Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-09-08

fanilp Girtlt,
REVIVAL I'm

as the most wonderful religious move
ment OF modern times. 1t Is changing
the social, mental and moral aspects of
the society where it prevails, and the tide
OF holy inlaencosstill continues to roll
onward and with increasing power. It'll
Is now generally admitted that a power
OF no human origin, AVID which cannot be
welded by human agency, is at work both
on the bodies and maids Of its subjects.
The influence is vet principally confined
to the north of Ireland. There is moth
lug impas. Toned, eXcitable or s~upers,i
tious ip the characters Of the people Of
that portion. The ministers are men of
power and rich and varied culture. A
London paper says:
Three things distinguish this revival
from any that have preceded it. 1st.
The total absence of any plans or organ
~fzation for producing a religious excite
ment. I'd. There is no trumpet tongued
evangelist Of the revival, as a Wesley or
a Whitfield, attracting thousands by force
of his power. Sd. Extraordinary plysi
cal phenomena accompany the movement.
which cannot be satisfactorily accoented
for.
From various accounts in the foreign
papers, we collect the following comments
and statements of facts.
The greater portion of the population
at present affected is awed by religious
truth. The work originated in no grand
demonstration, neither was it hcralGed by
omens and predictions. Yet its features
are SO marked, and the changes which
result from it so p~alpable, as to attract
the attention even of cold sceptfcal phi
lo5ophy, which is compelled to acknowl
edge the genuinenesS of a movement,
produced By an agency Of which it has
no knowledge.
So far as the origin can be traced, It is
attributable to the influence of prayer.
It Commenced in the district of Conner,
IN which four young men met for prayer
in the autumn of 1858; others Joined
them, and they were instrumental in the
conversion of numbers. Before the fol
Towing spring there we're believed to
have been from three to four Hundred
genuine conversions.
The ministers and Christians Of all
denominations have joined in the work.
Ministers OF the Episeopalian denomina
ton, who would not a few months ago
unite with a Baptist, or recognize his
ministerial neutrality-suspicious. Methor
dlsts OF various seets-all minglc and
cordially co operate. Asperities, Jealous
les, unkindly feelings, are melting down.
Elders, deaeons, leaders and members are
very active in prayer meetings and in
visiting the awakened. La many places
every secoud house in the street is a
Bethel. In houses, shops, ware rooms.
squares, school rooms, churches and
chapels, people meet for prayer. They
go there in thousands ; every place OF
worship is opened from morning till
night
A short time sieoe the Botanical gay
dens at Belfast zero visited by a6oua
10000 people, who, in different groups,
spent the day in various acts Of religious
services. A new Court House at Culer
aine was to be opened, and arrangements
were made for ce 'ebpating the event ii
tho usual name; but as the day APP
preached no one could be found to attend
the ball. Meetings for prayer were
proposed, and She place was crowded
throughout the day by thousands Of
devout and interested persons. In some
places trade is interrupted. Mills cannot
go on. Editors now and then apologize
to their readers that their paper is delay
ed on this account railway directors are
now putting on special trains and allow
ing them to run till a late hour, for the
convenience ofparties attending religious
services from a distance.
All classes, old aud young, educated
and uneducated, are experiencing the
power eff this awakening. Professional
men, merchants, farmers, artizans, factory
girls and laborers are found together
among the converted. Nor are its effects
alone to- be witnessed among the Pnesby
t%erians, Methodists, Episcopalians and
Baptists; but the Moravians, Roman
Catholics and Uuitarians are alike clBee
tuak.
Some Of the accomplishments of the
great work puzzle and perplex many
Ehe strikingS down-tle bodily prostra
tion-the loss of speech, sight and hear
ing for a time-the' alleged visions in
soEe C s,s-thcse are a Stumbling block
to many. These phenomena mark the
revival morceop less every where. In
iaany cases persons are stuck in q mo.
ment with the most overwhelming sense
OF sin and danger. Sometimes it is fol
lowed by the entire physical prostration,
and in all cases by the most acute
anguish. These phenomena effect all
classeS-tl.e grey haired man and the
child; the lady of social position and
the Ignorant old woman. Ia a moment,
the most piercing cry is heard and insen
sibllity follows. a Young lady ii thu
upper ranks oflife, was seated at q piano,
playing some dance music, when she fe
From her seat in a swoon. from which she
awoke in an agony Of religious conviction.
Two Roman Catholic priests, walking
along the road were similarly affected.
A. curate while reading the church SER.
vice, fell back in the reading desk,
:" s%inltten, f" as the people call it. PROBES
sor Gibson, of Belfast, was preaching an
ordinary sermon, in his usual quiet
manner, when, without any apparent
cause, at different periods Of the discourse
i've persons were affected 10 this manner.
At another church, during an ordinary
sermon, when no previous excitement had
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