Tilt AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN AND GENESEE EVANGELIST. AReliyloasftnd Family Newspaper, IN THH INTEREST OP THE Constitutional Presbyterian Church. PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY. AT THE PRESBYTERIAN HOUSE, 1334 Chestnut Street, (2d story.) Philadelphia. Bev. John W. Hears. Editor and Publisher. framcau |lralni;tniait. THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1866, PROGRESS AND'LESSONS OF THE REVIVAL. If all we devoutly hoped for. in our anti cipations ot a great revival, has not yet been realized-, we assuredly are receiving the greatest encouragement to labor and to pray for the more plentiful outpouring of the Holy Spirit. On every hand the work of God is going forward with unwonted power. Every issue of every religious papeT, at least in the North, has “good news to tell;" and in some cases the columns are burdened with revival items. In our own editorial experience of six years, we have never known such a pressure of this most accept able and cheering intelligence upon our columns, from our own and sister Churches. Last year, closing with the General Assem bly at Brooklyn, was regarded as one of unusual spiritual prosperity, but the news paper reoords ot early spring were meagre indeed, in comparison with those now com ing before the public. Since the first of March , we have been privileged to chronicle as occurring almost entirely within our own branch of the Church, not less than two. thousand conversions, most of them realized in additions to the churches. From other branches of-the Presbyterian body, which, of course, we have followed less carefully, we have copied reports of conversions amounting to nearly fourteen hundred in the same time; doubtless they are at least equal in number to those in our own body. Other Evangelical denominations are, we think, enjoying similar blessings. A re ceipt Methodißt paper reported a count of ten thousand conversions during the pre ceding five weeks, in that denomination. It would not, we think, be an exaggeration to say that our religious newspapers have, within a month's time, conveyed to the churches the. glad tidings of twenty-five thousand conversions to God. Among the marked peculiarities of these revivals, we have already noted the almost uniform fullness in the results; forty, fifty and sixty being quite frequently admitted to Presbyterian churches at one time.- We also note, that our larger cities have not been reached 1 "in a single instance, unless Chicago be an exception. Even highly favored Rochester, whose spiritual atmos phere is genetally so susceptible, remains comparatively unmoved, while a cirole of country embracing a number of rural towns with Auburn as a centre, is stirred to its depths and enjoys unparalleled refreshings from the Lord. A whole *belt of Presby terian Churches immediately around our city were wonderfully blessed during the early part of the season, but there never was a more emphatic illustration of Gideon s wet fleece upon the dry ground, than the relative spiritual condition of those churches and of our city at that time. There is, we think, in the accounts which have been definite enough for analysis, the evidence of an unusual percentage of adults and of men among the converts. Humanly speaking, the churohes are receiving a greater accession of strength than is usual. The ministry of Evangelists has been mani festly recognized and their labors wonder fully blessed; but very frequently, God has , owned the ordinary labors of his servants, and powerful revivals have proceeded, from , week to week, with scarcely .a demonstra tion beyond what the pressure of inquirers demanded. The work in Auburn, in Wil mington and some other places, though largely affecting the community, is little more than a development of pastoral activity, shared in by office-bearers and members of the churches. The week of prayer is, per haps, in a majority of instances, direotly re cognized as the commencement of the more recent awakenings; yet it cannot be said, as in 1858, that daily union meetings for prayer are the leading characteristics of the work. They are frequent features; inter denominational courtesy, co-operation and confidence are almost universal; but the real work is done in and through the indi vidual ohurches, far more than was the cas& in 1858. Personal responsibility for a share in the work is deeply realized by Christians, as it was then; but it is dis charged generally in a way to invigorate and vitalize the individual ohurches; rather than make an indefinite impression on the community at large. Whether, in the event of a great outppuring upon our larger cities, and of concerted and powerful at tempts to reach the masses, these features would oontinue to prevail, it is useless to give an opinion. Some important and practical inferences may be drawn from these faots. 1. This is a period of unusual and wide spread religious interest. It is high time %mmtM fteslmteian, New Series, Vol. 111, ZSTo. 13. / ■ • that the religious community was fully awake to the fact. We cannot call it a general, national revival. It does not fulfil our ardent expectations. But it is a most cheering, blessed, and, in not a few loca tions, glorious work of grace. It is full of the highest encouragement. It is ample to keep alive the hope cherished- for so many months, of far greater manifestations. The King seems to be girding on his sword; we seem to hear already the sound of his chariot as he rides prosperously among his foes. We may, we must, act upon the pre sumption that every forth-putting of Chris tian zeal has, at this time, a more than , usual guarantee of success. The supply of grace is ample to meet every draft of believing activity. We must he bold, stir ring, enterprising for God and for man at such a season. The rain is falling; we must put out our dry and empty -Vessels to catch a share. We must beware of being mere spectators and admirers of a work, in which we and our friends have such an un speakably deep interest. Read no account of a revival without prayer for some similar experience in your own church and com munity, and without serious inquiry after the obstacles to such a work in your own heart. 2. Aim to make your ordinary efforts in youi various positions of usefulness more spiritual in tone, more' direct, more evan gelical. Expect fruits in the usual line of duty, in the pulpit, the leeture-room, the Sabbath-school, and the family circle. Let every individual Christian practice unusual watchfulness, look about him for opportu nities of uselulness, be much in prayer, wrestling with God for a great blessing upon hiß own. soul, and crying day and night for the wide extension of his work of grace, already so auspiciously begun in our land. At the same time, it is well to re member, that when ordinary instrumentali ties are greatly blessed, exactly then too, may we hope for the greatest results from the wise use of special means and mea sures. Now bring all agencies and instru mentalities into play that have” tie warrant of a sufficient experience in their favor. Now use all available channels for reaching effectively the hearts and consciences of men. Now, on every hand, thrust in the siokle, for the harvest is ripe. Let laymen and ministers, let 'evangelists, pastors, and Sabbath-school teachers, on Sunday and week day, by ordinary and extraordinary meetings, for preaching, for conference, and for lmquiry, among children and adults, in the open air, in court-houses and halls, in private dwellings, as well as in churches, among the respectable and. the frequenters of places of worship, and among the irreli gious masses, multiply their efforts, arrest the attention of the multitude, and, never losing sight of individual responsibility, and of the exceeding worth and danger of the individual soul, becoming all things to all men, by all means save some. 3. The great awakening which we wait | for, may grow out of a continuous, gradual developement of the work we are now con templating. Its present proportions have not been reached suddenly. Let us not lose heart and hope any where then, from fear that the culminating point has been reached, and that any field now unblessed must postpone its hopes to another .season. Let us cherish the idea rather of a continu ous, ever-spreading work; one which, be ginning in many isolated centres, shall spread and widen until wave touches wave, and the flood of blessed influence visits, freshens, fructifies, and regenerates every I rood of barren soil in the land. Let Us look prayerfully and hopefully for the pro mised day, when “ the plowman shall over take the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine and all the hills shall melt." . TEMPERANCE AND REVIVALS. Among the most aotive in the recent ef fort to resuscitate the temperance move ment, and least disposed to compromise the high principle upon which that great re form was carried, was the well-known pastor of Lafayette Avenue Church Brooklyn, Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler. That Church has been blessed with one of the greatest revivals, even in this age of revival. Over one hundred members were received into its fellowship a few Sabbaths ago, and as the pastor informs us, fifty more are wait ing for a future occasion. The pastor at tributes the revival to two causes, one of which is the interest taken by his people in the revival of the humane and Christian enterprise of rescuing men from the intoxi cating cup. So far from timorously evading the open conflict with vice, and endeavoring to merge moral reform in the general work of the Church, so as to fob it of all definite and PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1866. specific character, this example shows that the bold grappling with greatsocial evils helps to prepare a Christian people for the large effusion of the Holy Spirit. Truly loyal churches; churches zealous for the rights of man ; churches ready to throw theselves energetically upon the side of assailed and tempted humanity, and of pub lic morals and good order; ate not likely to be found amontr the dead and barren communities, either in times of ordinary or extraordinary spiritual interest. Williams port atid Wilmington, like Brooklyn, scenes of recent glorious revival, furnish additional illustrations-of this remark, ■ ■■.. •' - ’ HOME MISSIONS. Presbyterian Rooms, 150 Nassau St., N. Y. Dear Brother : —Do you comprehend the importance of evangelizing Our country ,?. Have you reflected On the magnitude of the Home Missionary work ? 1. The States that; we have been accus tomed to call Western States, were never filling up with an enterprising population. more rapidly than now. Our vast railway system is weaving its complicated network by pushing new lines in every direction overall the west. Wherever a railroad is projected, settlers from the east flock in. Villages spring up. The prairie is dotted over with dwellings. There the ■ G-ospel should be preached, churches formed, Sab bath-schools organized, and the house of Godereoted. Michigan, Wisconsin, Illi nois, Minnesota, lowa, and Missouri never attracted people to their borders more rapidly than now. Through all these villages and settlements the Spirit of the Lord is moving. The peo ple are anxious to hear. The few mission aries are overburdened with work, and hear the cry, “ Come over and help us,” from points unsupplied, but' which they have neither strength nor time to visit. They are crying, in turn, to us for helpers. A missionary of thirty years’ labor at the west, says he has never seen it so open or pro- I mising as .itis.tq-day^ Into these States we have sent men as fast as we were able. But every one of them sends back word for immediate rein forcements. The promise of usefulness, in nearly every instance, is very great. 2. Further West.— The vast territo ry beyond the States already named, com prising nearly one half of the whole area of the United States, is exciting new at tention. All its mountains abound in sil ver and gold; capitalists and laborers gather there. , v , The Pacific railroad is being pushed for ward with new vigor. Immigration to Kansas and Nebraska feels the quickening impulse of its eastern projection, and Ne vada the western. Colorado and Montana, Utah and Idaho, Nevada and California are now receiving large accessions to their pop ulation. These are the pioneers in great States. If we can but send missionaries there in sufficient numbers, they will lay foundations in righteousness for all time to My dear brother, “ lift up your eyes and look” on all these fields. “ They are ripe unto the harvest.” These people must have the Gospel, or perish. They must have it speedily. Are you a minister of Christ ? Have you preached a sermon on Home Missions during the year past, and urged your people to bring forward their offerings, to the cause ? Are you a private member of the church ? Have you brought forward a thank-offering, a freewill-offering, the expression of your patriotism and piety | for the salvation of your country ? As a Church, we are not doing our share of the work. The Methodists of this.coun try propose to raise two millions of dollars ! this year for the general purposes of churoh extension. The. Congregationalists are hundred and fifty, thousand for general purposes, two hundred thousand for the erection of church edifices. The Unitarians have raised more than two hundred thousand; and the Universal; ists have just resolved to raise one hundred thousand dollars. We must arise. We must gird up our loins and redouble our energies, or we shall be distanced in the race. We must double, yea, quadruple our contribu tions. It is not sectarian rivalry; there.is work enough for all. Our treasury is now empty. At the last General Assembly we had fifteen thou sand dollars on hand. Meanwhile we have enlarged our work. We have added fifty or more laborers to our missionary force, and according to'our present scale of opera tions, we need more than forty thousand dollars before-the meeting of the Assembly, two months hence. We never yet have refused any man a commission for want of funds. a We begin to refase now ? Have you °ne all you can for thifa cause ? Cannot you give more; cannot you persuade your Church and your neighbors to give twice as much as ever before;? OCR GENERAL ASSEMBLY. To the Commissioners to the General Assembly to meet in the First Presbyterian Church, St. Louis May IT,;. 1866. Dear Brethren :—Without consulta tion or design, the two General Assemblies (0. s. & m S., as they are popularly dis- of 1865, appointed the Assem blies of 1866 to be held in St. Louis. knewj'when it mate the appointment, that the other Assembly would do the same thing. This coincidence is clearly of Divine ordering, not of human aarangement. We in St. Louis accept it as a good omen, and are happy in the pur rpose to make our guests enjoy their sojourn with us as well as possible. Our number of Presbyterian families is so small that, (if there had been opportunity for consul tation!) we should have deemed it more prudent to undertake to entertain the As semblies, one at a time. We shall, how everJgive both a hearty welcome, and we have assurance of generous assistance from other denominations. You will readily see, that these circumstances render it peculiarly desirable for us to know, as early as possi ble, 1 whom we are to have the pleasure of effteftartriiig, and for what number we should provide. We therefore earnestly request, all Commissioners to the Assembly of 1866, and all officers, permanent Secretaries, and Delegates from Corresponding bodies, who expect to be with us, to send their names, with Post-office address to one ot the un dersigned as early as possible. In return they may expect to receive cards of intro duction to the families whose hospitality they are to enjoy.- In behalf of the Committee of Arrange ments. H. A. Nelson, Chairman, i f ' Frederick Starr, Jr t , Secretary. I 186 E. . 1 “THE CHRISTIAN WORK” ONCE MORE. The following note appears on the laßt page of the March number of this journal: “The [ American ] Presbyterian, published in Philadelphia, United States, notices with some acerbity the copying of a letter in this journal on Passaglia, written by the Rev. Daniel March, D. D., without acknowledgment. We gave tjie name of the writer, but not of the journal in which the article appeared. We apologize for this omission, which arose entirely from inadvertence; but we-would take the op portunity of. reminding our American friends of the numerous instances in which intelligence is copied from Christian Work, without any acknowledgment whatever. Whether the Pres byterian Sjfrs in this respect we are not quite surej,though we have a strong conviction that it does. No journal is more sinned against in this respect in the United States, and even tin | England,. than Christian Work ; we may draw attention to a few special cases of such unac knowledged quotations in future.” r We regret that we cannot accept this apology: It is disingenuous. It attempts to find palliation for the offence complained of, in the conduct of other journals, and perhaps of this, towjprds itself. As if that were the whole offence, it says: —“We' gave the name of the writer, but not of the journal in which it appears.” . “We may draw attention to a few special cases of such unacknowledged quotations in future.” Not so easy Messrs. Editors of the Chris tian Work ! Such a venial offence would have infused no “ acerbity” into our com plain most probably would have called forth no’complaint at all. The surprise we felt arose from the appropriation of our article bodily as your own, under the head ing oh “Letters from the Corr'espon dents ot’ the Christian Work.” An “ unacknowledged quotation” is a very dif ferent thing. This article die? not appear as a quotation at all. And whenever the Christian Work oatches us, or any other respectable American journal, in present ing th6if' excellent original articles—sup posing we hereafter may be confident which are’ original —under captions which di rectly asssert our property in them, they may castigate us with all the acerbity they can commands The mere sin of omission against ourselves iu an “ unacknowledged quotation” we seldom, if ever, notice, and solar Christian Work is concerned, we.leel quite innocent on this score; but the sin of commission, which boldly claims as one’s own what is known to have origi nated elsewhere—-that we repudiate in toto, for ourselves and for all our brethren of the respectable religious press of America. Dr. Sunderland is getting along in the Four-and-a-Half Street Church more quietly- Some of the members have left because Fred. Douglass lectured in the church, but it is no real loss (except it be pecuniarily) to the organization.— Gong regcaUmalist. • G-enesee Evangelist, TsTo. 1036. PROGRESS OF THE WORK IN PEORIA. The readers of the American Presby terian will be glad to hear of the work of the Holy Spirit in our city. The first meeting for adults was held Sabbath eve ning, in the First Presbyterian Church, which was filled to overflowing. The au dience manifested intense interest, and at the inquiry-meeting a large number re mained. Still, appearances were not so encouraging as they have been since then. On Thursday evening it was found neces sary to hold the services in Rouse’s Hall. That hall probably never accommodated so large an audience- before: - Between-fifteen hundred and two thousand people were gathered there. A deep thoughtfulness pervaded the audience. Very-many were impressed, and remained to converse with Christians. Perhaps one of the most im pressive parts of the exercises • was the manly avowal of Christ by one of the most prominent lawyers in the city, a man ot talent and influence. He said that on Sabbath afternoon he stepped into the chil dren’s meeting, and after remaining for about five minutes, left in utter disgust. He went home and ridiculed the whole affair. On Monday, in the court-house, on the Btreet, in his office, with bitter opposi tion in his heart, he spoke of the meetings, and said he wondered that people of sense could stay in a place where scenes were taking place which he considered supremely ridiculous. He had a Christian wife, and she induced him to attend a meeting for adults. He had not heard Mr. Hammond speak ten minutes, when he felt his heart burdened with a strange weight. He went home, requested his wife to retire and let him read the paper. But it had'no attrac tion for him that night. He laid it aside, and knelt and prayed. He could not pray loud enough in the parlor, fearing that his wife would hear him, so he went to the barn and prayed there. Still he gained no relief. So he went back and retired, but not to sleep. He would not suffer his wife to-know-that.any thing troubled him; so when, in the morning, she asked him if he had slept well, he told . her a lie. He attended the meeting on the next evening, came home, and went to the barn to pray. “And,” said he, “though I have often scoffed at the idea of finding Jesus, I did find Him, and that night I lay down to rest with a feeling of peace and security I never experienced before.” Another large meeting was held at the hall on Friday night, furnishing great cause for thanksgiving and encouragement. A case of probably the most remarkable conversion which ever took place in this city was related last night, which sent joy to every Christian heart. Judge Gale, a man of proniinence in this community, a man of middle age, who has grown up be lieving a false doctrine, which has strength ened with his years—denying the ‘divinity of Christ —a calm, determined man, for whom a praying wife agonized at the throne of grace, for whom Christians prayed, but, perhaps considering his case one of the most hopeless in the city, this man stood up before that large audience, and declared that Jesus is the Son of God, that He is the Hearer of prayer, that He will forgive sins, that He had forgiven his sins. The facts, as he stated them, were these. He went to the meeting on Sabbath eve ning, to oblige his wife. The truth was preached, and he listened; but no impres sion was made, and he intended to go home and think no more of the matter; but he sat in one end of a seat filled with those who wished to stay at the inquiry-meeting. As he could not leave," he remained. Mr. Hammond came and talked with him, but could produce not much apparent effect upon him. He then prayed that God would plant a thorn in his pillow, and give him no rest until he found peace in Jesus. Mr. Gale went home. Next day, his pas tor called upon him and conversed with him. He was willing to listen, and said, “ If I believed as you do, I should want to be a Christian, but I cannot believe that Jesus Christ is God; and if he is not God, he cannot save me, and all the other doc trines of the cross fall to the ground.” His pastor would not leave him, however, until he had promised tp examine the" mat ter again and to pray to God for light. Then he thought of God, as his Creator, Preserver, and Benefactor, and thought it strange that he could refuse to piUy to Him. He resolved to pray for light to clear his difficulties, and during all that day his heart went up to God for direction; but he felt that, though perhaps he ought to pray to Jesus, he could not do it. After a day or two, however, the -charac ter of his prayer changed. A burden of sin seejned to press him down; he began to consider his ways and note how he had re fused, when God said, “This is the way, TER M N , «■ _,«■ - annum, in advance: ■li? 11 ’ **• . By Carrier, *8 <l<. ,, ldit io n a!, after three months. S™.v!i« \ ?r more papers, sent to one addrer' strictly m advance and in one remittance ■yjS* 50 P er annum. By Carriers. $3 per annua: Ministers and Ministers’ Widows, $2 50 in advance. Home Missionaries, $2 00 in advance. Fifty cents additional after three months. Remittances by mail are at our risk Postage.—Five oents quarterly, in advance, paid oy subscribers at the office of delivery. Advertisements.—l2M cents per line for the •rot. and 10 cents for the second insertion. i™* Square (one month):.... $S OS „ two months- 5 50 .. three “ 750 .. six 12 «o 0 .5 S fjUowinr disoount on long advertisements, in tt’roV\. m onths and upwards, is allowed liver 30 lines. 10 per cent off; over .10 lines, 20 pe cent.; over 100 lines. per cent. off. walk ye in it.” Now the burden of his prayer was for forgiveness; and finally he was led to believe that the blood of Jesus Christ eleanseth from all sin. He did not discover the changes in his feelings, day after day, as they took place; but now he looks back and sees plainly all the way in which the Lord led him. Those who protest against this as excite ment, must have been convinced of their error when they heard that man, in a calm, quiet way, yet with a very different expres sion of countenance from any ever worn before, tell ot his deliberate determination to serve the Lord. As for the doctrines whioh perplexed him before, he hopes to have some understanding of them some time, but they shall trouble him no more. Others still told us last night of wonder ful things God had done for them. A physician, although it cost a great effort, told us that, since these meetings had commenced, he had been angry and rebel lious, using all his influence against them. One afternoon he took his wife to a prayer-meeting for wives whose husbands were out of the ark of safety. As he left her at the church, he said he never felt so mean in his life. He went to meeting in the evening, but during the first part of the sermon, while the speaker declared God’s justice and judgment, his heart was hard and rebellious. But when Jesus was held up, the melting story of the Lamb touched his heart; he could resist no longer, but gave himself up to the Saviour. Before Mr. Hammond came, God’s peo ple prayed that he would prepare the way by his Holy Spirit. Many instances have proved that these prayers were answered. About a month ago, a dentist in this city —according to his own statement last night—one of the most openly wicked and careless men in town, was induced to attend L ohurch. He had neglected Divine service so long, that he had almost forgotten how the inside of a church looked. The ser mon he heard was a practical one, and he felt that the minister was preaching direct ly to him. The Holy Spirit brought home the truth to his heart, and he was troubled. He thought on the subject almost constant ly, and the burden grew heavier. At last, while he was alone for some time in his office, he thought he would try to pray. He did not know how to pray, hut thought he would try and say the Lord’s prayer, which his mother had taught him when a boy.i He got about half through, and found he had forgotten the last part of it. He came to the meetings, but they only deepened his convictions. One evening he caught hold of one of God’s people, and begged him to come to his office next mor ning early. His anguish was so intense, I that' sleep forsook him. The brother he spoke to came to his office and prayed with I him. Afterward, he was alone in his office . for three hours, and he learned how to ■ pray, and he did offer such a prayer as God , always answers. God has granted signal answers to prayer for a class which it would seem, perhaps, is among the most difficult to reach. The morning prayer-meeting is a power in this city for good. The Holy Spirit is always present; they always have precious meetings. All the time is occupied, and many wives and mothers are rejoicing over husbands and sons brought to Jesus, for whom earnest prayers have ascended from that morning prayer-meeting. The faith of Christians is greatly strengthened. They feel, as they never felt before, the certainty of the answer. What wonders God hath wrought in this city! To his name be the praise. No one knows the exact number of con versions, but it is safe to say that they are not far from four hundred. We hope to number by thousands, instead of hundreds. Mr. Hammond remains with us another week, March 17, 1866, IMPORTANT DECISION. The friends of prohibitory liquor legis lation will be gratified and encouraged to learn that the validity of such legislation is fully sustained by the Supreme Court of the United States. The liquor dealers of Massachusetts appealed to that Court to sustain them in their business, in spite of State laws, on the ground that the Govern ment tax legalized it. The decision of the Court was made known March 26th. “They hold that licenses granted by the United States, under the internal revenue laws, for the wholesale sale of liquors, held by a citizen of Massachusetts, do not protect him in the sale, or keeping for sale, of liquors within said State in view of the prohibitory law of the State of Massachusetts. The de cision of the Court below is affirmed.” We go to, press without any definite in formation as to* the veto of the Civil Bights Bill. , Peoria.
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