The Kanzas news., 1858-06-12
The Kanzas News.
l2, 1853.
From the Independent, March IL.
The Revival in New York.
u,RRrEr BrEoHER srowE's oPIN1oN.

The great turning of the public mind to
rsloion forms so marked an event in our
nresent times, that even secular papers are
Noticing it. For the most part, too. their
notices are not scofing or disrespeetful,
but tentative, serious and Suggestive
They seem to say, ''There is need enough
among us of a revival of religion, heaven
knows-pray God only that it be real. and
of the right kind.
They say, we hope it viii do some good
to men in a political and business capacity
that it will e1ss 11is:E slsssem honest, and true
and upright and magnanimous. t'No re-
vivaI has ever done anything for Wall street
ret," says one-"we hope This may
we hope says another, tthat prayer for
he slave may not be considered an intru-
sion in these frequent prayer meetings, and
that some penitence may be felt and ex-
messed for the share which Northern
churches have had in aiding and abetting a
system of robbery and oppression" So
speaks the outside World, as she looks
gravely, sadly. not scofingly. on prayer
neetings-and her demand is just.
There is something in a right name
The term revival seems by general con-
sent to have been adopted into our Ian
guage as expressive of these seasons; but
We much prefer term formerly much en-
Moved among certain religious denomina-
lions" reformation. Instead of the
great revival of 1853, we should be happy
to read the great reformation of 1853.
Many worldly people, and some very
Christian. people, have prejudice against
anything like periodicity in religious i'm
pulse. They dislike reviyals. Why should
the Divine One, who is alWsys love, say
they, be considered as operating impulsive-
" and periodically on the human soul,
sometimes shining and sometimes with
drawing? 1t is urged, furthermore, that
the expectation of such seasons becomes in
the end motive for sloth and inaction, and
a neglect of an even and constant culture of
the religious nature.
All this may have some truth in it; but,
nevertheless, it is a fact that religious i'm
pulses, like all other impulses, have always
come over the world in waves. To begin
with the day of Pentecost, in which three
thousand were converted in one day, we
find all along the line of the history of the
church that there were seasons when relig-
ous impulses were more than usually fer
vent, and religious labors successful.
There were revivals under the preaching
of Augustine and Chrysostom; and the
great force of the Reformation was not
merely political or intellectual, but it was
the deep upheaving of the religious element,
bringing all other reforms in its train. The
Reformation acas a reviUal Of religion. The
reyivals in England under the Wesleys and
Whitfield inaugurated new era there, which
is felt to-day IN the power of the dissenting
element and the improved state of things in
the Established Church. The preaching OF
the Wesleys, the Fletchers, and of Whit
field, to the golfers and cotters of England,
was the first movement for the general re-
Ggious instruction of the masses, and led
the way to the multiplied labors of that
kind with which England now abounds. 1t
is a noticeable fact in all these cases, that
they were followed by political and moral
reforms; the work proved itself divine by
It's benefcent results. This is fair test
HE that is of God, doeth the works of
GOd;'' and by this test should every so-call-
ed revival be judged. Revivals which
make men better, and bless society, have
been and may be realities. BuLthe rule is
without exception, that every truly yalu-
able thing has its counterfeit. When we
read of great revivals, where the Christian
converts claim as sacred right, the privi-
lege OF selling the members of Christ fol
money; where they defend the breaking oi
the marriage covenant at the viii of the
master, and take away from the colored
member the right of testimony, and are Sc
lost to all moral sense as to see no harm
IN any of these things, we hold that that
revival has been spurious and counterfeit.
30 also as to Northern churches, which
ior reasons of expedieney. and to carry ends
Of ecclesiastical politics, have refused tC
testify against these sins, we hold that
revival of religion that brings no repent
ance and reformation, is false and spurious
We believe in no raptures, in no ecstacies
IN no experiences that do not bring the
soul into communion with Him who declar.
Cd He came TO set at liberty them that are
bound and bruised. Revivals of religion
have not been confined to Christian coun-
Ules. Old heatbenism had them. Pop
Eh Rome has them. Modern heathenism
has them. Que and all of these have haC
'urns of unusual fervor in their way On,
and all have had their frances, illuminations
ana mysterious ecstacies. But those on
= are Christian reyivals which make meT
ri Eae Christ; or. if they do not make them
." Ae him, at least set them on the road ot
,nying to be like Him.. We say. therefore,
,oE ~ our friends, that the period of great
l.. LSous impulse has come; that there viii
reSivals all over the land, either false oil
t-either of Christian or a heather
,iPe' and by their fruits shall ye know
fl. m. We are glad to hear that some Of
H. most effective revival preachers confne
H. @ attention very much TO preaching tc
is soc:a church. We are glad to hear that. L
b. sal'e necessary that those who profess tc
eor .ne exponents of religion before the
immunity. should have some deeper and
ner ideas of what religion is.
Az ;" that when they go forth with the
vss, pos.ohc message, "Repent and be con.
M. u every one of you," they need not be