Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-04-03


A REvIvAL.-"THE TRUE SPIRIT FOR THE
HIGHEST OF ALL vocATIoNs IN THE CHURCH"
Extract from an ordination Sermon By tbs
Rsv. Bishop Mcltuaine.
Itis time this discourse were closed
But you will indulge me, brethren, with a
moment 10 say few words 10 him whose
consecra,ion 10 the Office Of Missionary
Bishop is now 10 take place. You can 1t.
Tie conceive with what spccai and most
aEec,iona.e interest. the speaker will par
ucipa,c in this solcmni'y. A little Of it may
be explained by the following briefreation.
It is now nearly thirteen years since a
very remarkable work of grace occurred,
10 the Military Academy of the United
States. During condition Of almost uni.
versal indifference to religion and Of wide
spread infdelity, against which the efforts
of,he ministry of one man, set for the de-
fence of The gospel, seemed for q long time
10 make not the least way, suddenly almost,
IN 4 very few days, many minds, withou!
COMMUNICATION with one another, and with.
our personal intercourse viii tho minister,
appeared deeply, and almost Simultaneous
interested in The great matters Iof eternal
life. Officers is we'll as cadets par;Icipa-
led in this, and to such an extent, that the
ministers study was soon occupied every
evening VITA assemblies, composed OF both,
for prayer and the exposition Of the Word
of G,d and serious impression, more or
less deep and abiding, was spread over
large part oflhc whole military community.
Several became at that period very decided
soldiers Of Chist. Many others received
.imprcssions then, which God has since
ripcncd into manifest and energetic Piety.
Many more received the seed ofthe word,
ia whom though it seemed to die, 1t has
srcc, under tue continued influence Of the
Spirit, sprung up and brought forth fruit.
Some are s,iIl in military life. Others have
been, long since, adoruing the Christian pro.
ttssioa in the ministry ofthc gospel.
The very fist appearance Of this work
of grace, so remarkably and singulary the
work Of God, was the coming Of cadet,
alone and most unexpectedly, TO introduce
himself to the Chaplain. and uaburihen the
SORROWS of a contri,e heart. All around
him was coldness and sccp;icism. 10
speak decidedly in favour Of religion, was
then so unusual in the Academy that it
nude one singular. To converse With the
Chaplain on that subject, had mol yet been
vcntured BY any, except out of opposition
10 the truth. Tha, any would appear there
seriously seeking eternal life. even the Chap.
lain was afraid 10 hope. Bu: the darkest
ci the night is nearest the dawn. A cade
did venture 10 come, in open day. to The
Chaplain's study, too deeply concerned to
heed what would be said ofhm. lie was
personally unknown 10 the Chaplain. His
message he tried to utter but could no.
Again he tried, and again; but the hca!'
was too full for speech. A. length it was
.:ic ME what must | dol have come
as.abou, my soul. know not what | wan:--
fam entirely in the dark. Vha: must
seek where must go7'' Such was tic
- FIRST declaration Of one who for some days
had been awakened under the preaching anl
reading of the ruth. A sermon preached
ON the Scriptures, and a tract, sent at ven
,urc, from the Chaplain's study 10 whomso
ever it might me t, had been blessed to nj
,soul.@ Doubs and cayis we're all aban
doned. lmplici, submission seemed his en-
xThe ,,ac: was sent by cadet, who in ODE
diencc to the request of pious father, of who's
death ho bad jus, heard, had come to ntroduc
himsc!; 10 the Chaplain. lie was not then Of
serious mind in gel gion. A tract was put int
BIS hand 70, himself; another, as bread upon tn
waters, with the direction "dyop it any ,ohcre 4
IRE barracks perhaps shall hear from H." II
smiled, promised compliance, and dropped it, ln
seen, in tbs room of his friend, the cadet abov
named. That day, 4 week. the chaplain hear
from il, related in the discourse. But still h
who dropped It was not known to for h
soul. The other having learned from the Char
ain to what cadet be was SO indebted, put piou
book in his way-(Gregory's Letters.) 500
they we're in prayer together in private. Soor
nc who was first in Christ pres ,ntcd The other. as
one seeking the peace Of God, at the place whe,
.he PRAYERS Of cadets were then wont 70 be mad
ithe Chlpla;n's study One f'hem is now
Bishop; the other, most beloved minister (
:hc Gospel, well known as the devoted and SUI
>.cssiu, Pastor Of o,c of the largest aocss ot't
Do "s2 o, V.rginiG.
Th,I.e:'2s o. O:;rllcs Gregory. IT 7. o
5.7i,encc. Doctrines and Dunes q: c.i:.:: 1T,
.vesa at etn.nen: use at ths: time. ~ .hHae:
uls Ed;.oa WIS Published. 9. :Sc fha!''1:7's =
s..c..r d ~. meridian.