Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-27
Religious Revival I'm "Reminiscences
ordinary Scenes.

The following extraordinary particulars |
are from the Ballynaead OBSERVE:
This remarkable movement (Rpligious Re- |
vivaD originating at Conner, became strong
~ developed at Ahoghill, and from thence |
spread along a broad tract, including the en-
tire line of country from Toome to Rasbarkn. !
The first decided appearance ofthe prevailing
sensation northward Of Ballymena happened
at Laymore, in the parish of Kilconriola,
about two miles from this town, on the eve-
ming of Sunday, the 18th ult. On that occa-
sion deputation of the converted, from
Ahoghill, conducted open-air services of pray
er AMI celebrations at an immense assem-
blage OF the neighboring people; and in the
course OF these services some Of the audience
were very suddenly and remarkably inn
pressed.
Before the following morning ten persons
who had attended the meeting exhibited all
the systems heretofore described so peculiar
to the visitation; they were suddenly struck
with great pain and weakness of body, a
nervous twitching or quivering o; the mus
cles, fearful agony of mind. and torturing
sense Of sin, as indicated by loud impulsive
cries for pardon, and earnest supplications
for reconciliation with God. The duration of
this paroxysm is more or less strengthened
in some cases it extends over three days
but is always succeeded by peace of mind and
reformation of character. The external symp-
toms in one cas- have have been infinitely de-
scribed 10. us. The person affected was
married woman, of middle age. She appear
ed TO be greatly excited and feverish: her
pulse was quick, there was hectic tinge
upon the cheek, her eyes were partially
closed and blOodShot. and her face was
streaming with perspiration. Her appetite
was entirely gone, and for the space of fifty
six hours she was unable to take anything
but water.
After the first four hours of racking pain.
and incessant cries for mercy. she became
more composed, but remained PROSTATE for
nearley three days in the condition which We
have described. During the prostration of
this woman her house was visited by hun
dreds of the neighboring people. She had
never been taught TO read or pray, and was
unable to distinguish one letter of the alpha
bet from the other, yet she prayed with in
tense fervency, and exhOrted the peoole to
repentance with the most astonishing fuency
and accuracy OF speech. The case. like many
others. was accompanied by. visionary scenes
illusions certainly, but OF very extra
ordinary character. Among other things, she
main tanned that a Bible traced in characters
of light was open before her; and that, al
though unable TO read, a spiritual power had
endowed her with capacity 10 comprehend
the meaning of every word in it. 1t is an
accuracy, and as if reading from the volume
a very large number of quotations from the
Old and New Testament. applying them III
an appropriate manner in connection with
the prayers and celebrations wherein she
was necessarily engaged; but these percep-
tons gradually faded in her progress towards
recovery. and entirely disappeared on restOra-
ton TO her ordinary health.
During the following month the movement
made considerable progress at LaymOre,
Clinty, and the ncighboring townlands; and
on Sunday evening last an assemblage, mum
bering from fifteen hundred to two thousand
people, many of them from Ballymena, con
Gregated alta prayer meeting in the open air
near kilcOnrOla. The audiencearranged them
selves upon the green slopes of spacious
WORKOUT quarry pit, and the services were
opened with prayer conducted by some religi
Gus people of the locality. Three members of
lay department from Ahoghil then sue
ccssively addressed the assemblage; and ii
third speaker had nearly concluded his ex-
hOrtatiOns, when case of sudden impression
with all the ordinary symptoms, occurred
among the audience. The patient in this cas-.
was a young woman of the ncighborhOOd.
who had been slightly affected some evenings
before, at a similar meeting near CarncOagh.
Some excitement Immediately ensucd, and
other cases followed in rapid succession.
Within half an hour fully twenty people of
the audience were laid PROSTATE; some Of
them utterly helpless, and for a time unable
to utter anything but means or incohorrnt
expressions of bodily pain or mental agony.
The excitement now became intense. and the
scene that ensued battles all power of descrp-
ton. The audience became separated into
groups, each eagerly surrounding some par
ticular casc--the friends of the several af-
fcted parties appearing in state of mind
bordering upon distraction. Some members
of each group We're praying with or over the
persons impressed others were in like man
ner singing psalms; women were wringing
their hands in fearful state of agitation;
strong men were shedding tears and the en-
tire assemblage app AIRED under an influence
of the most solemnising character. We I'M
dcrstand that, in all 81 cases of decided i'm
preston, or conviction" occurred upon the
ground; and in each instance the parties were
carried away, removed on cars, or assisted
to their places of residence bv their respec-
tive friends. The meeting assembled at six
O'Clock. The manifestations commenced IL
bout eight. and in some cases the parties al
ftctcd were not in a condition for removal
from the locality till near midnight.
The only clergyman present on the occa-
sion was the Rev. Mr.. Robinson. of Brough-
shane. He took no part in the proceedings
however. until the manifestations occurr, d:
but from that time until very late hour
he remained on the ground praying with
great. earnestness over some of the parties
impressed, and expressing his opinion that
the power of God had been nightly mani
Tested on the occasion. Seven additional
cases occurred among parties who had attend
ed the assemblage, while on their way home
wards; and within the following three days
the numbers found stricken in the neigh
borhood, including 20 or 80 within the town
OF Btllymena, have been estimated at fully
$50. In some of the latter cases the cries of
the stricken purity, when suddenly at
tackled, are described as really frightful. and
gentleman of unquestionable veracity as
sures us that, in particular instance. they
were distinctly heard at the distance of three
quarters of "A mile
Prayer meetings have been held in various
districts of Ballymrna every evening of this
week; aud the local excitement in connection
with the revivals have been Increased by the
fact that some members of the Roman Cath
Ollie Church. now under the influence of the
prevailing movement, have obtained the spir-
itual guidance of Protestant ministers Many
cases of very decided impression have oc-
Cured in the town and vicinity of Brongh-
shane; and within the fast few days similar
mysterious operations have become prev alent
in the neighboring district Of Glenraville.