Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-03-26
THE WIND IN THE TREES.
GREAT GATHERING-THE SERVICES
WHAT WAS SAID,

&C., &C., &c.
II is impossible not to see that the grea
wiad of religious revival which has sweep
over Europe and part of this countr.
is stirring the leaves around. Staunton
Like elsewhere the movement seems tG
have its beginning among the people al
large rather than in any particular church
action, and its growth has been start
ling in rapidlty. AS an example of what
bounds it is making: when the Young
Mems Christian Association meeting OF
Sunday week, at their contracted rooms
adjourned, about 200 people went home
and last Sunday evening. when the meet
ing which had been transferred to the
Town Hall adjourned, some 600 people
went home. The last named meeting de-
serves descriptive mention, which may be
best given by
g.. A GALLERY SPECTATOR,
who sees everybody and everything going
| ing, Al P. NJ, you see men dropping in.
! They come to the doors in a business sort
of way, take parting Whit of their cigars,
toss the stumps away, and stroll in like
they are perfectly at home. On the stage,
where you see the wall scene last used b,
a company of negro MINISTRIES, with win
dow where the funny man last put in his
head. you now see something besides of a
! very different character-a pile of some
fifty hymn books. Near the stage is
standing groupof gentlemen, some seven
or eight in number; they are excellent
singers, most of them singing in the diff
ferent church choirs, and they form the
choir of the association. They are looking
over the books selecting the hymns of the
evening. Ali over the rapidly filling
benches are scattered people in friendly
conversation, which. as the room gets
fuller and full er, subsidies into subdued
undertone. AS one portion of the hall
gets crowded, the members of the Asso-
citation keep a sharp lookout that no man
goes off unseated, and take care to pilot
him to the other portions of the room.
By Service hour the body Of the hall was
filled with
A CONGREGATION
seldom If ever witnessed in Stauntons Men
of all vocations in life; men of steady
habits and men Of bad habits; men pro-
| minent in their churches, and men who
havn't seen the inside Of q church since
their mothers took them there; men who
Game there TO be saved, and men who
can t understand what ssall this row about
being saved" means; men who are lead
ers in social life, and men who are just
barely reputable-and strangest of all,
every man willing and anxious to stay
Prompt at the hour, the chairman, Mr.
Henry Brown, ON this occasion takes his
seat; which is announced by rap, and
death like stiffness settles over all. The
curt, business like announcement that
only five minutes will be allowed for any
address OF prayer is made. Then comes
THE SINGING,
which is one of the most prominent fea-
lures of the meeting. 1t is done by
choir of first-rate male voices which no
other occasion could bring together-J.
W..Alby, David Drake, J. Emmett Guy,
VIM. Nelson, Robt. Guy, Chas. W. Hun
ter and Chas. l., Cooke. The books are
distributed through the audience, and as
a matter of, what is called. congregational
singing the hymns are finely sung. We
have had occasion to note the character of
these hymns-so fresh, SO simple, with
such q lively movement and easily learned
they come in grateful contrast to most of
the church singing Of the day. Many Of
them are written ON the music Of ballads,
and come to the audience with familiar
sound, which entices most of them into
taking hand in this part of the service.
These hymns are sung at short intervals
throughout the meeting, sometimes two
OF three one after the other. And then at
the close they sing dear simple little one
called precious name. with sweet music
and sweeter words, which follows a man
to the door, and from the door out into
the streets, and through the streets to his
home
THE ADDRESSES.
Judge Hugh w. Sheffry was the first
speaker. He said he had been few nights
since to an immense meeting in New Y ork
city, assembled to hear Henry Varley, the
English revivalist. While they were as
sembl-d a telegram from England was re-
ceived informing them that a meeting of
100000 people was then assembled hearing
Moody and Sankey, the American revival
lists il, London. This great tidal wave of
Christian revival was tapping the shores
of two continents at once, and he believed
these meetings in Staunton were the spray
of it's advance. All the signs of the times
showed that God was awakening and
strengthening His people for the great
conflict with the adversary of souls.
Mr.. Geo. M. Harrison followed. He
alluded to the remarkable assemblage of
this evening contrasting so greatly in size
with the meeting of twelve men held some
months ago, which led to this result.
M Jno. J. Ladd followed, urging The
meeting to stand up for Christ. He al
luded to the case Of three young men who
had become interested through these meet
ings in His cause, and asked those present
to join him in prayer for them, which
they did,
Mr.. Chas. Grattan spoke of the happy
effect of these meetings in bringing to-
gether in work all who love Christ, no
| matter of what denomination, showing
that, after all, Christ is the objective point
of every Christian, and though we travel
on different roads, they all converge to
that point and the nearer we come to Him
| the nearer we come to each other.
THREE PRAYERS.
The chairman announced that there
would be three prayers in succession, and
| the meeting kneeled in silence which was
broken first by Methodist, who was fol-