Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-10-10
AN ENGLISH VIEW Of THE IRISH REVIVAL
HOW MUCH or 1T Is MYSTERIES AND RITSy


HOW Much Or 1T Is MYSTERIES AND FITS
Ffon ihe London TIs.es, l5tA.l
The Irish religious revivals have been for some
time exciting much curiosity that tourists go TO the
North TO the phenomenon. Explanation has been
more than usually ingenious, and psychologists have
brought them under particular heAdhc genus hyste
rca II has been observed that preachers pitch their
particular height, and go upon it. which
Is ascerained to be the historical note known
medical men having particular effect upon
systems, working them up sort OF phrcuzy, ii long
dwclt upon. We presume this explanation allows some
FOR the force of doctrine and theological influences
well, otherwise pitch-Ppe could work religious
vival
As far as We can make out there seems no particular
difference between this Irish and other religious revvas
These manifestations perfectly well-known facts of
religious life There localrevivals going always
in the Methodist districts in this country it is only
when the spiritual incubation is particularly large
scale that it attracts notice, it does now. There APP
pear to have been great many of the common effects
produced on this occaSou,-peoplc struck in n
with violent helmng impressions which make them
fall TO the ground where they lie s;upc6ed or utterin
cries. The feeling which throws the victim into this
tit is said TO be intense, sudden conviction of sin
which in instant chtcns the darkness within made
visible by the momentary glare The sinner back
in horror at the in which he at once fluids
himself; he death straight before him revela
ton OF Divine wrath is much for the mortal frame 10
bear and he becomes insensble This is conversion"
1t supposed that the dreadful vision Is never parted
with when the victim has revived after the prosr
ton produced by the first sudden sight of It. but that
accompanies him through life, and makes it. il were
impossible that he should tall back into habitual
again Miraculous effects, marvellous condolences
Secondghts sounds in the air, heavenly impulses aud
mysterious vStngs from the invisible world accompany
these occasions and the Irish revival have its
share of them. Young women particularly favored
with these communications. The from the
Irish papers yesterday in columns gave in.
These miraculous impressions and violent ef-
fleets said, however to be the exceptions the main
result of the being increased seriousness of
the ordinary Sind crowded attendance places of wor
ship and general apparent awakening OF religious
1t must be remembered that the Disscntcrs have diff
fcrcni standard of conversion from that of the Church.
Our scc and especially the MethodiSts look upon con.
version sudden thing they do recognise grad
ual conversion taking place nSensiby ia the course OF
time, the result of slow ordinary influences ndi-
viduas indeed may think this conversion" hut the
popular creed only acknowledges the other Kind The
sudden conversion OF the individual being the ordinary
rule, have only to add the grcCarous sympathec
principle and immediately that extraordinary ef
fleets be sometimes produced so long A. sudden
individual conversion goes in scattered way it is
quiet thing enough but the instant people converted
suddenly and also converted together there i of
scene, aud begins All the conversions that
would otherwise take place separately take place
geographically, in public, amid the smuant, and ex
elements of the preachers appeals spark kindes spark
the whole effect is multiplied tenlod bv sympathy each
case OF conversion nensihes the il height
ems IT, sensations, cNaggerates It's symptoms and makes
10 mote Of a phenomenon. Church of England con-
tive sort because If addressed so effectively
and powerfully, f the preacher not Canon OF
conversion does not allow suddeEnes therefore give
room 10 the action OF sympathy. Three thousand OF
them might be undergoing conversion once and no
body would anything. IL would be all noiSeleSs
and invisible thought itself The gacierlike move
would attract the slightest attention and the
whole would 20 out of church looking very much
the same when they in, because the process in
their long and steady takes its time does not
hurry itself and has tangible and sensible climax
There IS no fear, then, that either ST. Paus Westmn
lister Abbey viii witness, after the awaken.
U he ueh as
these. Blu; where the principle of sudden conversion
regnS, IL must be always Liable extraordinary de-
vclOpment under the influence of the additional principle
o! sympathy. The principle of sympathy will produces
scene viii produce another scene and 80 the
movement will spread.
IL is difficult measure exactly the praise or the
blame Of whole religious revival like the present one
in ireland. Religion, unfortunately hardly ever get> the
aid OF impulse and excitement without getting great
deal more Of it than it wants, and being overwhelmed
by It's ally But it does want certain of this
aud therefore when gets it, though the excess will
be injurious it will have gained advantage TO certain
point great many people have doubtless had serious
impressions implanted in them such times which thew
never afterwards lose Even the natcal excuses OF
such movement bear witness, amid their extravaganza
and their decisions the deep power Of the religious
principle in human nature, TO it, reality and life. The
fault appears be- when s the matter TO the bot
tom, that they make spiritual luxury and dramatic ex-
sy@s9 o. P'Re SSh va" % sR s. ne IL h sBsE
natural Is most excellent basis something at the bot
tom OF the mind which makes il act with reference 10
another world. But it this of the -upernatr is
drawn out Of it. modest practical place in which il does
most real service and work up the surface of things
and INDUCED in on it. simply As having TO
do with the supernatural and invisible world il then he
comes mere luxury and excitement lust like
any dramatic appeal to any passion or sen
umcnt IL j. eyiden; what intense interest all forms
Of alsion TO the supernatural world all coniectIIrrs A.
bout H. the widest fancies about IT, when wildly
expressed create Anybody who has heard good ghost
story well told has observed this AThe revivas DO In
different form. surround people for the time with an A.
mosphere Of supernaugasm with its characteristic ill.,
terests and attractions People feel rs If they were re-
heved from the dry prosac pressure common life and
were uanspanted 20 of spontaneous wonder aud
mystery where deep impressions the order of ua-
ture, and could be got aud sustained without effort
These violent demOustrations-he sudden prostration
the horror the stupeaCon, the ecstncy-a speak of
invisible Influences az work around them and mpart the
idea OF belonging 20 another world The idea is su..
tanned poiessediy conscientious duty but is really
INDUCED as an unconscious Injury spiritual luxury
luxury Of religious sentiment and Imagination Tbi. i
form OF pleasure and excitement which is not confined
10 mediayallsts or poets, mesmcrc spiritrappers
the rigid Puritan j, open 20 the reader OF roman
ees aud the Irish Presbyterian Baptist and Independent
Revivalist feels it, in his way much as the Ronau.t
believes in Virgins visits and Addooratas