American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-04-30

d.
a year or two ago the churches that
yet remain in the centres of trade.
"down town" were thought to have
survived their days of possible useful
ness; now they are filled at high noon
by mon of business and men of toll,
dropping for the while their thoughts
of daily labor to strengthen their pur
pose of virtue by earnest prayer. Ma
ny churches are open also every night,
and no clap'trap appeals or attractive
machinery are necessary to fill them
with attentive throngs. The Sunday
services of Protestant worship are cv-
cry where well attended; the preachers
utter their message with unwonted
force and ferver. And the minds of
men are susceptible of religious instruc-
tion and impression to degree which
but year ago was rare and occasion
al. And what is true of the CITY, is
true of the whole country. The jour
nails, secular as we'll as religious TEEN
with chronicles of revival; the tele-
graph brings tidings from all quarters
OF new awakening; and every where,
in public places, even in those "where
merchants most do congregate,' as
well as in all circles of private, you
hear men talk of the new reformation.
A similar movement is going on in the
British Islands the bishops of the
Church Of England preach to the mas.
ses in the Abby, and talk of opening
the Cathedral for popular meetings;
and throughout England We hear of
unusual religious activity among church.
man OF all schools as we'll as among
dissenters.
We are we'll aware that all men
even all Christian men-are not agreed
as to the character of these phenome-
ma. 1t is said that they are mere
signs of an unnatural excitement which
Will soon pass away, and leave CORES
pondlng exhaustion behind it, that
such excesses are usually followed by
reactions and that on the whole Chris
tianity has more to fear than to hope
from them. But the same objection
would hold against the grandest and
most benificent movements in the his,
tory of humanity. The progress of
mankind in art, in science, and in lit
erature has been marked by periods Of
excitement, even exaltation. Ciyiliza-
ton has advanced by leaps, rather than
by regular march; and though the
way may have been prepared during
the years of silence and apparent stag.
nation, there have always been thunder
peals ''when thought had welded fact
But the sure test Of every movement
of the human mind is it's fruit; and i,
is matter of history that a large pro
portion of the so-callcd Evangelical
Church members, now living, have been
brought in by revivals. The leading
philanthropists of the times are active
IN them; indeed it is believed that
most of the truly philnnthropic enter.
prlses OF the age owe their origin to
them. The present revival moreover
IS characterized by calmness, sobriety,
and moderation it is the movement
not of torrent, but of deep and oui-
ct river. Nor do we hear anything OF
sectarlan strife and proselytism good
men, from all churches, come together
in the "Union meeting" for daily pray.
er.
Believing that the good results Of
this excitement will far outweigh the
evil, and that its tendency is "to ava.
ken the fire of faith in the land as BY
a sacred contagion." VIC bid it God.
speed We trust that under the iu.
dicious teaching of Christian pastors.
this new and general awakening of the
religious affections will be attended
with a corresponding growth of Chris.
tan knowledge, and an increased prac.
tice of christian virtues. And if this
be so, the American people will have
reason to rejoice, for century to come
over the fruits Of the great Revival Of
1853.