New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-02
AN IMMEDIATE EFFUSION OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT.

OCCASIONS OF HOPE FOR AN IMMEDIATE GENERAL
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE TIMEs-THE PAPACY
AND THE ANTI-CHRIsTIAN MOVEMENT AMONG
MEN OF sCIENCE-A GENERAL REVIVAL HOPED
FOR.
Byne R-v Zachary Eddy D. d. Of Michigan
MEN AND BRETHREN: When the Chairman OF
the Committee OF requested me TO prepare
paper for this Council on the signs OF gener anu
speedy effuson Of the Holy Spirit my mind instantly
adyerted to a memorable scene recorded in !. Kings.
xviii seemed to see the prophet Elijah on Mount Car
mel bowed to the earth, with his head between MS
knees and his servant standing on tho highest bui
gazing anxously the sea and sky for some sgn'
however slight Of the promised rain seemed 10 see
him descend to the prophet again and again. WIN inc
dsheartenng report "There Is nothing but as ofteh
returning to his for fresh observations AT last
his face brigens He describes In the distant horizon
dot of moving vapor 1t rises higher 1t Is no bigger
than his hand; but it is q rain.coud "Behold," he
cries. "there arseth little cloud ont OF tho sea- Ike
mans hand" Make haste, Ahab prepare thy chariots;
and get thee down. lest the rain stop thee, Up E III
rd hy long for thou run before the KING 20 tne
entrance Of Jezree The heavens are Already oiacx t
with clouds and wind; there Is sound OF aoundanoe Z"
IL Il not parabiei Tho refreshing rain causing the
earth to bring forth and bud that 1t may give seed 10
the soweI and bread to tine S the church on
famishing wordi What says the promise VIII ln
water him na spsl aS Sy seed and
NJ sIessinc mon thine offspring and they shall spring
up among the grass as willows by the
nor Eup0u ihe earthwhat does L siS.ry but tnose
times OF Spiritual AfIdy when special blessings are
and gladness the church, when faith, hope and char,
ty droop and wither when the preaching OF the word
ments no longer charged with heavenly grace seem IKE
driedup rivercharnes In which there Is only mere anu
there moist snsa s fSs CT Of and
when the ways OF ZION Elijah sitting there on
the slope Of Carmel with his head bowed 70 tne
groanings which cannot be uttered ior t''ues VI re-
freshng from the presence OF the Lordl Aud me ser
want on the you have said 10
me, Go up, now look toward the sea. and report what
you see in the distance. Well, obey Win such eyes
as God has given take my stand on Mount Carmel
There is doubtless to be than can see but
what see think see, will tell must report to
you the result OF some observations ana possibly some
of these reports be contradictory but so also ~
the signs Of tho times. Contrary omens may possioy
appear in the same field OF vision.
THE FIELD SURVEYED.
must honestly confess that my first observation was,
by reason doubtless Of my spiritual
appointing. instructed to look for signs OF great
general and speedy eus0n of the Holy Ghost that Is
say, for the signs Of worldwide revival OF religion
could at first no such signs; not cloud IN the
sky a threat OF mist In the horizon. On the
contrary, l saw the millions Of our country and Of
christendOm, to all appearance occupied with material
roads telegraphs mines, finance, politics; and God
seemed be shut out OF all hearts and plans and enter
rnpton reeking and nowhere any very clear Of
conscience or religion saw gigantic frauds and
Ing tine general conscience. many Of the Intellect
ua turning from the faith of their fathers
not few punging Into the D0ttOness abyss or athe-
ism. The world overlooked everything, en-
eulphed everything. Earth seemed Babel
in which an infinite babel OF pr0fane, blasphe
nous voices drowned the still small voice Of Cod and
OF his eternal truth Amidst the roar or secular and
goddess excitement, could not hear the prayers OF
Gods elect sounding like many waters, deep calling
unto deep round about His throne. SO sat for hours
thaL lrnfN w ma
fretfu noise Of the superficial RAPIDS and 1t
long heard the deep mufled thunders OF the in-
The church seemed to neither nor less Jealous
and spiritual than in former years. The number of
there were many signs OF outward prosperity, but
far as could see, not more holiness or longing for hoi
ness than there has been for generations.
such is a truthful report Of my first observation.
saw what had eyes for seeing; no more have some.
times after the setting OF the sun. raised nv eyes
In the sky looking for the punctual stars which knew
must have become visible; but could see nothing
cent the golden glow Of twilight Looking however,
op and again the by twOs and threes out
and flashed down upon me o smiling rebuke for my
What wonder that eyes which had long been fixed on
dark terrestrial objects could not nstananeOusy adapt
themselves to the faint though clear radiance OF the
early stars OF EVENING" An observer who necessarily
mbued however uncOnscously, with the spirit Of the
age-and tho age is eminenty materiallstic and I'M
beeying-may haply discern only in the world.move-
men around him. anti Christian and goddess tendencies.
..There Is nothing" And now that have gdZed long
nd an xiously can descry no such omens Of great
and general eusiOn OF the Spirit, as enable to
with prOpnetlC speedy approach,
but only such fitted inspire hope,
courage prayer and stimulate to earnest united effort
The signs of promise, some OF these slight and vague
but others clear and assuring taken together
not fail to strike US as cheering aud very full Of COM
fort" -
are doubling the possibility Of any immediate Divine
influence the human SOUL that standing at my post Of
observation see. IT, as yet no cloud like mans hand
the great from which IL 10 sure In due time to rise.
The servant sent by Elijah to the top Of Carmel instead
of saying "There Is nothing" might have reasoned
thus: "Yonder sea is fed by all the fountains, and
rivers and ram falls and oceans In the world 1t heaves
every Its waters ever ascending Into the air
only await the requisite conditions to fall in fertzng
rains on the thirsty EARTH This land. with such
yor at hand, cannot become perpetual desolation.
II " M again become, when the west wind blows
land flowing with milk and honey" And thus do /. DEFY
ing the materiasm OF the times, reason touching the
lfegving Of that Spirit who Is like the mex
I have here and now no controversy with those who
deny that God. II there be God has any TO the
soul OF man who resolve life and thought and con-
science and the Holy Ghost into matter force or to
use their highsounding word, protoplasm who de-
ride the faith that individual souls and churches and
whole nations sometimes seized and quickend and
uplifted by secret but irresistible divine energy.
Fools and blind! The world without COD would De like
water 10 its inc xhaustibe abundance is to this planet
rolling In oceans, flowing In rivers, sporting in lakes
sSoWers Circulating in trees lins the world with life
aud beauty and gadness-all this, and infinitely more
sence. And ali the oceans viii sooner be exhausted
than the energy Of that almighty and eternal Spirit Alas
that so few know what God is! Men say that He is
a spirit, but they know not what they say
spirit He truly u.s. that Is to say, He Is essential fe
love- intelligence, energy, surging through all things
blessing, vviiying filling all creatures according to the
respective nature and capacity OF each. spirit He s
animatng informing upnolding the worlds, and at the
time filing with vital gladness the tiny insects
that sport in the sunbeam and tho dew Drop spirit
He is, whose dwelling Is the light Of setting and
round and the living air. and not less in tho
mind Of man. sober physicist, not blinded by false
science cannot even dead matter to its root and
origin without finding Cod the source and center Of
It's mysterOus forces We fail to md His fegiving
light. giving and gladdenng presence in the world OF
mind we are more stupid than insensate blocks and
stones.
This Is not ALL While assert the possibility and
reality Of divine vstat0ns, while we assert that the
Divine Spirit verify and illumne the integen