Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-03-14
san Francisco Letter.


Especial Correspondence Of the Times ]
DEAR TINES Religion is the
only topic of the day of any inter-
est in this city at present. The
revivalist,, DR.. Hammond, is now
engaged in his work of mercy, as
they call it, and seems to be in the
full tide of success. 1t is merciful
to have something beside the con-
slant struggle for wealth at work,
but whether sensational religion is
something to be courted, is always
problematical. In this city it is
very much SO. The fact that ner-
vous excitement runs to an extreme
either ,way in San Francisco, is
very well attested; and to bring
about religious excitement, to fill
the hearts of the people in an un-
natural manner. is somewhat ques-
tionable. There. is no doubt a
great influence is to be brought to
bear upon the lives of all through
good and holy example in a COM
munity; but the want of good ex-
ample is what we mostly feel at
present, not reversation. The
children were to be converted in
order to convert the parents. This
reverses the order of things; but
as Young America has enough of
grit in it to do almost everything,
it would not be strange if it yet
compelled family prayers, to bring
down parental insubordination to
the laws of God, in a new and
improved manner. It only needs
to set Young America going to
give him q new start, and make
him little more consequential, to
make matters worse than they are;
DIR. Hammond, Brother Hemphill,
and the rest have set about it. The
vilest sinner may not be SO vile but
his children's voice may reach him,
and so in this new order of things
let US hope for the best. Mean
time, would it not be we'll to look
a little into matters, and see if we
can what it all means. DR.. Ham
mond gathers the children toge-
ther, and demands that they sign
a covenant. This covenant COM
pels them to say that they love
the Lord Jesus Christ Is love
compulsory? and can any one love
because told they ought? 1t is out
of nature, but that does not mat
ter; they solemnly aver they do, and
are sent home to save themselves
from the effect of untruth in this
matter, as best they can. The
stories told them undoubtedly
elicit momentary sympathy for
Christ's sufferings, possibly even
love for the character of Him who
was ready to die for their sakes;
but as it must puzzle their poor
little heads to determine why he
should die for them before they
were created, the wisest among
them must find themselves much
mixed, in their efforts to bring
about right results, so far, at least,
as reason is concerned. Faith is
good; and to say things repeatedly,
perhaps, engenders faith. If we
say, We are rich sufficiently, per-
haps we are rich; if we are sick,
and sufficiently repeat that we are
well, perhaps we are; that we love,
perhaps we do, and SO on. At any
rate, that seems to be the theory.
Backsliding may not be possible
after the signing of that covenant;
we sincerely trust not. If Cynthia
Ann was married, had family Of
children, and these men got about
them, wearied out their poor little
bodies, when half dead with school
exercises, with hours of singing
and praying, weakened their little
wills with the overpowering energy
of their own, till no resistance was
left to decline to do what was de-
sired, G. A. would surely do what
one mother did, return the signed
covenant to the reverend doctor
the next morning, with her COM
pliments, and add that with the
fresh air and day light. the young
lady felt she had signed under
compulsion. Nervous, sensitive
.-A.- e1:l-a NJ,,, fE1kAn,o