeared as if they would sooner join in some ballad like " Maxwellton braes are bonnie," than in an ancient Scotch psalm. But at night when thousands thronged the cars, the depot, which was also filled, resounded with sacred song. " Praise God from whom all blessings flow," was sung with a fullness of expression such as I bad seldom heard. Those who came too late to return at night, and who could not find accommodations in the town, gathered at one of othe churches and spent the whole night in prayer. The hours passed rapidly while waiting for the second day's meeting. Rev. A. Moody Stuart, one of the few intimate friends of the sainted Robt. MeCheyne, with others of a kindred spirit, wore among the leaders. The children occupied the attention of the speakers the first forenoon, and I have no doubt that from the thousands present, many were gathered into the fold of the Good Shepherd. No one could estimate the number led to Jesus during those two memora ble days, but there was good reason to believe that many hundred were regen erated by the Holy Ghost through faith in Christ. EFFECTS AROUND. The work soon spread into the sur rounding towns. Young converts re turned to their towns with the joyful words of the psalmist upon their lips, " Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare to yon what he bath done for my soul." One wicked man in an adjoinig town was heard in agony to pray "Oh ! thou God of Huntley, help me to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ that I may be saved !" The whole proceedings of the meet ings wore carefully recorded in a little book which was widely circulated. Christians returned to their homes quickened in the divine life, realizing more deeply that God wouli " avenge his own elect who cry day and night unto him." And ministers seeing so many at once led to the Saviour, with Paul were strengthened anew to de clare "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the powerof God unto salvation to every one that believeth." THE PLAN FOLLOWED UP I have been thus minute in attempt ing to describe this remarkable gather ing, because it was the inauguration of a series which has been kept up now for more than four years. They have been generally held during the summer months, once in two weeks, in the principal cities and towns. At the• meetings of a similar character hold in Glasgow a few weeks after, I should think not loss than 15,000 *ere present most of the time. A large theatre ad joining the common was purchased and filled with anxious inquirers. It was my privilege to attend five of these open air two days' meetings, and at all or them multitudes came who seldom, if ever, attended the ordinary means of grace and always the " power of God . was present to heal them!' (Lake v : 17.) OUR OWN COUNTRY These meetings, it will be seen, aro entirely different from anything that has been attemptedin this country, and I have not the slightest doubt but that, if appropriate efforts were made, with the blessing of God, results similar to those in Great Britain might be wit nessed in our own land. It has long been made a subject of prayer with me that something of the kind might be in augurated in the United States. If a President is to be elected, men congre. , gate in masses and exert all their power to influence the popular mina in PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6 1 , 1864. behalf of their favorite candidate. Oh! how true, " The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light !" The managers of the American Boikrd of Missions understand the importance of continuous meetings to interest the people in the heathen world. Why should there not be united efforts on a large scale to interest the heathen at our own doors with regard to the salva tion of their souls ? How can we ex pect an answer to the prayer., " Thy kingdom come," when we disobey the express command of our Lord, (Luke 14: 23), "Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in ?" Oar open air service may often do much good. Bat if a fortified city is to be capturad, it is not often accomplished by one gallant onset, but a sufficient force is employed for days and weeks if necessary. In Scotland they have successfully acted on this principle in spiritual matters. Why should not we do the same? THE OIL REGIONS OF PENNSYL VANIA. In my last letter I described the ap proaches to Oil Creek, and closed with a description of Oil City. Flows into the Allegheny River at Oil City. It is a rapid stream, flowing at the rate of four miles an hour, but free from rapids and cascades and there fore navigable by small barges and flat boats. These ascend the stream drawn by horses for twenty or more miles. The valley of the creek is not more than one-third of a mile wide. The hills rising above it the height of eight hundred feet, throw over it dark sha dows. But in the windings and the wanderings of the creek there are scenes of great natural beauty. The roads running up the creek are beyond description—bad. Mach of the year the mud lies on them to the depth of two and three feet, and travel on horse-back is full of peril. The number of wagons bringing down oil and bear ing back empty barrels can hardly be numbered, reminding one, familiar with the army, of the long wagon trains which often block the roads for miles. When we turned into the valley of the creek from Oil City, there sprang up before us a forest of derricks. The entire bottom, the mouths of ravines, and the hill.side were bristling with those singular looking,fstructures, lift ing up their bare and naked arms to the height of forty and sixty feet. They present a spectacle seen nowhere else in the world. In connection with these is the en gine, the windlass, the rope and augur. Nine out of ten of these wells were not producing oil, but laborers were tubing, boring deeper, removing the machinery after sinking to the depths of six and eight hundred feet, in despair, and mak ing arrangements to begin anew, a few feet removed from the old grave of hope. The producing wells low down on the creek appeared to be few, but here and there one was pointed oat as pouring out, without pump or human labor, a steady stream of oil. Around such well- were arranged great circular ves sels, lager than the world-wide famous wine-tun of Heidelberg; and these, filled with oil, stimulated every specu lator, and nerved anew the arms of thousands of laborers who turned their eyes upon them every hoar. I cannot tell what a strange impres sion it made on the mind of one passing by, to see this stream of wealth pouring out without human bands, day and night, summer and winter, weekday and Sabbath, flowing ever like the fountains of the hills. As we ascended the valley, the popu lation- became more numerous. The high dark hills began to retire and leave the lower steps in the ladder for gardens, villages and orchards. The number of these villages is surprising, one for every fourth of a mile, contain ing three and five hundred inhabitants. Every cluster of wells has its village. The houses are small, built for a year, for no one thinks, except those born hero, of living in the place longer than a few months. In consequence of this and the difficulty of crossing the creek, the inhabitants of these hamlets know little or nothing of each other. They are as widely apart in all interest and sympathy as if inhabiting separate is lands of the sea. In these villages there are school houses, and but rarely a church. I think there is but one church building, (Methodist Episcopal,) from Oil City to Titusville, a distance of twenty-five miles. There is, indeed a church at Plummersville, and one at Cherrytree, but both these are in villages removed more than a mile from the creek. The entire riOpnlation'are most ictive, for- OIL CREEK MACHINERY. WELLS AND VILLAGES ever busy in some kind of work, all move with an intense nervous energy. as if rest was impossible until the hope of many days and nights is realized. One of the most valuable of the wells is on the Tarr farm, known as the Phil lips well. This issaid to flow 300 barrels a day, and yields to the owners about $23,000 a week. The produce of the Egbert farm, thirty-eight acres of land on the creek, is about 500 barrels a day, and the profit to the owners of the well is about three and a half millions annu ally. The Noble & Delnmater well, about ten miles above Oil City, is one of the best, and is said to produce 500 barrels a day. This well is worth in the market more than one million of dol lars. FLOWING WELLS The most valuable wells are the flow ing. In some instances the oil has been thrown up to the height of an hundred feet, and now, when passing through a bent tube, is ejected with an angry scornful dash as if muttering, " there, fools ! take it, and see if it makes you any wiser or happier." The flow was not that of water in a spring in every instance that came under my observation. The oil spouted forth irregularly, as if overcoming some dif ficulty and not always - having strength for the work. From one well that I often looked at on the Egbert farm, the oil dashed out at regular intervals of about seven minutes, and when first looked at not a drop may be seen flowing from the tube, but sudden ly a powerful jet is spouted out, and the flow continues more vehement until the entire great cauldron boils, and the force of the ejection throws the oil in'the vessel many feet into the air. Again it subsides, and is so quiet that one is disposed to think all the oil has return ed to its native fountains and will flow no more; but counting the seconds on your watch will bring with absolute certainty the flow at its moment. In another case—the New Jersey well on the Egbert farm, producing 350 barrels a day—the oil flows constantly, never intermitting for a second, but gushing out with vehement force every five sec onds, as if forced from beneath by some huge pumps. Doubtless in these cases the irregularity of flow is due to the pressure of the atmosphere, overcome by spells of effort. The number of . flowing wells is not great, not more than one-fourth, I should think, of all the producing ones on the creek. Many of the pumping wells are amply remunerative, producing from ten to thirty barrels a day. The field of dis covery is constantly widening, and new wells are found to produce oil in the most unexpected localities. As the de mand for this illuminator has now be come world-wide, it is not to be sup posed that the deposit bed is of narrow range and can be soon exhausted. In many vallies of Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Northeastern Ohio, will the precious fluid be found. EXCITEMENT. It should not be a matter of surprise that there is an all-engrossing interest in a well, on the part of those experi menting, for they look around them, and the man who they saw in the morning not having sufficient to pay for the tools he was operating with, isin the evening worth One Hundred Thousand Dollars.' There they meet those who but a few days since were poor, now estimated at mil lions. These facts most naturally stim ulate those who seek in wealth the means of power, enjoyment and ease. One, •as he bangs over his well of pro mise; is dreaming of travel in distant lands, another of pictures, of statuary, and a brilliant home; another of broad acres of flocks, herds, and the highest seat at the gate. Thus with all : they are to find here the means of gaining the supreme good of life. But I observed• that those who bad acquired wealth and were at ease for the future, were no happier than the toilers at the ropes. GOOD STEWARDS Some of this wealth has passed, I was Most rejoiced to discover, into the hands of excellent and benevolent men. The Messrs. Phillips—four brothers--are men of spotless integrity, and their charity has kept pace with their wealth, preserving when they have be come millionaires all the simplicity of manners and frugality of the days of toil. They are examples of fraternal concord and Christian beneficence. One of these is already devising the means of *caring and endowing a home for soldiers' widows and a school for sol diers' orphans. May the horn of his plenty never be empty until the desire of his heart is accomplished! Dr. W. Egbort is another of those whom the development of property has made .very rich, and in his youth he finds himself exempted from the-cares and toils of a profession. He is not a man, however, to sit down at ease and become careless and indifferent to the, wants of others. Already his charities have blessed many through the Sanitary Commission and the Tract Society, in the army. And feeling that the great want of the people thrown together on the creek, strangers to each other and unrestrained, is a place for public wor ship, he has offered to build a Presbyte rian church at his own expense, if work men can only be found to build it. There are many very good men on Oil Creek who will bear with them, whey ever they go, the generous hand. THE SABBATH-CHURCHES The Sabbath is remembered most sa credly. All the thousand teams are stopped; the puffing engines are silent, the auger is motionless, and all the feverish, the restless, the worshippers of gold, compel themselves into quietness. There, is but little travel on this day. Never was there presented a greater contrast between the wild, tumultuous, frantic struggle ofthe week,and the quiet, calm repose of the Holy day. This was a part of the robe of the Covenanter which fell as an angel's smile on that valley of noise, smoke and strife. Never was there a field whiter for the sickle and one that would sooner repay the laborer. I heard of but two resident pastors in all that valley above Oil City to Titus ville, Rev. Mr. Spence, of Plummervillo, of the Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Mr. Burchard, of Cherrytree Church, New School Presbyterian. The last I had the pleasure of meeting, and found him a most valuable man exert ing a wide influence for the cause of his Master. But he is almost alone—one, where ton are wanted. I. J. M. WHAT MUST THE GOD OF THE HEAVENS What must be his skill and wisdom to frame the curious machinery of the heavens, so that every thing moves in perfect order ? All the complicated motions of all systems and universes, are performed with perfect exactness. Solar systems may have their double, triple, or multiple suns, but still all is perfect. There is not a jar in the vast machinery of the heavens, unless it is where a curse has followed the introduc tion of sin. All their motions are so per fectly free, regular and systematic, that their own inhabitants are not conscious of the least movement. Every thing is not only perfect, but perfectly adapted to its own place in the universe. No thing can got out of place. No mistake can occur. Perfection is enstamped on everything. " His works, through all their Wondrous frame, Bear the great impress of his name.' His knowledge, providence and care. He knows all that is going on through out the vast heaven of heavens. No thing can go wrong in the most distant province of his empire. Every motion of the universe is . not only made right, but .kept right. Not a wheel of nature can get out of place unknown to him. He sees every particle of matter through out universal space, and watches over it continually. He sees every motion in the universe and of the universe. He watches not only over the grand ma chinery of the heavens, but as particular ly over each animated being, as though each being was the object of his care. The most particular care as really ex tends to his minutest creatures, as to mighty systems and worlds. Nothing is so small as to be beneath his care, not a sparrow can fall to the ground without his notice. He watches as unceasingly over you, ae though you were the only object of his care. ."The hairs of your head are all numbered!' What a consolation to have the God of the heavens for your Friend ! He is a being possessed of every , perfection and infinite in every perfection and attribute. He is infinitely able and willing to fulfil all his promises; and all his are like himself, and worthy of himself. Per fection and infinity are cnstamped on them. " Firm are the words his prophets give, Sweet, words on which his children live, Each of them is the voice of God, Who spoke and spread the skies abroad; Each of them powerful as that sound, That bid the new made world go round, And stronger than the solid poles On which the wheel of nature rolls." Oh, what promises you have to con s Ole you, and what might and faithful ness to fulfil those promises ! What an Arm to rest upon ! That Arm which sustains the heavens, and which whirls oystems and worlds in their endless rounds ! Cannot that Arm sustain you —protect, defend and save yen ? " There rests the earth, there roll the spheres, There nature leans and feels her prop;" and why may not you? Oh, lean on Him. There rest, and He who bears up and sustains all nature, will bear up and sustain you. No evil can befal you. He is a Being who is worthy of the highest admiration and strongest affec tions; of your trust. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, consider for a moment his works and can you fail to adore, admire and love Him? See goodness and mercy through all his actions run and love prompting him to the perform: ance of all that,tie ever has.done—love the motive-power of every attribute, so that the heavens and the earth are but the manifestations of his love— every creative act an act of love; and can you fail to love and adore him ? How ungrateful and inhuman is the heart, which does not feel one " soft affection move"—no grateful outgoings of heart toward the adorable One ! Oh, who can neglect, despise and turn his back upon such a One ? How should the impenitent sinner tremble to think of the God of the hea vens. Sinner, he who called those count less centillions of worlds into being, who gave them all their diversified motions, " calls them all by their names," and can take them up as very little things, is your enemy—pledged to punish you unless you repent; for the good of his universe i mperativelydemands it. Think of the God of the heavens,—and are you not afraid ? Think of his power,—and can you contend with it ? There is no resisting it for it is infinite. There is no escaping his eye; for it is every where. Where will you flee ? Where will you hide ? Oh, why not make God your friend ? He invites you by the molting love of Calvary to come, and be reconciled to himself. Why will you not come now? Why will you net cease from the unnatural and, unequal contest ? Are you not afraid of the day of his wrath ?—of the day of vengance of our God ?" TAMES KERR. 0:43r, (t) stoPoolsai)Dl Cumberland Presbyterians—Revivals. —The Cumberland Presbyterian says, under date of Sept. 8: Bro. A. W. White writes to us from his charge, Windy Gap, Pa., as follows: "On last Saturday we closed a very pleasant, meeting of two weeks continuance. The Lord was with us. Twelve pro:essed to have experienced a change, and several mourners still seeking. One of the con verts is worthy of special notice, being an aged man . over whose head seventy-three winters have passed. His language now is, " I woul l not give my love for a kingdom." No doubts are entertained as to the genu ineness of his conversion. During the last month there have been fourteen accessions to this church. Everything revived and strengthened. To God be all the glory. Bro. James Ashmore writes from Ridge Farm, Illinois : "We have had fifteen ac cessions to the Churches to which I am trying to preach, since I saw you at the Assembly. Sailing of Missionaries.—Rev. Daniel Bliss, D. D., President of the n , cv Syrian College at Beirut, with his family; Rev. Elwin Bliss and his famity, missionary of the American Board, at Constantinople; Rev. Walter H. Giles and wife, destined to the Western Tur key Mission at Cteaarea, and Miss Pond, des tined to the Mission at Kharpiot, sailed in the steamer Edinburg, on Saturday last, on their way to their several places of labor Hubbardston Mass.—Rev. C. H. Vinton, writes to the Zion's Herald,—" Of late God has been in the midst of our people, calling many from earth away. _ During the past summer I have attended twenty-one funerals in this . town. They have fallen from all classes—the aged, the middle-aged and the young. In one family it was my painful duty to attend the funerals of four of the little children, all of whom fell a prey to that fatal disease diptheria. But while God has been visiting us with these afflictive dis pensations, he has also been among us with his awakening and saving Spirit. During the past summer the church has been bles sedly revived, and quite a number have sought and found the Saviour. There are still quite a number thinking and feeling upon the subject of religion, and we are ex pecting a glorious work of grace. With Wesley, "The best of all is, God is with us." We solicit in our behalf an interest in the prayers of all God's people." „ Muhlenburg Mission, Africa.—Rev. J. Kist ler, of this mission, writes to the Lutheran Board:—" Another day of special interest at -Muhlenburg was Sunday, 3d of July, when the Holy Communion was enjoyed by the little church, and when eight persons were added to its membership by the ordi nance of baptism. These were the follow ing: Charles P. Krauth, John D. Martin and wife, Martha Turner, Maria Fenner, Grace Stephenson, Hannah Hager, and Effie Rogers. These persons have all been under careful religious instruction ever since their reception into the mission, four years ago ; and for the last few months have enjoyed special catechetical instruction by Rev. J. Kistler, the missionary pastor. There was also preaching each day for nearly a week previous to the day of communion, and others besides those received into the church were deeply impressed with the truth. Scarcity of the Scriptures in the Burman. Mis sions.—A le.ter from Rev. E. Kincaid, Bap tist missionary in Burrnah, dated Pome, May 12th, 1864, acknowledges an appropriation of $5OO for printing additional copies of the New Testament in the Burman language. The books will be, he says, of great service particularly to the numerous native assis tants, in traveling among the villages. He says " The number of our native preachers, in cluding pastors and evangelists, Karen and Burman, must be nearly two hundred; and, besides these, there are a large number that may be called lay preachers, who'spend more or lees time in the course of the year, among their acquaintances and relatives,reading and teaching the things of the kingdom. All these, as well as the preachers should be supplied with a portable Nei, Testainent. Nearly all the Karen preachers read and speak Burman fluently. Many of them have often spoken to me of the great importance to them of a Burman New Testament. In view of these facts, we propose an edition of three thousand copies in the small type, and probably five or six thousand in large type." Ca/ifornia.--The Evangel of San Francisco, says : " Twenty-seven of our churches in this State are supplied with pastoral labor, seven of them part of the time. and twenty all the time. There are three or four others which we hope will soon be supplied with faithful pastors. Oakland, lone, Red Bluff; and Sonora churches all need pastors. The last named, • however, has an excellent stated supply." Rev. E. E. Hall, Agent of the American and Foreign Christian Union at Florence, Ital y , sa ys an American gentleman of dis tinguished benevolence. ".has placed in his hands a`Bll.lll of money sufficient to publish, in the Italian language, an wit uon of 3;oo(kcopies of. Bishop Mellvainoes ad mirahleiwnik en titled, "The Evidencekoi Cnrisganity," Its circulation in Italy will do good.
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