The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-12-14

oCANDALOUS vi
the Rev. E. Irving delivered two sermons
on the extraordinary gifts OF the spirit, on
each of which occasions the congregation
were disturbed by individuals pretending
to the miraculous gift Of tongues. During
the sermon in the morning, lady, Miss
Eall,) thus sngularly endowed, was COM
PEELED to retire to the vestry. where she
was unable(as she herself says,) to restrain
herself, and spoke for some time in the I'M
known tongue, to the great surprise of the
congregation, who did not seem prepared
for the exhibition. The Rev. Gentleman
resumed the subject in the evening, 10y dis
coursing from Tor rather eXpounding) the
18th chapter of the LIST Corinthians
Towards the conclusion of the exposition,
he took occasion to allude to the circum-
stance of the morning, and expressed his
doubts Wheeler he had done right in re-
straining the exercise of the gift in the
church itself, and compelling the lady to
retire to the eestry. At this moment a
gentleman in the gallery Ia Mr.. Taplin,
who keeps an academy in Castle street,
Holborn, rose from his seat, and commence
cd n violent hafangue in the unknown
tongue. The confusion occasioned was ex-
treme. The whole congregation rose from
their seats in alright. Several ladies
screamed aloud, and others rushed to the
doors. Some supposed the building was in
danger, others that there mad either beer Il
murder, or nm attempt to murder come per-
son in the gallery, insomuch that one gen.
tleman actually called out to the pew opener
and beadle to" Stop him, and not let him
escape" On both occasions the church
was extremely crowded particularly so in
the evening aid it would be impossible to
describe the confusion produced by this dis
play of fanaticisn. There was, indeed, in
the strange un,arthly sound and extraor
binary power of voice enough to appal the
heart of the mos stout-hearted. A great
part of the congregation standing upon the
seats, to ascertain the cause of alarm, while
the Rev. Gentleman, standing with arms
extended, and occasionally becKonlng them
to silence, formed a scene which perhaps
partook as much If the ridiculous as of the
sublime. No attempt was made to stop the
individual. who alter two or three minutes
became exhausted and he sat down, and
then the Rev. Gentleman concluded the
service. Many we're alarmed, and others
so disguised, that hey did not return again
into groups, in thecntry of the church, and
discussed the propety of the Rev. Gentle
man suffering the exhibition, and altogether
a sensation was Produced which will not
soon be forgotten by hose who were pres
ent.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
Last Sunday evening one of the most sim
gular occurrences tool place in the Scotch
Church which was, pelhaps, ever witnessed
within the walls of aChristian assembly.
Immediately after the Rev. Mr.. Irving had
finished his 6 Oration,' he arose and in
formed his Congregation that this Church
was destined to be greater than the Church
of Corinth-that he would yield up his
Church to no one exceptto woman and a
p rophetess-that that woman was sent by
the Father-that the Father was In her,
and that she was of the Father--that she was
the true Head Of tho Church, and that the
Christian Church was to be exalted by her
means beyond whatit was even in the days
OF Pentecost-that she was now, within
these very walls, but that she never spoke,
except when the gift of prophecy was on
.her-and THAT if she propheseo on the pres
ent occasion, he hoped that 40 one would
;be alarmed, hut thai every person should
listen to her with the most profound atten-
ton. No sooner had the Reverend Divine
concluded this most extraordinary an
nouncement than the ears Of the congrega-
ton were assaied with the most discordant
yells, proceeding from the prophecies, who
only wanted the hint to be inspired inStan-
ter with the aforesaid gift, when she roared
and beloved in such manner that the
whole congregation was thrown into a state
of the greatest confusion and alarm; some
rushed forward to have a nearer view oil
the frantic bedlamite, while not few anus
ed themselves, amidst shouts of laughter, by
indulging in the coarsest jokes. Here
were to be seen ladies fainting-there Ia
dies crying for assistance; while the more
sober minded part of the congregated as
sembly made for the outer door with all i'm.
aginable dispatch, anxious to escape the
contagen of such scene of sacriege and
PROCLAMATION. In this state of chaos and
alarm Parson Irving stood up in his pulpit
and with his eyes fixed towards Heaven, as
if in a state of mental alteration, and seem.
ingly unconscious of the scene which wa.
acting around him, he looked, or pretended
TO look, as if he were in deep converse witt
MS OOQ. OuIlig tilo uPiodI, Which luste'
till the rest of the congregation separated
the most disgusting PROCLAMATION of religion
was witnessed. We understand that the wo
man who made this extraordinary display it
the Miss Campbell, from Scotland, who ha
been announced to the public some time ago
as "a prophet in her own country" ant
that Mr.. Irving will see and converse, a
his own house, with such persons as may
wish to be convinced of her gift Of prophecy
TALIAcoTIAN OPERATION. This ope.
ration, which has hitherto been so rare in
this country, having never, we believe, un.
til few years ago introduced by Mr.. Lis
ton, been known in Scotland, seems likely