Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-02-07
SHELBYVlLLE.
The Great Revival.

To the Editors OF the Union and American:
SHELBYvILLE, Tenn, Feb. 8, 1871
Mention has frequently been made by
your various correspondents CT revival
season that has recently been enjoyed by
the Presbyterian Church of this place,
and knowing that many of your readers
elsewhere felt a great interest in the pro-
gress of the good work, have concluded
to give fuller statement of this glorious
shower of Divine grace. don't hesitate
to state in the outset, that more glorious
revival of religion never blessed any
church or community.
Tie meeting began on Friday night,
before our first quarterly communion
season of this year, and continued for
more than two weeks. Prayer meetings
every morning and services at night
throughout this time. Our pastor, the
Rev. John II. BrysOn, was assisted by
the Rev. Frederick Thompson, of Spring
Hill, who, in days gone by, SO dearly en-
deared himself 10 this people by his
laDors of love and mercy, which were
then, as now, so richly blessed. 1t was
truly affecting and extremely gratifying
to see many of those who, thirteen years
ago, had been brought to conviction and
conversion under his powerful and telling
presentations of the truth, once more
gather around the same altar and have
their hearts refreshed with the gently
flowing words, as he proclaimed saliva
ton in the name of his Master. The
full fruits of that revival will probably
never berealized, until we stand before that
bar, where the secrets of all hearts will
be known; but the ViSibLe fruits were
enough to cheer the heart of even the
most perfect drone in his Masters vine.
yard. Not only were the hearts of Chris
tan people revived and refreshed by the
gracious shower, but the backslider, the
cold and the lukswarm were brought back
from their wanderings and re-dedicated
themselves to Christ and his cause, and the
unrepentant sinner, from the bright and
innocent little boys and girls of eight and
ten years, TO the grey-hsired veteran,
who had grown old in his combars with
the great enemy of souls, came trembling
and penitent, and found that Joy and
peace of mind which can only be realized
in the pardon of sins. But to sum up
the whole report. can safely say that
nearly every unconverted attendant of the
Presbyterian Church has become con-
UeTted, and is now a member of some
church. And it affords me pleasure to
know that all the other churches of ou1
town were more or less blessed by the
same meeting. The deep religious feeling
was not simply confined TO the Presby-
teriau congregation, but the secret
and invisible workings of the Holy Spirit
were felt throughout the entire commu-
nifty. Nor even the most unconcerned
could 20 and breathe the atmosphere, and
not come away seriously impressed. There
was No great excitement, but there was q
deep, quiet feeling pervading, which told
that there was power at work more
than human. One beautiful incident
connected with this meeting was the
united action of all the churches. There
was no sectarianism there, but our es-
teemed Baptist Minister, Mr.. Nelson, and
Methodist Minister, Mr. Hinson, heartily
Joined with their Presbyterian friends,
and with one heart and one purpo5e all
joined IN the same great work-the pro
mOuOn OF GOD glory.
Too much cannot be said in praise OF
the zeal and earnestness with which the
Presbyterian Pastor, Mr.. BrysOn, wen
to work. But | suppose this glorious
harvest of redeemed souls in the mids
of his little flock, will produce joy OF
soul that can never be increased until be
numbers them in the better world.
And if there are starry crowns in the
realms of glory, as there must be, Mr..
Thompson will certainly wear one, to bl
filled with the brightest jewels gathered
up from our midst. BELIEVER.