New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1854-09-27
a REVIVAL SCENE.

It was night in March that was returning
from the house Of parishioner, whom I had
visited in severe affiiction. ~L-1
My course lay directly before Mr. Screamer's
large church, where the revival was being con-
Quoted. Although it was past the hour of ten
the meeting still continued. The building was
evidently thronged, for the shadows Of figures
standing erect against the upper tier of windows,
darkened the ample sweep of the galleries; and
a crowd of men filed the porch, or were crammed
together in the three outer doorways. The voice
of the speaker, shrill and hoarse, with frequent
groans of conviction, and cries of sudden terror,
and shouts of approval from the excited audience
rang fearfully into the still ear of night
There was fascination about the place that
made me pause, and that drew my steps to the
thronged entrance. The porch lamps glared
dim and ghastiy upon that compact mass of
beings, and the breath of the dense crowd that
filled the vast interior Of the edfce, issued from
the narrow apertures furnished by the half OBJ
structed doors in rank, hot and sickening steam
1t was horrible to think Of the infatuated mul-
titude thus wedged within this fatal church, and
breathing this abominable atmosphere, charged
thick with death
had barely secured a footing upon the outer
threshold before was thrilled by piercing,
protracted shrek. 1t was mans voice-loud,
harsh and awful beyond any thing had ever
heard, Ithad a certain rude and prolonged vehe-
mence that indicated great physical strength,
and reminded one of the despairing cry of wild
beast, rather than of any strictly human utter
auee of woe. -
| instantly perceived that the men around
me were powerfully agtated by the occurrence
They passed forward toward the inner doors,
and tried to look over the heads of the inter-
vening throng, "1s it hes" they demanded,
intsubdued but frantic whispers, reaching over
and clutching the clothes of those who stood
within.
"a judgment! Behold judgment of God ~
| was thundered from the lips of the preacher.
All eyes were directed toward the pulpit in
strange CONSERVATION. The multitude about
| the central aisle began to sway to and fro, and
| | heard the shuttle of many feet, mingled with
shouts of g Amen! Glory to God! A judgment
| A Judgment ~
again was heard that fearful shriek; but
lower, fainter than BEFORE as if life itself were
departing from the poor wretch
Then down the aisle ran the cry, almost vim
dictive in its wild fervor: ssIt's q judgment! a
Judgment from Almighty God on the scoffer 70
The confusion increased within the church
but, over all, the shriH voice of the speaker was
distinctly audible, though his form was not visi-
\ BILE to me, for he had left the pulpit and stood
exhorting by the altar. r.
| At length beheld, urging his course madly
through the compact throng, and moving his
arms like swimmer in his efforts to reach tht
door, the large and stout figure of an old man
| who had been shown to me in the streets, no
long previous, as Sharkey, the smnggler. Isay
in the distortion of his features, and in the will
terror of his look, the revelation of sudden in
sanity. The awe-struck crowd gave way as fas
as the seanty space would allow; and, like on
marked by the curse of Heaven, the old MAJ
rushed forth into the night. ,zz=1 -
I" Was ever a judgment more manifest" ex
claimed one, gazing solemnly after the fugitive
Then l learned that Old Sharkey had laid
wager that he would enter the crowded ehurc
and profanely defy the reyivalists before tn
altar, and that, in pursuance of this reckless in
tention he had encountered the fierce anathem
Of the preacher, and smitten by sudden repent
ance, or superstitious fear, had fallen to th
floor with q shrek of madness,
1t was evident that the revivalist realized th
advantage which such an incident was calcu
lated to furnish him His voice took an impe
rious tone. The threatenings he announce
hecame more and more authoritative. Terror
multiplied around his agitated brow.
4 desire seized me to behold the man VII
swayed these hundreds at his will, and detaine
them within these horrible walls at the risk
suffoeatioD. The gallery offered the only chanc
4 of gratifying my wish. With great exertion
reached the stairs. Here, as elsewhere, thel
was dense, hot thropg.. Step by step, mac
the wearisome ascent, and, pressing through tt
door that opened on the gallery, the immen.
magnitude of the audience rose before me wit
. startling effect.
But admiration was not the emotion fhs
, made my sight swim and my brain whiris
was fear. a CONSERVATION at the vile, ,putri
heat, that rose, dense, intelerable, malari,
from those unconscious victims Already hur
dreds seemed as torpid as so many figures
lead. In a few minutes more as il seemed I
: my excited fancy. they would become corpse
9 A thrilling, dizzy sense of the danger darte
through me in an instant Without clearl
' realizing what ! was doing, and SO imperio,
was the impulse that seized me. 1 made my wa
to the front of the gallery, ahdsshouted with a
E. my voice: g People! are you tmada sHou a,
: ali dying of sutfocation!l Open the windows Al
: clear the house! OF course, this was very pr
y sumptuous, but at that instant it seemed On
the dictate of duty, as, indeed, II shall think
= J .ss Yes! ~ echoed the revivalist, glanoing up
q | me with o fierce gestures. syous are all ma
mad with the folly Of the HQrldI and suffoeatin
Yes, with Hell-hrel Open the windows, ahl Il