The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-04-14
Tne Great Religious Revival.

Our Eastern exchanges ABOUND Win
accounts of the Great Religious Awaken
inc. VIII. oh is now in progress throughout
the country, and especially in the Attain
tic Cities. A!l-the poor and abandoned
wretch from the dens of dissipation and
vice: the man of wealth from his stately
mansion, and the business men of all
crecds, congregate around the altar of the
daily prayer-meetine !; and the excitement
is said to be moro general, all-peryading,
and earnest than even that produced by
the eloquence Of Wesley, Whitfield, or
Sturgeon.
The public mind had long been turned
in one direction. Men seemed to have
forgot their responsibility to God, and
their need of spiritual blessings, in their
eager haste for wealth. Suddenly they
were checked. Their fondly cherished
hopes of worldly prosperity passed away,
and the financial calamity lowered upon
their heads like q thunderbolt. The at
tention of the public mind was arrested,
and it began to consider its spiritual af-
fairs.
The revival is not confined to any one
part of the country. 1t is working pow
erfully in Great Britain, rs well rs all
over the United States, reaching even to
the North West. The St. Paul Times
says: MANY hardened sinners considered
hitherto beyond ali hope, have united with
our several churches, and give promise of
a better life" Indeed this work has been
SO great that it has become a popular
topic for conversation and editorial re-
mark. The religious press of all evan
gelical denominations, and tho secular
press of every political persuasion, chroni-
Gle daily in their columns the progress of
the work in their respective localities, and
throughout the whole country. The daily
papers of New York are filled from day
TO day, and yet much is left untold. The
Tribune has begun the issue of an extra
to be filed exclusively with religious in
telligencc.
In the time of the celebrated Jonathan
Edwards, there was II powerful revival in
New England, which was the means of
accomplishing vast amount Of good
and another about 26 years ago in New
York and vicinity, over the results of
which Christians of every creed found
reason to rejoice.
But in the present instance, spirit OF
religious consideration on the part of the
thoughtless sinner, and of moro pious de-
vot;on Oh that of the lukewarm believer,
seems to have spread throughout nearly
the whole civilized world. The most
populous cities in every part of this Re-
public, renowned as they have been for
their iniquity, have shared largely in this
spirit. All denominations, Baptists, Me-
thodists, Dutch Reformed, Presbyterians,
NEW school and old, and all being happy
participants in this outpouring of mercy
from Heaven.
One striking feature of the present re
vival is, that business men are largely
engaged in it. Personal interest has been
in great measure ignored, and the lead
ing business men in many of the Eastern
cities are seen to lock their offices and their
counting rooms, to leave their various
places of business to attend the PRAYER
meetings, and worship the living God.
1t is with pleasure that we chronicle these
things. 1t would Sem that the Lord
had been almost ready to excaim of this
nation: "They are joined to their idols,
let them alone"
We shall give limited accounts of the
progress of this + at work as often as
space shall permit, and meanwhile we bid
it God speed