Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-03-25
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

This seems to be special season of the revival
of religion throughout our land. From all
points in the State, and in adjoining States, we
receive intelligence of the success attending
| the preaching of the word of God. This out
pouring of grace has, in this community, been
very great, and many persons have united them
selves with the church. And the good work still
goes on. Under the eloquent and effective
preaching of DR.. Rosser of the Methodist church,
| last Winter this revival of religion commenced
| in our community, and during his ministration
| one hundred and sixty-seven members were uni
| ted to the Methodist church.
| In the Episcopal church the outpouring of
| Gods grace has been equally marked. A few
months ago, when Bishop Johns performed the
ceremony of the laying on of hands, ffty-four
persons united themselves with the church, and
on last Friday night fifty moro persons were
| admitted Bishop Whittls officiating. Quite
| a number of persons have also been added to the
Baptist church during the Winter.
episcopal CHURcH.-According to the an
nouncement in last issue, the Rev. w. @. HULL
hen held services in Trinity every night last week,
which were largely attended and the greatest in
terest shown, especially by the young men of the
city. On Thursday night, the Rt. Rev. Bishop
Whittle preached powerful sermon upon the
| subject Of the fearful consequences of the ne
glect of $50 great salvation" as that offered by
Christ to fallen man. Ten adults were baptized
that night, and Friday night so persons were con-
frmed by the Bishop after an able discourse up
on the responsibility they were to assn me, and
the duties of COMMITMENTS generally. The
services have SO recently been described by US,
when Bishop Johns was here. that it is not nee
essary to do it again. but they were according
to the solemnly beautiful and impressive ordi-
nances Of the church, and the large congregation
witnessed them with rapt attention. This makes
1O4 additions to the Episcopal church since Mr..
Hullihen came to it about one year ago, a great
er number than ever before added in the same
length of time. Mr.. Hulihen has gained
wonderful hold upon the hearts of his people,
and labors increasingly for the salvation Of
souls. His strength is in his earnestness and
faith and the perfect beauty of his Christian
walk and conversation. Trinity may we'll be
proud Of its youthful Pastor and the glorious
work he is doing in our midst. We are glad to
know his health is better Long may he be
spared the church and the pulpit, of which he is
so great an ornament.
On Sunday, Mr.. Hullihen again preache
to large congregation, and, in speaking
of the large number confirmed, attributed the
out-pouring of Gods grace to the earnest pray
ers, at home and in the church, Of the ccngrega-
ton for weeks back. Communion is purposely
postponed until Easter, to give those who believe
and have been baptized, but were not confirm
ed an opportunity to commune. The Lenten
services will be continued Monday, Wednesday
and Friday evenings, at u O'Clock, and will not
be over three-quarters of an hour long. The
death of Rev. VIM. Pendleton, Of Fauquier, was
announced, and the usual contribution called for
from the Brotherhood. The newly arrived Eng
lish gentlemen were present and seemed much
interested.
Mr. Hullihen being indisposed, Rev. Mr..
Wheat preached to the large congregation at
night, with marked effect.
PRESBYTERIAN In the Presbyterian church
interesting religious services have been In pro-
gress for the past three weeks, under the preach
ing of Rev. DR.. Junkin, Rev. DR.. Witherspoon,
and Dr. Charles n. Reid, assisted by Rev. W.
T. Richardson and the pastor, Rev. W. E. Ba-
ker. There has been much interest manifested
in these services. The congregations have been
large and attentive, and it is hoped that much
good has been done. The ministers have labored
ably. earnestly snd faithfully, and with the aid
of Gods spirit many souls will be saved. These
services will be continued during this week, and
after the services on tomorrow night there will be
meeting Of the session of the church for the
purpose of examining all who desire to unite
themselves with the church. DR.. Chas. ii. Reid,
of Richmond. has been preaching every night
since last Thursday, and on Sunday morning
preached one of his most powerful sermons from
the 5Oth Psalm, 4th and 9Th verses
HE shall call to the hearers from above, and to
the earth, that he may judge his people"
Leather my saints together unto me; those
that have made covenant with me by sacrifice. 4"
He divided the text into four subjects of
thought:
l. The Saints of God.
g. The specification of these saints; those that
have made covenant with God by sacrifice.
and f. The agencies by which God would
gather his saints the earthly agencies and the
Heavenly agencies.
He combatted the idea which prevails among
many that the Saints of God are perfectly
holy men or that all the saints are such as st.
Matthew, St. Mark and st. Luke were. He
maintained that spiritual growth gradual
and that no man could become purified of his
sins and made spiritually whole all at once
That it was contrary to ell analogy to hold to
such an opinion. He illustrated this point with
great beauty and force Of argument. He COM
pared the publication from sin to the cleansing
of wooden vessel which had become saturated
with OIL At first, some alkali was put into the
vessel which removed some of the oil. and then
a stronger preparation, and so repeated, until at
length the vessel was made clean and pure. So
sin was gradually removed from the soul through
the saving grace of Gods holy spirit.
The saints of God he maintained were the peo-
pie of God those VINO love him and strive to
obey his commandments through faith in Jesus
Christ. That they are not perfect in holiness Is
shown from thu manner in which st. Paul up
braids those whomshe addresses in his Epistles as
Saints in Jesus Christ. It's only through death
that spiritual perfection is gained. Then the
germ of faith, which has been implanted and
nourished in the soul, bursts forth in its true
glory. AS the acorn can become the oak only
| through some mysterious process of decomposi-
ton or decay, SO the spirit of truth can only un-
fold itself fully and in perfection when through
death it has become freed from the flesh. But
as the germ Of the acorn contains the various
| parts of the oak which need only to be devel-
oped, so the spirit of truth needs only to be de-
| veloped to become perfect.
The specification in the text showed that the
Saints were those that had made acovenant with