Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-05-11
REVIVAL OF 1918.

history OF whether great small
be complete without relation of its moral and religious
character Some account of the religious and ecclesiastical
history OF the valley to be required The moral char
acter of the people has already been referred to- No religious
teacher this time had been permanently settled there
had any church ecclesiastical society been organ
lied the valley and but few of the settlers had made
any public profession of religious faith The settlement had
been occasionally visited by few devoted missionaries parc
uary by the Rev. James Parker who had occasionally abored
there for short time small society of Methodsts in
Potion the Rev. Mr. Bowen located there and had
sonay preached in Troy Public worship the sabbath
had been but irreuary maintained and in many districts for
long periods of me could hardly have been said to exist
The consequences of this deficiency of religious instruction
felt the moral character and finally the temporal
prosperity of the people low state of moral feeling pre-
vailed and many instances of irregular conduct connved
which should have been tolerated by civilized or
well regulated community.
The reformation which followed scarcely be accounted
for principle which the world would call pho
sophica Early in the winter of 1917 and 1915 unusual
soemn to have rested the minds of many of the
people, indefinite feeling of mans accountability, that all
well with them that state of retrbution hereafter
follow the trials and temptations of this probationary
But particular for this state of feeling be
assigned particular affection Sickness DEATH what
called common casualty had occurred.
1t is said that Asher Chambern Esq., who previous to his
removal Troy, had made profession of religion and
united with the church Peacham had attempted in the
fall of 1871 maintain religious meetings in his house.
by reading and other exercises the Sabbath
and by conference and prayer meetings at other times At
the close of of these meetings he proposed to the audience
that there should be expression OF their wishes whether
to all there unanimous expression of the desire OF the
assembly that the meetings should be continued They
therefore continued with much increasing interest
About this time nhabitant of Troy journey to
New Hampshire found Hardwc the Rev. Levi Parsons
"a missionary employed by the Vermont Missionary Society,"
and who afterwards finished his abors in Palestne) who
then preaching in that place. and invited him to visit
Troy He accepted the invitation and arrived at Troy about
the beginning of the year 1878 The first dscourses of Mr.
Parsons excited deep interest the already moved minds
of the people of the valley But the story of his abors and
he VIII followed n
words which extracted from his published
after his decease:-
In Troy and the adjoining towns spent eleven weeks.
The revival commenced upon the first of January and
tinues still with great power Three churches have been
organized the Congregational and of the Baptist
denomination Troy contains thrve families Previous
to the revival only individual known professor
of religion and only family in which offered morn
ing and evening sacrifices From information have been
led to believe that any place did the sins of Sab
bath breaking, swearing and noxcation prevail to more
alarming Especially for few months previous to
this every thing be repnng for the judgment
Heaven But He who is rich in mercy looked down in
passion. At my first meeting
perceived unusual attention Every opened
receive Instruction. and many by their counenances
and actions the keen distress of wounded conscience The
ensuing week convictions and conversions were multiplied
At of the religious conferences than twenty
quested the prayers of their Christian friends
On Thursday the fifth of February assisted the Rev. Mr.
Leland of Derby organizing church consisting of twelve
MEMBERS all of whom gave evidence of renewing grace At
the close of the exercises the sacrament of the Lords
administered for the first time in Troy The will
ever be remembered with peculiar gratitude.
In vain the vruence of the moras the of the
infdel Nothing able to oppose with success the In
uences of the spirit No heart hard to be melted
will stubborn be bowed sinner abandoned
be reclaimed The Sabbath breaker the swearer, the
drunkard were humbed footstool of mercy Every
house for distance of than twenty miles open fol-
instruction. The church enlarged to fortyfve
members and the evident subjects of
The neghboring blessed with the outpour
ngs of the Holy Ghost. In Westfeld assisted in the
organization of church of ten members Considerable ad
ditions have since been made and many inqurng
What shall we do to be saved" There have been few
instances of hopeful conversion in Potion and Sutton the
province of Canada All ages ant
classes have shared in the work Among the number wht
have united with the church the youth of fourteen and th
aged sinner of three score and ten
The of living witnesses confirm all there is
corded by Mr. Pars his Journal respecting TIE state
society the valley previous the reformation occasone
by his abors there The impression made by the preaching
of Mr. Parsons rep esened by all to have been profound
and general spirit of inquiry upon the subject of religo
have been awakened 1t does not appear that Nj
Parsons although of respectful abilities and earning
possessed of any remarkable powers Of oratoy but
deep feeling of love, sincerity and stness seeed
pervade his discourses which appeared to from tn
heart and to reach and melt the hearts of his hearers
not pretended all sin and unbeef banshed fro
the valley by this reformation Some but slight
affected were wholly unmoved and who then al
peared to REFORM and covenanted to break off fro
their sins returned to their evil habits and in their ae