Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-03-24

THE REVIVAL OF RELIGIOUS INTEREST.
COMPLIED FOR THE WARRINGTON UNION. -
s-s=l-f p 'r
Instead of presenting our readers with the usual
Sunday-morning column of religious inteihgence
gathered from journals especially devoted TO sacred
matters we to-day compile notices OF the extraor
binary religious movement cnron'caeo oy ins e.;o,s
press Our exchange papers. from Az sect'ons
TEEN with accounts Of REVEALS OF religion IN tue
Methodist, Baptist, Dutch Reformed and Presoyte-
rian churches, and in these accounts we ma evl'
dence Of the spread of deep devotional ieehng'
amounting in some places almost to q social revoa-
t;on Neither is this movement more remarkable
for its extent and universally than is Tor the char
actor and classes of those affected by it Men whose
past lives have been careers Of crime, or VINO nave
been without the pale Of any church, are foremost
among the new converts. 1t is also remarkable,
that While the redeemed" have been of this ire
irious class the attraction Of them to the truth of
the Gospel has not been generally speaking) the
results Of clerical labor The clergy appear, indeed,
to have been amazed by the strange conversions
which they have witnessed, some of them almost
miraculous and it has reused many of them to a
more faithful and conscientious discharge OF their
duties: but it is the laymen who have taken the
lead in the movement often dragging both churches
and clergymen after them. -,
u
view of this matter) is naturally religious being
This is the supremacy ruling principle OF his nature
Hence periods of skepticism always followed by
reaction and it may safely be said that there never
was and never will be, any nation or considerable
BODY of men who for long periods neglected the due
cultivation of the religious element of their natures,
but what after time experienced a reactiVe energy
and violence of impetuosity exactly in proportion
to the previous neglect Let any one read the h'so-
~ of the Jansenists among the French Roman Cath
thoa pIinorU
effects of the preaching of Wesley and Whitfield in
England, and of Jonathan Edwards in this country,
and Spurgeon in London, and he will see that they
all followed periods of GOODNESS and sceptcism among
the classes where they produced the greatest effects
seasons in which the devotional elements of mans
heart had laid uncultivated by the community gen.
orally.
The first apparent beginning of this great and
prevailing revival of religion may be traced to the
opening of mems MONDAY prayer-meeting at
church in New York. This took place during the
height of the late financial crisis. This meeting was
located the of business in that city
1t was confined to sect, but was open to all. 1t
presented a spot where the harrassed and wearied
mind might take momentary refuge from the tu
mutt and the strife Of worldly struggles and give
brief space prayer and serious meditation. There
was no excitement urgent appeal to the feeling,
no eloquent persuasion or narrowing denunciaons,
but the silent work of serious conviction, the feelings
of human weakness the realization of the necessity
of higher support than mans feeble powers and
resolves and the fruit thereof there doubtless
often the consong assurance of having found it
This religious feeling grew, spread, and increased;
it caught as it were, almost like contagion. The
restorative process commenced where it was most
needed, in the very centre of corruption, and has
thence extended its influence over the States and
cities almost of the whole continent.
Portland, He.-A correspondent writes us from
this place: Religious prospects are Frightening in
Portland. morning prayer meeting in the Free
State Baptist vestry, crowded the first week, expands
into three the second week, at different hours, at
DR.. Dwight's and Mr.. Moore's. weekly preach
ing service is also commenced at High street, for
different pastors. DR.. Chckering and his crowded
vestry assembly, Sabbath evening last cleo
trifiec by an address from a lawyer, who had till
lately been worldly and skeptcal, but now frankly
avows new purposes and expresses the joyful assur
ance that he has found the Saviour"
son are IN is statfa that IsESas il re-
Greenland, Rye, Portsmouth,, and other places of
New Hampshire. In the lastnamed place more
persons were admitted to the different churches last
Sabbath than had ever been known before.
Massachusetts, prayer-meetings are held at
hill, Newberryport, Worcester, Springfield, and 9TH
er places. Some of these disbursements
prayermeetings," into which those engaged in bus
mess 60 for ten fifteen minutes. 1.-THE people
come to them as doves to their windows" and the
churches receiving large accessons to their num-
bers. A Newberryport correspondent states as "a
gratifying fact, that quite proportion of the new
converts young men, and that the change in life
has been radical and thorough. So wonderful re-
vival, regards numbers, has never been known in
this section. Its influence is felt Ill every depart
ment of life and the tone of society has materially
changed. In business well as in pleasure, one
cannot fail in detecting the wholesome atmosphere
which has grown out of the interest. And, what is
most gratifying, the work continues undated in
ZEAL though not daily bringing out SO many in num-
bers-"
Rhode Island.- The Woonsocket Patriot says:
"Tbe religious interest in this and the neighborng
villages and towns continues undated Several
persons to be baptized by Rev. Mr. Breed of the
Baptist church, in this village, next communion day.
In North Uxbridge several conversions are ANNOUNCE
ed, and quite a number at Whtnsville cores
pendent informs us Of revival at Thompson seven
ty-hve conversions at Woodstock, seventy at Pom
fret, and thirty at Putnam. Similar reports come
from all parts of the country"
Connecticut.-The Religious Herald, of Hartford,
Connecticut says: There has been more than
usual religious interest in nearly all of the evangeli-
cal churches in this city for some weeks past. In
the Pearl Street Church there has been union
irayer.meeting of the young men held every Tues.
Gay, Thursday, and Saturday evening since the first
OF January, and the interest has become general
Afternoon prayer meetings were, commenced this
week, ard are now held at halfpast four o'clock ev-
cry day, for all who desire to pray for the influences
OF the spirit The New London Daily Chronicle
says: An extensive revival has been IN progress
among the churches of this city for some time past
and is now going on without any apparent abate-
ment OF the interest manifested. large number
have experienced conversion, and numerous acces.
s'ons have been made to the churches of various de-
nominations The Baptists and Methodists especial
y, have made large additions to their numbers
Ne'o York-In the city, according to the Express,
the awakening has continued for Sc veral weeks and
the sphere OF its influence is becoming wider every
Gay. The numerous prayer-meetngs are all crowd.
ed, and the number Of additions to the churches is
reckoned by hundreds every Sunday. Among the