American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-04-02
ReE61SOlgS.


The Religious Excitement in New York
, .--Barton's Theatre Prayer Meet
iDgS-IntereSting Particulars. q
The following extract from recent
letter from New York, detailing inter-
lesting particulars Of the revival in that
city, will be read with interest -
9om. readers have heard of the un-,
usual interest now being felt. in this
great Qgiity0 and y throughout tho North.
generally. se,,aya,,,i ~ .s,,,, M l.i ~
This religious feeling is extraordina-
.ry, and without precedent in the rec.
ordsl, of New York. There is no Wild
excitement, but a deep concern is man
Tested 3 Quietly, but powerfully, the
work is going on. In nnearly all the
churches there are held daily prayer
meetings. The ministers preside or
lead in the exercises, which consist Of
prayer, singing, and exhortation. Bu-
siness men and clerks, laborors and,
lawyers, leave their duties awhile, to
attend the services. Ladies leave the
parlor, OF defer their shopping and go
toatite place of prayer, and strangers,
attracted by others going in, turn and
walk in also. Even boys have places
and hours assigned for their meetings,
and much benefit have they derived.
Merchants leave their stores, and bro
kers their counters, and present them
selves for all hour before naltars mot
erected to senseless Mammon i Nor is
the worship confined tochurches. Old
Burton Theatre, in Chambers street,
is converted into house of prayer. /
have just attended services and return.
ed.l Between two of the entrance doors
stands the old bulletin board headed,
s5l ~ BURToN's THEATRE h93sisa
Positiee Success E0ery NigAt his week
Here follows the bill of play. Just
between the other doors is a large and
handsome placard inscribed, ~ 7tti
..- UNION PRAYER MEETING, i3r
~. FROM II TO O'CLOCK DAILY!
Friend, this m meeting is far you Come
once, at least, aoiH you not
Upon neat posted handbill close
by is the closing exhortation Of Gods 5
Bible-the last dispensation of the Ho-
ly Spirit 4H ,.,. ...
And the Spirit and the Bride say Come
(" Come, come, come" followed by a
short printed address. gie.sr
Going in, / observed Rev. Dr.. Arm
itagc, of the Baptist denomination,
with five or six other cergymen, occu.
pylng a place upon the stage, upon
that same stage where old Burton had
almost convulscd thousands with his
inimitablc .Toodles, and shocked ladies
and persons of refined feelings with his
profanity and vulgarity. Where Bar
ton had scoffed at piety, and others had
nocked the pious scruplcs and princi-
pies of conscientious people, now arose
the voice of prayer and praise, & from
the same spot where oft arose silly
songs, intended to provoke laughter,
now was ascending a beautiful hymn
from thousand blended voices, like
grateful incense to the throne of Him
VINO sitteth above the sun and stars.
What a change How marvellous in
the eyes Of mortals! a theatre chang
ed to a house of worship !! Who that
has paid his fifty cents to witness the
burlesque of Aminidab Sleek would in
years past have predicted that to. .day
he could enter the same dress circle or
parquette, "withoutmoney and without
price, and witness ministers of the
Gospel whore once strobe actors and
actresses, and instead of hearing from
the audience noisy applause, his ears
are gladdcned by words of rejoicing
from new born souls, and listen to tho
glorious words of rcdeeming grace.
The ways of the Almighty are truly
past finding out. Men have put their
trust in money, and sought happiness
| in the transient things it would buy.
Poor mortals A great commercial
disaster swept their wealth from them,
and they who supposed themselves rich
became poor--tbat which they loved
and trusted was lost, and they saw the
folly of confiding too much in the cor.
rupting and corruptible things of this
life. Their thoughts have been direct.
ed toward chat which cannot pass away,
though heaven and earth do.
The wicked are becoming pcnitont,
and the naughty are brought low. X
Thousands have been converted during
this revival, and the interests increas.
ing. May it continue long.
The number Of people in the theatre
to-day was estimated at 5000. The
seats will accommodate 1000, & every
standing point was crowded TO excess.
Many were obliged to come out, and
nALnrr Ln.,E nrn,cI,.L. q. LlA.... IL.