The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-03-11
T OF liIt .OtLSF J.-s TIllt'
TIE RELIGIOUS AWAKEWIWG

isi3lO5is dfettfFTifJ aN 0<SE tHS Souiti J. .
The daily papers Of New York and other
cities. giys full and satisfactory accounts
of this movement. The following extract
from the Y. /. TriGune Of MARCH l, will
give an idea Of the magnitude Of the re-
vival ros going on:
ut can hardly have escaped general
observation that there is now being man
iteSted, III this city, al unusual aud ln-
creasing attention to religion. J. remark
ably earnest state Of feeling or this sub
ject has been developing ITSELF for some
time past among all classes Of tie COM
munity hcrc--frQm the highest to the
lowest -.inelpding those ont Of the church
as veil as those in it, Nor has this
iguickened interest in religion, and this
increased attendance on religious meet
Iings, been III anywise confined or pccu-
liar ta this city; for it extends in an
equal direction and, in many instances, in
still greater degree to all parts Of the
country. The exchange newspapers, botn
religious and secular, that come TO US from
all quarters, speak of an unwontod regiv-
al of religious feeling in their vicinity,
and in the country far aud near around
them. In fact, sudden fervor seems to
have seized the public mind. Every
where men are crowdin2 to religious
/, meetings, and the spirit with which the
crowds are impressed, and which incites
them to SO general an attention to relig-
ion and religious services, seems to be
animatlng the whole land. The revival
spreads almost like contagion. 1t Is ey-
erywhera expected, like an epidemic. A
meeting is organized in one place, and in
a day Qr two afterward another is sure to
follow in the nearest ncighborhood. One
church breaks cat into revival, and IN
few weeks the next in the village, or
the town, or the city fellows the example,
until the whole district is awakened and
aroused. In some instances the enthusi-
asm seems to have spread from place to
place with all the rapidity Of fire on a
prairie. 1t is believed, for instance, that
as many as a hundred prayer-mcetingS
have been established in different cities
and towns throughout the country, from
the single example Of the noon-day meet
ing held in this city in the Old North
Dutch Church. !"
i AZ | have an earnest desire to lead a
christian hfa, and to see aN my neighbors
do the sane, [ venture to inquire, why
Copdersport has not felt shi5 Religions
! Apokening? Is it the fault Of mipi4ter,
or people? ? of professors, or non-proFess-
orS? As this is free country, L shall
say what | think on this subject, as plain
{ ly as an occupant Of one OF cur pulpits
has spoken his thoug hts.
J, | answer the first question then by
saying. that when the proteSsiMg chris
; tian5 of this place, shall show by THEN
: daily wall; and conversation, that they
have more charity, more love for then
? fellow men, and more of disposition to
, visit those in prison (or in Slavery, tc
feed the hungry and clothc the naked
than nop-professors; then may We look fol
: this "RcligiQUs Awakening" to visit Cou-
. dersport. Why should we expect it be
; fore that time? Why should world
people care to obtain that kind of ofreligior
} which does not make its professors &C
= any better than non professors, "By
! their fruit ye shall know them,' is The
5 standard given by the Saviour himself
J and it is also the standard Of Common
I Sense.
/ I will answer the second question By
: saying, that the minister who stands W
f in his pulpit in this community, undel
: present circumstances, and attempts t.
) belttIe our Temperance and other organ
izations for the improvement of society
t for the sake of exalting the Church, i
1 simply Bigoted Sectarian, who does no
? know what he is talking about, and i;
!, powerIcsq for good. He will have t.
2 take big beam out Of his own eye, be
t fore he is in condition to see the mote
f in the eyes Of otbeEs. There has beer
il much loud protessing for the last fv'
e months. 1t is quite time to 5iro a llttl
l. practical righteousness.
b | will answer the third question by say
s ing, that to my mind, there is but littl
l. difference between the responsibility o
o professors and non-professors. At pres
1t ent, | think there is quite as much gen
/ uine, Christlike religion, among the lat
5. ter as the former.
y Is it probable there will be "Rcligiou
e Awakening" here, while the presen
stamp Of preaching lasts? Is denuucia
= ton, personal defractiop, prying int
: marriage relations, and dividing littl
e Sabbath Schools, the way to quicken al
= interest in religion? No Qpe put a blin
: partisan will answer in the affirmative
e Now if the minister, instead Of hum
: bly, praying for clearer yieW Of his oE.
+ duty, shall make this article the chief tor
). ie of his next sermon, and shall manifes
e the same spite in his comments on IT a
r on some former occasions, then he Wi
+ provoke stall further comments on h
Al L