The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-08-25

been one Of the most striking as wei. rs
impressive and anmatng As ever wit
messed in the province. The whole space
within view from any point, was as close
ly packed as it was we'll possible for it lo
be- Even the branches of the trees were
taken advantage of by numbers of the
junior members of the audience, as the
most suitable situations for seeing and
hearing and there, while the sounds OF
praise were rising from the multitude be
low, these young worshippers were heard
joining in the song of thanksgiving
Nothing of holiday levity-nothing of
the thoughtless mirth of youth-was
manifest among these; their attention
was as marked, and their conduct as we'll
ordered as that of any persons in the vast
assemblage. Both as regarded its mag
nitude, and the deep solemnity and earn
est spirit that prevaded it, the meeting is
said to have recalled vividly the historic
days and scenes of the signing of the
+" solemn League and Covenant"
The Rev. John Johnson, of Tullilish.
Moderator of the General Assembly OF
the Irish Presbyterian Church. presided
and he was supported by the ministers
of the different Protestant denominations
in and around Belfast. After prayer. the
Chairman read chapter from the Holy
Scriptures, and then gave out the IOOlh
Psalm: and never before in Belfast did
so many voices unite in such hearty ac
cord in singing this favorite song of
Zion. Scarcely had the first note been
raised on the platform, when it was
caught up by the immense assemblage,
the majority of the voices combining in
surprising and unexpected harmony;
and, as each stanza closed, the dying
away of the cadence in the far distance
of the throng, had an effect at once sol
emn and thrilling. Short addresses were
delivered by ministers and converts and
also by Mr. William Dickinson of Ed
ingburgh, and Mr.. Peter Drummond, of
Sterling. Prayers were also offered up,
and verses from hymns sung. AS was
impossible for speakers on the central
platform to make themselves heard by
the whole of the vast multitude, clergy
men and others scattered themselves
among them, each forming the center of
a large congregation which Immediately
gathered around, joining in devotional
exercise.
AT one time there was no less than p
of these subordinate meetings, num-
bering from 500 to 1000 each. Every
here and there, throughout the immense
multitude, while the hymn or the prayer
was rising on high, persons were being
struck down under a sense of deep and
overpowering conviction of sin. Inside
of some of these circles, there could not
have been fewer than 20 persons-chief-
ly females-apparenty under the inhu-
cnce of spiritual visitation, at the same
moment some of them PROSTATE upon
upon the sward, and others reclining up
on the laps of friends. These were al
fected in various ways-some weeping
bitterly, but silently, under deep con
viction Of sin ; some crying piteously
for mercy and others unable to utter
word, so Thoroughly were their physical
faculties in abeyance. In many parts of
the garden, groups of boys and girls.
who had retired from the body of the
congregation, formed in the shrubbery
little meetings for prayer and exhortation
among themselves. Some of these were
ragged little boys, who had evidently be-
longed to the outcast classes. One of
these cases was that Of little boy, about
IL years old, who in very retired part
of the garden, engaged in prayer, sur
rounded by about 90 boys of the same
age and class. This lad was, as it ap-
years, neglected by his parents, and form
erly obtained a scanty livelihood by
hawking ballads through the streets and
the tattered garments in which he as we'll
as his companions were arrayed on We'd
nesday, showed that, in that respect.
their prospects in life had not much i'm
proved.
At the close of the general meeting.
one of the ministers of the town, who
has moved about a great deal among the
juvenile population, was surrounded by
a large assemblage of boys, who ultimate
ly formed themselves into process
sion, and marched into town. singing
90. that will be joyful
Many of the children evidently belong
ed to the lowest classes of society a
portion of the procession, which divided
from the rest, on arriving at the Pound
district. ceased to sing till they had pas
sed its dangerous precints, and resumed
their song when they had passed into
Townsend street. The immense con-
course of people left the gardens in tho
most orderly manner-the majority OF
t them evidently impressed with the con-
viction that it twas good for them to be
!, there" A few manufactures aud other
places OF business were closed for the
day, in order to allow the workmen to
Join in the above services"
John Michel closes bitter and scath-
8 ing article on the Administration doc
La ,,wbto Nf snral;ya A