Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-26
REVIVALS.
The Religious Interest In tho city
Report from the Churches-West-
minster-Eirst and Second Presby-
terrain.

/ llc E6NIN1l mONemBut oi tAc lo@e ~"
months has been a remarkable one. The
deepest religious interest has been felt
4 throughout the length and breadth of the
land. All classes and conditions of men
| have felt the influence of the movement,
and large numbers nave bsen added to the
churches. In this city the good work has
been very extensive and thorough. Great
r~evivals AVE been in progress in nearly all
the churches, and every communion ser
vice has been the occasion of public
profession Of faith by those who have been
gathered into the fold of Christ. The period
of religious awakening has been character
lied by no undue excitement. Christians
have been revived and encouraged to labor
more earnestly for the cause of religion and
converts have uniformly shown that calm,
deliberate purpose which marks the
thorough and abiding work of grace in the
heart. The great majority of the converts
are adults, but many children, and especial
Iy those Of the Sabbath schools, have had
rich experiences. The interest has been
felt throughout the city. and the good re-
suits are apparent in the weekly increasing
congregations, and the growing strength
and influence Of the churches.
We propose to publish a series of articles
containing full reports from all the churches,
of the nature and extent Of the revival
work during the past season. The Pastors of
the city have kindly furnished the needed
information in regard to the state of religion
in their respective charges. Rev. S. D..
Lynn, Pastor of The Westminster Church,
says:
The work Of grace in the Westminster
| Church has been calm, and gentle, but we
nave reason to think that its effects will be
deep and permanent. 1t commenced with
the week Of prayer and has been increasing
in interest ever since. The youth of the
church have been specially blessed, and
most of the converts are from the children
of the Sabbath School. At our March com
munion nineteen were added on confession
of faith, sld many more have declared
their intention 10 unite with the church.
Our congregation is gradually increasing.
Our weekly meetings q been well at
tended. Older christians AVE been re-
vived, and are now devoting themselves
more earnestly to their Masters work. As
a church we would express our gratitude to
| God for what He has done for US, and our
earnest prayer is hat He will bless US still
more abundantly, and viii continue to
pour out His spirit upon all the churches of
the city. May the good work 60 on till not
only cur city, but cur whole land shall be
/ converted to God, and may the Ii ne soon
| come when every knee shall bow and every
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory Of God and the Father.
Of the revival in the Second Presbyterian
Church Rev. 7. Il. Hawks makes the fol-
lowing report:
TIL general features of the revival with
us have been much the same as in other
Churches. During the latter half of the
| Autumn, it is evident that many Christians
were melted to earnest prayer and through
out this period a Young Peoples Prayer
Meeting was maintained, in addition to the
ordinary services, ofthe church. To this
the young people resorted in increasing
numbers, and much religious interest was
manifested there. But conversions did cot
begin to take place, with a very few excep-
tons, till after the LIST of February. From
that time the work went on quietly, and
the conversions were frequent. Throughout
it has been marked by calm reflection and
an absence of all excitement" in the
Il SENSE usudliy dlLdC0eQ 10 tQdE term.
The services, in addition to those Of the
Sabbath, have been the Young Peoples
Prayer Meetings, a week Lecture, and the
usual Church Prayer Meeting. Much labor
has been performed in the way of personal
visitation and conversation. The Sunday
School lave been addressed in their usual
assemblsges and in meetings at intervals
appointed for their benefit. The fruits thus
far gathered into the Church have been
hfty-four, on profession Of their faith. Of
these i've only are under fifteen years of
age. The majority by far are adults. We
hope to receive others at the next Com
munion, of whom not a small part will be
from the Sunday School.
The work has been peculiarly marked by
signs Of divine efficiency, and to God we
ascribe all the glory of it.
In the First Presbyterian Church a pow
erful revival has been in progress since the
beginning CT the year. Of its nature and
extent Rev. W. H. Goodrich says:
The religious interest in the First Pres
byterian Church began to be manifested
toward the close of the last year. II the
Young Peoples Meeting" held an hour
before the Sunday evening service, there
we're marked indications of the presence of
the spirit, n some conversions took place
in November and December. The last
evening of the year, being Sabbath evening,
was observed by the Church with special
solemnIty, in e prayer meeting, ut which
nearly all the members were present. From
thattime the interest deepened and became
more general 4 an unusual earnestness
OF desire and prayer for the conversion of
souls characterized all the services and
meetings of the Church. Conversions began
with the first week Of the new year and
have continued to occur till the present
time There has been generally no intense
or excited feeling, though in 2 few instances
conviction Of sin has been very pungent
and overwhelming, and Joy in the Saviour
very great. No unusual measures have
been employed in the conduct of the work.
The preaching which has been had twice
on the Sabbath and once or twice during
the week, has been conducted by the Pas
tor, and has been often followed by a few
of special instruction and prayer
with those who chose to remain for that
purpose after the congregation retired. In
curry meetings have occasionally been
held, and the customary weekly prayer
meetings. 4 few special services were at
tended with the children Of the congrega-
ton.
Much care has been exercised in the re-
Of new members to the fellowship
the church. Most of those received have
been Of mature age, and all have been al
owed full time TO judge intelligently of
their purpose. No one has been urged in
any case to unite with the church. There
have been thus far received one hundred
and twelve on profession of faith, Of which
twenty eight were admitted at a special
sacrsmental service at the Union Chapel on
Clair street, and were the fruit of the
work of grace there, in connection with the
Union Sunday School and the regular Sun
lay services, conducted by Rev. Aaron
Peck. 1t is hoped ultimately that a new
church will be established in that district,
IS the result Of this mission enterprise.
Besides the additions to the church By pro-
,esslOa during the last four months, there
been received by letter twenty eight
making a total increase of one
hundred and forty members. A number
who give good evidence of true con-
~VersiOn, but wis defer the profession of
heir faith till a future occasion. Some
have left the city during the progress of the
work, and have united with churches in
places. The entire membership of
he First Presbyterian Church at the pres
time numbers about five hundred and
orty parsons, Of whom about fifty are non I
esidsRts or unknown.
GRAND FREE ExTERrAINHExT.-Professor !
Iutchings, the fsr-famed Lightning Calcu- !
ator, o New York City, will give one of {
is wonderful, instructive and amusing en- ;
artaiumeuts on Monday evening. Ma &c l