Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-16
The Revival OF Religious Interest.

Instead Of prescLtDg our readers WIN '"e
usual Sunday -morning column OF rehIi"u'
Intelligence, gathered from journals sie;'ai-
" devoted to sacred matters, we to-day COM
pile notices of the extraordinary religious
movement chroniced by the secular press
Our exchange pagers from all sections, tecu
with accounts OF revlVa!s OF religion IN inc
Metaodist, Baptist, Dutch Reformed, and
Presbyterian CHURCHES, ana 10 thrSo accounts
we find evidence Of the spread Ut n deep de-
votional feeling, amounting IN somo places
almost to social revolution. Neither IL
this movement more remarkable Tor l's e1-
t,ut and univer-ality than 1t Is tor the chat-
acter and classes OF those affected by 1t
Men whose past lives have been careers OF
crime, or who have been without toe pale oi
any church, are foremost amCng the new
converts. IL is also remarkable that while
the redeemed" have been OF this irreilgi-
Gus class, the attraction OF them To the truth
of the Gospel has not been generally speak
ing) the results of clerical labor. The cier-
~ appear, indeed, to have teen amazed BY
the Srang conversions which they nave wit
messed, some OF them almost miraculous,
and It has reused many OF them to more
faithful and Conscientious discharge of their
duties; tut it is the laymen who have taken
toe lead in the movement, often dragging
both churches aud clergymen alter them.
Man (sayS writer wno takes very ser
sitle view of this matter) IS naturally u re-
lIgiouS being. TITS Is tue supremacy ruling
principle OF his nature. lleuce, periods OF
skepticism are always followed by reaction,
and 1t may safely be said that there never
was and never will be, any nation or con-
siderable body OF men WHO, for long periods
neglected the due cultivation of the religious
element Ut their natures, but what alter
time experienced reactve energy and vlo-
lence Of impetu3sltV exactly IN proportion 10
the previous neg le;t. Let any one read the
history Of the Jausenls;s among the French
Roman & lthUlics in the reign OF Louis NV,
or the extraordinary effects # the preaching
Of Wesley AID Whitfield IN England, and ot
Jonathan Edwards in tins country, AID
SpurgeOn in London, and be will see that
they ali followed periods of GOODNESS and
sket ticism among the classes where they pre-
ducei the greatest efect-; seasons IN which
the devotional elements vi mans heart had
laid uucultiyated by the community gene
rally.
The first apparent beginning of this great
and prevailing revival Of religion may lie
traced to the opening OF mems noOn-day
prayer-meetng at II church in New York
THIS took place during the height OF the late
financial crisis. This meeting was located
near the very centre of business IN that city.
1t was coLfiued b no sect, but was open 10
all. Il presented spot where the harras-
sed and weared mind might take Il momen-
tary refuge IRON the tumult and the strife Of
worldly struggles and give briet space t.
prayer and serious meditation. There Vas
no excitement, 10 urgent appeal to the ieCl-
ingI, 10 eloquent persuasion or haTrowing
Recommendations, .but the silent work OF serious
conviction, the feeling OF human weakncss,
the realization of the necessity OF h!SIer
support than mans feeble powers aud re-
solves. and as the fruit thereof there was
doubtless often the cOnsoling assurance Oi
having found it, lhs religious feeling
grew, spread, and Increased; II caught, as 1t
were, almost like a cUntaglOn. The restora-
tive process commenced, where 1t was most
needed, in the very centre of corruption, and
has thence extended Its Influence over the
States and cities almost Of the whole CONT
nent.- Wash Union.