The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-02-26
THE REVIyAI-S.

The New York Tribune thinks the Iei-
pious awakening Throughout the country is
due. in a great measure, TO the hard times
In lie ,ding editorial it says:
This wear is likely 10 be az remarkable in
the spiritual history of the country as in the
material. 1t is a well-known fact that every
great national crisis or disaster IL followed
bv some remarkable awakening OF interest IN
sn;ritual things. We need not resort II any
Supernatural hypothesis to explain this re-
suit. AZ long as affairs pursue their regu-
lar and wholesome course, nothing Is mere
natural than that men should devote them
selves 10 their temporal interests to the neg
lett of things invisible. The condition OF
the soul of that rich man who had much
goods laid up for many years WAS not as
discoursging "a that OF the one who Is still
engaged in LAYING up the goods. The man
encumbered by wealth, We are tod by the
highest authority, has hard task to enter
into the Kingdom Of Heaven. Bat he whose
whole being is absorbed in the accumulation
of riches does not even think OF attempting
an entrance. 1t is for this reason that perl
ods OF great financial prosperity and aciiv,
i,v are also periods Of wide spiri!usi
barrenness Jeshurun becomes recalcitfant,
only when ne wakes fat. After the labor OF
accumulation Il accomplished, there comes
a time OF r.4t TO spiritual progress. After
harvest, the camp meeting has i;s day. Bul
the time most propitious to the eVahseh,'s If
after a great financial crsis, in one OF those
periods of dead stagnation which follows the
fear OF panic and disaster. Every condition
then fayors revival work. There Il only 100
much leisure. Time is OF so little value TIA, II
is gladly spen, for chance in eternity. In
addition to this enforced idleness, there Is
something in misfortune which poweriuiiy
draws the heart away from earthly things,
and leads it TO attempt 10 lind consolation IN
converse with the things OF the Spirit, when
are not affected by the state OF trade. All
the progress Of science, all the chickering's OF
sects, all the ingenious analysis oil positivism
can never so alter the nature OF man as 10
take from him the source OF his truest and
deepest comfort in heavy trouhie or los
the power and the tendency to cast loose
from every earthly and tingibe support,
and 10 throw his doubt and his sorrows Alto
pether. in surrender which is stronger than
defiance and in blindness which IL more
ciairvoyant than sight, At the feet OF an
all-powerfui and pitiiu! God.
This is the true source Of the great reiIsi-
Gus revival, the beginnings OF which those
accustomed to note the signs of the times see
rising all over the country at this hour 1t
has been = hard winter, in spite OF its mild,
ness. The little cold weather ~e hsye had
has been too much for those who we're
hungry. We have seen, in this country
where it is usual to say no man need ask Tor
work in vain, thousands Of men compelled
to id eness, some driven 10 the street. for
charity, and some starving at home IN
vretcbeduess which could conquer their
Iives, but not their proud shyness. BIT be.
sides those whom hunger has gnawed and
whom the frost has pinched, there is a ten
fold greater number whom these hard times
have merely embarrassed and etraitened,
and given an Opportunity to think. Among
men Of the ordinary New England blood,
thinking Is very apt to take the direction OF
religion. The relations of man to his crea-
tor have always been subject Of profound
and real import TO them, The revival
preachers have an easy harvest among them
in times like these.