Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-04-25
REYIYALS.
MERcY FoR ALTON.

Who would not rather pray Tor such a
powerful effusion of divine grace and
mercy upon Alton, as shall bring even
the assassins whose guilt no human law
can now reach, as humble penitents al
the foot Of the cross God feels right
towards Alton. And il seems, his feel
ings have been those of divine Compass
ion. instead Of a food Of VENG EANcE,
he has sent a wave Of SALVATION.
Praised be his glorious name. How
much he is unlike men. Il will be re-
membeFed, that brother Graves, Of the
Presbyterian church, was the only pastor
in Alion thai stood by Loyeioy and the
truth, like man. And his people sus-
tanned him. And the terrible succession
OF horrors drove them TO their knees be-
| fore The throne of God. Aud now see
the resuItl-EmGa-
- From the New-York Evangelist.
~ ~ REVIVAL IN ALTON. ~. .
..sl Alton, March 7, 1888.
BRorHER JoHNsoN,-No intelligence,
| am sure, can come to you from this
scene of bloody Strife of more great
| ful and encouraging import than is con-
tanned in this communication, God has
once more remembered his praying, be-
llieying people, and caused his salvation
to flow through our guilty aud polluted
city. Many have been the songs of 4 new
born souls' which have gone up as sweet
smelling incense before The throne OF
God. How Changed since the memora-
bic 9TH Of November How cheering to
1.-THE Christian heart, TO witness the tri-
umphs OF redeeming mercy on the very
spot where the great deceiyer had so hate
Icslebrated hismaddest carnival g. wha,
a lesson of patience, and forbearauce. land
meekness, and forgiveness, to the doubt
ing and faint hearted believer How
different the judgment Of the infinite ,Je,
hovah, from the narrow and contracted
views Of depraved and falibIe man
Who would have supposed, that amid SO
much strife, and contention and hate, and
malice, and murder, the heavenly com
forter would so soon have descended tc
lcalm and assuage the tumult Of angry
passion, and take up his abode with such
a wicked and ungra,eful people! Yet
lduring the very week in which the riot
ers and associated murderers of the mar.
Ityred Loveioy; were tried before our mu
liieipal court, and in the face of the mos
positive demonstration of their guilt, wer'
lacouitted, sinners were inquiring wha
lthev should do 70 be saved, and younl
lconverts were" singing the song OF Mos
les and the Lamb .>.'. j..
ORIGIN OF THE REvIvAL-APPAREN'
lopsTAcLEs AND DIscouRAeEMENTs.-
To mere human view, nothing could seen
lmore impracticable than revival of reli
pion under circumstances so unpropItiou:
and particularly so, in the Presbyteria
church. In the opinion of the great bod
of our fellow-citizens, the members ofou
Icommunion and society were considere
1.-The a6ettors OF allthe Inischievous doc
ltrincs OF abolition !" the prime agitatoI
and disturbers of the public peace of tn
once quiet city, and as responsible 70
and accessory to, all the mobs that ha'
ldisgraced her fair name, and finally hay
been held up as the real and guilty mn
derers Of "tbe deceased Lovejoy." NJ
were sentiments and reports like thes
set on foot and proclaimed TAR and wild
to the injury Of the Presbyterian churc
by the mere rabble Men of property
B Standing, and leading members in 9th
% denominations did not scruple TO prop
gate these very calunnies. 1t was prop
terird, that the Presbyterian church IN A
>. ton must go down. that her minist
. would have to flee the city; that some
her prominent and devoted members b
so lost their influence, by their bold a
: fearless defence Of the great principles
free discussion and liberty of the pre-
w that their usefulness was at an end. +
"a little season, no one could disproVe Il
confident prophecy. Some members
;, our congregation deserted Abe sanctuIr
'ur the tide Of opposition broke few OF
harmless waves over the IS hated abb
ton church !" and infdtIry assumed
bolder front, aud uttered IN a strong
tone her ridicule and bias henles.- t
NJ al was in vain. The very Opposition
4 the enemy served only to bind US In
ser harmony, and lead US TO the thr"
A There we put up our PETITIONS, aud rar
our criss, and poured forth onr7tears.
p ADKY OF FASTING AND PRAYER
first day oil January, 1888, viii no. 5.
: be- forgotten. IL was devoted to Z
!, THEE times we came together, aud c
nm fessed. aud prayei, and wePt. Ne
were so many of our. members conye
u. op,ose occasion before. The Lord
there. We resolved 10 seek diligently
'oS' the outporing Of the Holy Spirit. EV
"a night we assembled together for pra..
and nearly four weeks had gone by.
-. withthe exception of 4 or5 converse
"s' no special interest could be seen am
est; the unbelieving multitude. Even 3
de- ofsour devoted elders seemed 70 dOubt