Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-04-01
For the Watchman.
ReviValS Of Former Days.

February 22. 1874. MANY.
For the Waterman.
ReviIals of Former Days.
SUMBER IL.
There is doubtless more activity in the
Christian church at present than there was
in former days There is a more active and
liberal spirit of benevolence, the field Of
operations is larger, there are more mission.
aries both at homo and abroad in proper
ton 10 the number Of its members, there is
more done for the young in the way Of Sab
bath school instruction, and more for educa-
tional institutions but it is doubtful if we
have more interesting or powerful revivals
Of religion now than in the early days of
the church in this country. In previous
article | noticed few revivals that took
place in this State in 1916. There are
others that it may be well for us to recall.
Some Of the fathers and mothers will re-
member them, and the children may be in
terested to know what scenes Of refreshing
have been enjoyed by many who have al
ready received the crown. The Congrega.
tiona church Of Benson was organized in
the year 1890. In the course Of the next
twenty-five years it enjoyed six seasons of
special refreshing. In the year 1904 there
were added to it one hundred and sixty
four members four years later, thirty-two;
and at another season ten or twelve. The
summer Of lSl6 was a remarkably dry
season. Very little rain fell, the earth was
dry, vegetation withered, and both man and
beast we're thirsiiDg for rain. The church
appointed a day for meeting to pray for
this much desired and needed blessing
The barreuness in spiritual things was as
apparent as in temporal things. The peo-
pie came together on the appointed day. -
After season spent in prayer, the pastor,
Rev. Daniel Kent, ascended the pulpit to
preach a sermon. He announced his text
from lsa 65th chapter, and oath verse !:
" And it shall come to pass that before they
call will answer, and while they are yet
speaking will hear" To the joyful sur
prise Of the assembly, while he was utter
ing these words, the rain began to fall CO.
piously. 1t beat against the house so yio-
lently that the speakers voice was drowned.
He could scarcely hear his own voice. The
blessing they sought was granted even while
they were yet speaking. Encouraged by
this manifest answer to their prayers, the
people unitedly began to pray for a spirit
ual refreshing The blessing was granted,
the church was revived, and the voice Of
praise from converts was soon heard. In
the course of few weeks one hundred and
fifty were numbered among those who had
passed from death unto life. Fervent prayer
and the faithful preaching of the word were
the only external means used in this gra.
cious work. About a hundred were added
to the church.
Soon after this, powerful work of grace
was manifest in the town of Charlotte
which embraced many persons of all ages
but was especially marked among the chill
dren. In day school Of that place, tn,
teacher one afternoon discovered IN unusua
solemnity among several of the children
1t deepened aud spread throughout tn,
school TO such an extent that before i
closed all were bathed in tears, and the in
qury with every one was What shal
do to be saved ?" From this time chill
dren and youth were deeply interested, ant
there was a general gathering of them int
the fold.
The same year Middlebury was graciousl.
, visited after season of very great declen
0 sion, and large number of youth partic
ularly were brought into the kingdom. Tn
college, academy, and ladies' schools wer
! sharers Of the blessing. New Haven reape
q a blessing during the same season. 81
J.. Johusbury was also graciOusly visited Tn
work commenced among the youth, but EN-
p braced many of all ages between eleven an
fifty or more years. Says a writer of tn
time: 1.-The converts have been taken fror
IT., several classes, not only the obscure, bu
i. men Of talents and influence the moralis
and the man Of pleasure those who befor
il were orthodox In sentiment, and the success
iul advocate of universalism. The work
). SILENT solemn, rational and scriptural, an
!. the hand Of God peculiarly manifest.
!. 1t would be easy to notice many othc
- places in this State that were visited by th
q Holy Spirit during that same year. Th
work was so general that the exception
we're rare. The common expression was
C "TLe Lord hath done great things for u
J. whereof We are glad" Adjoining STATE
> were also kinded into glow. New HAM
J. shire, Massachusetts,, Connecticut, Ne
l. York, also Ohio and Virginia, were move
II by the same divine influence. The YET
e following, too, was year of the right han
< of the Most High.
T. 1t is to be observed in regard to the SCI
son reviewed, that the preaching was main
( different from what it is now. The gre
ir aud humbling doctrines of grace, such
A. depravity, divine sovereignty, electio
of Judgment, the future and endless punisl
rt ment of the wicked, were made more prou
= inent than they are al the present da
> Conviction of sin was pungent, and in mo
q. cases distressing, and as might be expecte
conversions were thorough.