Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1864-03-30


excitements with pity for their subjects,
and who ridicule or condemn those who
engage in the operation of their machin-
cry Meantime, the excitements them
selves 60 on without the slightest refer
ence to the opinions and prejudices of the
questioners. 1t seems to us that there is
common sense way of looking at these
matters which may bring US all to ra.
tional understanding of them.
This subject is suggested by the relig-
ious excitement how existing in Spring
feld-an excitement that pervades more
and more all classes and conditions of
people. Let any observer 60 into the
lecture rooms of what are called the
evangelical churches" on almost any eve
ming, and he will find them crowded with
people. These people are not boisterous
and extravagant Most of them are in
tears. There are many young men among
them, and, one after another, these young
men rise and delcare their resolution to
commence a Christian life-the surrender
of their affections and wills to Him who
made and redeemed them. Hymns are
sung, prayers are offered, brief exhorta-
tions are given, and the meetings are dis
missed early; yet half the assembly lin
gers for conversation. 1t seems impossi-
BILE to be in these meetings without partak-
ing of their influence, and being borne
along by the current of sympathy. Look
ing over these congregations, there may
be discovered many a hard boy, many a
thoughtless girl, many cold man, all alb
sorbed in the one subject of personal
religion. Seeing these people and hearing
them talk, it would be very hard to con-
ceive how such an excitement as they are
under could result in any evil. 1t is GER
tainly better that they should be there
than in the brothel or the dram shop or
the street, or even in any place of simply
frivolous amusement
The principal and most powerful objeo-
tions urged against revivals is that they
are periods of excitement, and that their
results can only be counted while the ex-
citement lasts 1t is undoubtedly true
that many of those who are numbered
among the subjects of revival "go back
afterit is over. but this is no objection
until it is proved that all, or the larger
part, go back. This partiality of perma.
nent results is inevitable in the nature ot
the human mind. There are always two
classes of persons, outside of the church
affected by religious excitement. Th'
first makes religion personal question
deals with IL as such, and either adopts
religion or rejects it, The other is com
posed of those who are borne along OF
the wave of sympathy, and who often d.
not know where they stand. They ar
susceptible to the influence of those arount
them naturally, and would be as easil,
led out Of religion as they are led into it
If they should live always in religion
atmosphere, they would always be relig
ious; but when they are removed from i
they have no power to stand against tn
chilling influences of worldliness. Thes
two classes are to be found among tn
I subjects Of all excitements, on all possibl
themes of human interest. So not revival
a but human nature itself is to blame fc
|, these incomplete results which are SO mnc
= complained of.
We do not sec how whole communit
4 can be moved toward religion, or by r,
ligion, without excitement; and goin
a further, we do not see why mon may M
|. be excited about religion as lcgitimatel
n as about any other great subject. Rclil
q ion involves the souls relations to its fiji
a est and most far reaching interests.
this is not an exciting topic, we kno
of none that can engage the hun'a
A. mind.
The attention once called to it, al
N continued upon it, there can be nothir
e. else thought of until it is disposed of
ts some way. A man cannot treat with
n, subject Of great personal concern witho
&c being moved profoundly, and it unoubte
no ly helps men in their decisions for t