Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-10-18
sTAUNTON, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1S, 1852
The Revivals in Ireland, England. Scot
land. Wales, &c.

The Revivals in Ireland, England. Scot.
land, Wales &c.
A pamphlet has recently been published de-
scriptiye of the revival in the North of Ireland
1t is described as great movement operating
upon large masses of the people,. The Boston
Traveller, in review of the pamphlet, says.
ner, thoroughly Presbyterian district, inhabit-
ed chiefly by small farmers and linen weavers.
The district seemed very unlikely spot for a
revival, the people being cool, shrewd, practi.
cal set, in love with argumentative preaching,
and quiet, intellectual relgionism. 1t began
about eighteen months ago; was at first slow in
district. The meetings were for several months
sober and still, without even responsive amens,
or an overgush of weeping. ,-.
The pernanence of the impression produced Is
lust the point on which even many religious
people have their doubts. The testimony of the
numerous lay and clerical visiters to Ulster, in
their letters to the British Messenger is, that the
real work of conversion is steadily progressing.
The latest intelligence from the North OF Ireland
is that the revival embraces nearly the whole OF
Ulster, including Belfast, Donaghadee, Antrim,
Londonderry, Coleraine, Killinchy, Leitrim,
Newtonlimavady, and many other towns and
districts.
"Revivals" on board steamboats, of per-
sons ''struck' at railway stations-in the street
even 10 "tap-room parlors'-are recorded
Mr.. Finney, (of America Mr.. Brownlow North,
and other "revvaists," have been over the
scene of this mingled physical and spiritual ex-
citement, and have endeayored to transfer, more
particularly to Scotland, the exhibition of the
same phenomena, but it is too early yet to speak
of any result having been achieved.
As the work spread it became more demon.
strative and obstreperous in its manifestations in
the more primitive and in pastoral districts
Crowds of thousands gathered, comprising all
including Episcopalians and Roman
Catholics Hundreds are on the muddy streets,
ION their knees, in the attitude of prayer" The
result is great moral and religious change, at
fecting whole families, streets and hamlets.-
Young men, shortly before, by their own confes-
sion, "idle vagabonds," profaners of the Sabbath,
and induging in the scenes of revelry, ''are seen
visiting the sick, exhorting the careless, taking
part in the prayer meeting" and so forth.
The drunken Orangemen used to cry "To--
with the Pope" A gentleman resident in the
neighborhood says that cry is never heard now
and that there is brotherly feeling between
Catholics and Protestants. Many of the converts
are Roman Catholics; and many more of that
faith respect the change wrought by the revival.
One priest condemned it in his altar lecture,
speaking of it as the result of satanic agency"
One of his congregation, on his way home from
the lecture, said to his companions, ,-"Wel
friends, al have to say is, if the devil has done
all this, there must be new devil; for I'm very
sure the oul' one wouldn't do it at all at all.
"The awakening" began very singularly in
some places. For instance, in Ballycare, it be-
gan on fair day. A man was seen in cart on
the stair hill," praying aloud, and "crying for
mercy to his soul" The strange fact was report.
ed from house to house, and all declared that he
had "lost his reason" While some felt pity or
amazenent, Others were ''touched," and the
streets of Balyclare soon resounded with ''the
cries of strong men for mercy" At Ballymens,
similar phenomenon ushered in the work of re.
ligious excitement.
The cases of conversion rapidly increased from
week to week, many ofthe parties being "struck"
in the streets, sometimes when sitting in the
public houses. They were of all religions, Oal-
vinists. Arians, Roman Catholics included.--
PRAYER meetings were held during the night, and
far into the early morning. Ministers and elders
had to 90 from one meeting to another, till their
strength was utterly exhausted. .i4.~
"A great number in all directions in the North,
where the revival prevails, are 'smitten down"
as suddenly, and they fall as nerveless and para.
yzed, and powerless, as If killed instantly by a
gun shot. They fall with deep groan-some
with wild cry of horror-the greater number
with the intensely earnest plea, "Lord Jesus,
have mercy on my soull"
A Glasgow minister, who visited the scenes of
the revival, condemns these "physical prostra-
TONS" and believes they might have been pre-
vented to large extent had proper means to
that end been taken at the outset. Much de-
pends upon the education of the converts. The
Glasgow minister remarks
"Does not the fact that the physically prostra-
ted are utterly ignorant and uneducated persons,
and exciable boys and girls, Indicate that timely
instruction in Gospel truth would do much to
prevent physical prostrations2"