Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-12-04
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Biblical Recorder.
TO THE REV. w. HOOPER, D. D.,
OF COLUMBIA. s. C.

/ Mg Dear Brother:
proceed now to treat of the utility q
; Proracted Meetings, and shall state SOM
facts that co.exist with them, reserving lh
manner of conducting them for anothe
letter.
These meetings began with US in 1881
In July o. this year, a camp-meeting wa
held at Sards. in this District, for fv,
days, which was marked by deeply inter
esiing incidents, and attended with blessed
results in the conversion of many souls
From Sards, seven of the ministers came
to this place, with whom We commenced
meeting that lasted ten days, with deep
ening interest to the end. From this
meeting, there went forth throughout the
district and the neighboring regions--a
powerful influence that happily prepared
the way for similar ones. The ministers,
who had SO successfully laboured with US,
felt it their duty 10 visit other churches,
and after being affectionately thanked and
prayerfully commended 10 other fields of
Iaboar, formed themselves into two bands
and departed whittier the spirit led them.
Each band held, as it went, protracted
meetings with the churches, successively
visited; and all the country around shared
largely in the spiritual blessings of which
we had so richly parlaken.-These meet
ings " came upon the inhabitants like the
shock of mighty earthquake, overturning
the foundations of scepticism and The self
wrought schemes Of salvation, and con-
vincing every one that there was a power
aud reality in the religion of Jesus Christ"
These meetings were not peculiar to US.
They were simultaneous throughout the
State, and instrumental Of great moral
reformation in all classes of society. They
were repeated in the succeeding year, and
have been continued 10 the present time.
Large have been the additions to the
churches by their means-valuable mem
bers have been brought into the fold of
Christ-the capabilities of the denomina-
ton have been greatly multiplied, and its
Fmassasd. Ws now ~ OssaPy position which
enables us to exert powerful instrumen-
lali,y upon our race for good. "God has
done great things for US, whereof we are
glad."g And | trust, that we will avail
ourselves Of our advantages for yet more
effective service in his cause.
But notwithstanding the manifest utility
of these meetings in the way just men
toned, there is a state of things connected
with them not of the most cheering char
acter that is worthy of serious attention.
On this subject remark, in the first place,
,ha, the spiritual condition of the denomi-
nation does moi appear 10 be in state OF
thorough progressive improvement, altho'
we have enjoyed such precious seasons,
and had such numbers added to our
churches. speak now particularly of
that part of the denomination with. which
am more Immediately connected. And
this fact is The subject Of remark by judi
cious brethren 10 various parts of our Zion,
who have larger opportunity of observa-
ition than myself. or us it may be said,
as i, was of The Jews, "Thou hast multi
piled the nation, and not increased the
/ 10y" During our protracted meetings we
are alive, but when they are over we re-
lapse into coldness, levi,y, love of the
world, conformity to its sinful customs,
extravaganza and covetousness; so that by
the time another prolracted meeting comes
on we are no better, and perhaps worse,
than whenihe last began. Why this slate
of things? Why, with such great excite
mentsi 10 spiritual advancements, do We
not make more rapid prog. ess in grace
and in the knowledge Of our Lord and
SAVIOUR Jesus Christ?
In connexion with the above, add the
following statistics Of our Association for
1.-The lastll years. During The first four
years of these meetings with US. there
were baptized 1860 0ipersons; excommuni-
Gated 399, and restored 14S. The average
contribution of each white member to be-
nevolent objects for each year, as sent up
10 the Association, was 10 cents 6 mills
and a fraction. Atthis period IA churches
were dismissed to form another Associa-
tion. leaving our body SO churches. In
the ten years that have elapsed since that
period, there have been baptized 1881
persons, excommunicated 724. and resto.
red 255.The annual average contribu-
lion for benevolent objects, as sent up 70
| The Association from each white member.
lis IS cents aud a fraction. II is true that
/ in 1886, afeWsliberal spirits die contribute
i to The Brrman Mission, sBurmans Bible,
/ Domestic Mission, and the tFurman The
illogical Institution, the sum S3. 375 90
this was generous aud noble. And il il
alsp true, That there are a few benevolent
societies and individuals in the Association,
whose contributions do moi come upsto
the Body sbaf ifs al! these did come mn.