Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-05-29

the Western Rivers, which never lay by on the
Sabbath, seven years is the average of life. Tnt
observance, therefore, of the seventh portion o
our time for the purpose of rest is demonstrably
a physiological necessity-a law of our nature.
Changes in Europe.
The great Revival which swept over this
country in '57-8, and added some 100000 mem.
bers to the various evangelical Churches in the
community, is the most important event (within
our llmits) OF the last twenty years. 1t is i'm
portant in this sense, that, as mari and Peruvian
Guano have given US new lease to our lands,
so the infusion of this large conservative element
has given new stability to our institutions. The
same movement passed into Great Britain and
Ireland. 1t has far from spen: its force yet
Ireland has been almost absolutely changed by
it. 1t made the most profound impression, and
left the most stable results, in Scotland. In Lon.
don and all through England and Wales very
large additions have been made to the churches,
and new efforts organized for the amelioration
of the masses.
| Let US now give hasty review of what has
| occurred, and Is now transpiring on the Conti-
nent.
Iu Norway and S,oeden, the Rev. DIR. Baird
writes, that the revival has swept through the
whole land-and even to Lapland, gathering its
| fruits from all classes in the community. The
extent OF the movement may be gathered from
the statement, that quarter Of a million out OF
q population OF three or four millions are esti-
mated to have Joined the Evangelical churches.
| In Bohemia there have been the most marked
demonstra ions. In Prague and in other cities
great feeling has been manifested; two entire
villages have abandoned Romanism; the Bible
is extensively circulated; and the people are
calling for the celebration Of worship in the vul
gar tongue. In Hungary the mistaken obsti
macy of the church and the court has brought on
a crisis, which has produced a strong feeling on
the part of the Protestants, and threatens to
eliminate in great political revolution. The
whole of the Austrian Empire, in fact, has been
placed in al attitude OF hostility by the ''Oon-
cordat," which was SO unwisely introduced. In
Belgium, a correspondent OF the London Neacs
Of the Churches, writes: "The revival continues
to assume everywhere serious character, and
to bring forth the fruits of real sanctifcation.
The Churches the Evangelical Society have
taken an active part in the reunions for prayer
since the second week in January, and in many
localities their exercises have been very much
blessed" The interest of the Roman Catholic
population (says our authority has been greatly
excited, and some new places of worship have
been opened at important points. In France,
which is nominally Roman Catholic but really
without any religious belief, there are reports of
revivals similar to those which were experienced
in America and an earnest spirit is aniInating
the whole Protestant Church. In the Romish
Church itself a remarkable movement-drected
against the deifcation of the immaculate Mary"
has been inaugurated Tue ancient Church
of the Wadenses in the Valleys of Piedmont has
been awakened to new life, and great additions
have been made to the congregations in the diff
ferent parishes. In Italy, as we remarked in q
previous issue, all the Northern provinces have
been thrown open to the circulation of the Scrip
lures and religious tracts, churches have been
established in the principal towns, and colpor-
teurs are actively engaged in distributing Evan
gelical books. The recent Bull has been re
ceived with derision. The hatred to Popery is
open and unconcealed. Even in Russi0, all vio-
lent deposition to the Evangelical faith has ceased
aud it is estimated that there are at least mil
lion Protestant christians scattered through the
land. "The present Emperor is more liberal
than any OF his predecessors; and Is discrimna-
ting enough to sec that the arts Of a Protestant
civilization are essential to the elevation of his
people, and that with the Protestant civilization
must come in, to greater less extent, the
Protestant religion" We have seen several ac-
counts of singular and remarkable movement
among the Moilammetans of Turkey. One of
their own teachers has been promulgating with
great success something bordering very closely
upon genuine Christianity. Bibles are bought
by thousands and items of thousands" who still
honor the Prophet, are expressing their belief
in Christ and his apostles And, lastly, in Pro-
testant Germany, ''old things have passed a.
way" Rationalism-that sort of disguised in
fidelity which wae universal twenty years ago,
and which prevails SO extensively now in New
England, under the various forms of Unitarian
ism, Uniyersalisn, Parkerism, Beecherism, Pro-
fessor- or-of-the-Breakfast-T Table -ism-is nearly de-
funct. People are coming back to their old
landmarks. Nonsense has eliminated. And
now teachers and people are walking towards
the light. A correct theology begins to prevail.
The Evangelical faith has gained the ascendancy
and tervent piety once more commences to be
common in Germany.
We have not gone out of Europe. We might
have spoken OF the dissolving process which is
going on in Inda-of the certainty that the old
pagan forms must soon give way in China-of
the congregation of the Jews to Palestine, and
the general physical improvement in that coun-
try. But, for the present, we direct attention
to the foreign Christian nations and to Turkey,
and we think we can discern the dawn of new
epoch-the lifting of the curtain upon great
and important drama in the history of civiliza-
tion.- Charlottesville Reuiew.
WELL CoNvERsED CHILDREN.-It is quite a
mistake to suppose that children love the par
ents less who maintain. proper authority over
them. On the contrary, they respect them
more. 1t is a cruel and unnatural selfishness
that indulges children in foolish and hurtful
way.
Parents are guides and counsellors to their
children. As guide in foreign land, they un-
dertake to pilot them safely through the shoals
and Quicksands of inexperlenca If the pnide