The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-08-16
A REVIVAL SCENE.

From The "records Of BubbIeton Par
ish, or Papers from the Experience of an
American Minister" just published in Bos
ton by A Tompkins and b. B. Mussey &
Co.. we take the following graphically de,
scrihcd scene.
While our affairs were in this threaten.
ing and dubious posture, most exciting
revival" was in progress in one Of the
neighboring churches.
AT the period of which am writing,
these famous meetings were elecirfyino
many OF the Congregationalist churches
throughout New England. A flame Of
religious enthusiasm was kindled in the
community. Sectarian zeal was enacliuy
another crusade. The word was to be
OV"'e rS-.s' '.-y ssD''a. ,r, n..'".'~ts'n.
The experience of twenty years has not
confirmed the wisdom OF that experiment
The dis tstrous effects of the revival system
are now pretty generally confessed. 1t
may be safely affirmed, I think, that A.
me- lean Christianity suffers 10 this day
in The estimation OF respectable class of
community-not onl " from the errors that
were propagated during those exciting
scenes, but from the reaction Of that over.
strained feeling and morbid exeriop which
they induced. 1t is as unwise to over
task the religious sensibites. as to ex.
haust The mental or Lodily powers. Ma
ture demands reparation for every kind
o. excess. Why should we expe.t fire.
quent recurrence of the Day Of Pentecost!
II is not the aim of Providence 10 develop
the Christian life in The soul by success
sion Of spasms. 1t is growth-nut to I've
realized, or even favored, by tumuIluous
excitement, frantic appeals to fear and
seltishnesS, awful threateningS and terrific
alarms-but scared under the conscious
shelter of Divine Love, in the calm dis.
course of reason, in the serenity that un-
wells the heart to the renovating light and
b'esse harmonies of the universe.
The revIvals TO which | allude, may be
Symbolized by the dark wrath of hurri-
C mes, that Leave ruin moaning on their
track, aud prepare the waste for briers to
grow and dragons 10 inhabit. But pure
religion has its symbol in the peaceful
shining of the sun, that wins forth the
inherent beauty % Nature, aud clothes the
world in the gratitude Of Praise,
Gods process-whether surveyed in the
imperccptibIe movement of considerations,
or in The renovation Of human being
is gradual, orderly, sublime.
His renewing influences descend "like
the small rain, and distil like the dew
Ii 5 kingdom cometh not with observa-
tion.
For why should tumultli e the tramp
Of armies. herald the reign Of HIM we call
the Prince of Peace
But to resume the narrative:
1t was a night in March that WAS re-
turning from the house OF parishioner,
whom had visited in severe ailiction.
My course Law directly by DR.. Scream
er's large church, where the revival wa:
being conducted. Although 1t was past
the hour of ten, the meeting still continu
ed. The building was evidently thronS
cd, for shadows Of figures, standing ercet
against the upper tier Of windows, dark
ened the ample sweep of The galleries
and crowd Of men filed the porch, O.
were crammed together 10 the three cute
doorways. The voice Of the preacher
shrill and hoase-- with frequent groan
Of conviction, and cries Of sudden terror
and shouts of approval from the excite,
\ audeuce--raug fedrfuIly in,o the sill ea
! Of night.
There was a fascination about the plac,
that made me pause, aud that drew m
steps to the thronged entrance.
/ The porch-lamps glared dim and ghast
! ly upon that compact mass Of beings, am
the breath Of the dense crowd that file
the vast interior of the editice, issued fror
the marrow apertures furnished by III
bali obstructed doors, in rank, bot an
sickening steam.
1t was horrible to think Of the infatuate
i multitude thus wedged within Ibis TAT,
church, and breathing this abominab
{ atmosphere, charged thick with death
, l bad barely secured a footing upo