, 1859-08-24
The Religious Revival In Ire1AHd-
fta Extent and 0F1xfu.


following interesting particulars a. to the rise
and progress Of the present religious movement
in Ireland.
As sec some statements in relation to the
great religious excitement in Ireland, which are
not very accurate, will devote the whole Of this
letter to that subject, and will lay before your
readers as accurate a view Of it as can gather
from the publiahcd documents within my reach.
! doubt not that this is the most wonderful re-
Iigious movement in the Church history Of
modern times, and there is nothing like it in
the past. 1t is changing the social, the mental,
aud moral aspects OF aociety where it prevails,
Hnd onward the tide Of holy influence is rolling
with increasing power.
This work ut present, then, is confined to the
North Of ireland. It extends over Ave counties
in that part Of the island. Belfast, Coeraine,
though not Of its origin, but the smaller towns
and villages for milo around are under its pow
CT. There is nothing Impassioned, exciteabIe,
or superstitious in tie character Of the people.
Unlike the Celts Of the South aud the West,
who are full Of these elements, they are the
descendants of the men Of the "English pale,'
aud exhibit many Of the features Of the Saxon
character. It is the stronghold Of Protestant
induence, and presbyterianism is the prevalent
ecclesiastical element amoug the dssidents from
the Church, The latter has great weight, the
churches Of the body are numerous, the minis
culture. Nothing can be further from enthusi-
asm than the ministry Of these men. only
need mention the names OF DR.. Cook, Professor
Edgar, Gibson, McCosh, and others, who hare
uttered their solemn conviction that the work is
Of God, and are giving now their whole soul to
its guidance aud advancement.
The origin Of this movement is Of singular in
tercst. The same agency, in the nlain, as
marked more or less, the commencement of
your great work, has been employed here.
Prayer lu both cases was the spring from which
these streams Of blesseduess flow. Nothing in
the state Of the Church to warrant the e1pecta-
tion. Everything WIS going on Us usual The
same usual round Of formal services. Ministers
met their people and preached. A few attend
ed prayer meetings; congregations in many
places small, and acoId, dead torma|ity reigncd
more or less in all sects. No special meups
were employed to disturb this spiritual repose
-no particular wakening up Of minister and
people marked it-God would work in bis own
way, showing us that by the feeblest agency be
could accomplish the most marvellous moral et-
fects, and that be could dignity faith and prayer.
As far Us eau gather from the principal &C.
counts which are before me, the origin was as
I follows:
III one case pious lady is on n visit to the
North. She become3 deeply interested in the
| spiritual condition Of poor old man. She Wis.,
its. reads and prays With him, again aud again
ehe does this The dark mind at last opens to
tue light, and tho bard heart is touched by tue
| S2yiours lore. He is converted. Within his
! own heart deep anxiety springs up for the
conversion Of his wife. lie cannot repress it.
Under the influence of the same truth SHE is
brought. aud her aged spirit rejoices in Christ.
They tell their new born joy to others. They in
| vlte their neighbors and friends to pray with
them and share their happiness. The revival
| in that locality was begun.
III another part four young men were con-
vertcd. The condition If the Sunday School
| and the prayer meeting soon fixed their atten-
| tion. To pray for their success and improve
ment was their imnediate resolve. Month after
| month, though auxiously they watched for s;gus
| did not quench their zeal. Faith in the Divine
promise sustained them, md they prayed Oh till
the spirit came with power, and tic revival be-
| gan. Everywhere, and by all parties, the work,
which is nor rolling onward tide Of blessing
this district is attributed entirely to this
REV. GEORGE GrLr1LLAs on TIE IRISH REy1vALs.
In discourse on the text, "Worship the
Fosher in spirit and in truth, ," lately delivered
by Rev. George Gi1Gllan, he took occasion at tue
close to make some remarks on tue subject oi
religious gevlyals. HI said that, while granting
the crying necessity Of revival in tue Church.
lie thought the more quietly the work WAS pros
ecuted, the more likely il was to be permanent
lie did not approve OF inccssant appeals to the
b4sc sentiment Of fear, aud thought that tfle
threat Of material fire and trin,stone had now
little effvcl, except to nuke the wicked gnast
tfteir teeth in defiance, and become more hard
cned IN their ~prodigacy. He believed 4l'nt nc
| revival could last, ,inloae II ~ao founded upor
the basis Of q broad Christianity, and upon thu
doctrine OF the lore Of God in Christ lie char
actcrised some Of the revirals Of the past. Geo
Whitfield, the n,ost eloquent Of men, made
profound impression at the time, but It was moi
I lasting. He did not even succeed sp founding
sect, and this was owing to the fact that he ar