The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-01
The ,cv,lution NJ por, Jcrvis.


manly brow.
The Revolution at Port Jcrvis.
We don't like the news that ren hes us
ON n cOrre.p oudcdt ut Port Jervis. We
had been lei To infer that an extraordinary
revolution had occurred in that place IA
trtnt moral revolution that might well
attract universal interest. We hnd said
that IFS action was profound; that its re-
suits We're manifest; that IL had trans
formed society, changed the lite of the
people, their daily habits, and their busi-
ness WAYS. The statements on the subject
published in THE SUN were made on the
strength OF Il letter OF the Rev. Mr.. Nun
RoE of Port Jervis, who publicly declared
that very large proportion of the peo-
pie of the place had been converted
under his preaching during the last two
months. and who showed that the work
was still making such marvellous progress
that the remainder of the inhabitants
must very soon be brought into the
ranks Of those rcgcncratcd. We had Il
right to infer that IL the wonderful work
described by Mr. MCNRoE were genuine,
and If the conversions were truly of the
ScriprIrnl kind such n transformation "a
we attempted to portray must, in the
nature Of things, have taken place.
When. therefore, we hear from the scene
of the alleged revolution that the people
there were surprised at the news OF The
SrN, which had not previously becu made
known to them, aud of which they could
not find confirmation among themselves,
thing wrong about the letter or the stntis-
ties of the Rev. Mr.. MUNRoE. He must
have given an imperfect meaning 10 the
word conversion. He must have over
looked the fact that true convert Is II
changed or titrntd man in life, ways. aud
action. rs wen rs in thought and feeling;
man FOR whom old things have passed
away and all things have become new. II
is deep thing, conversion, n practical
thing which shows itself to the world, aud
diffcrcutintes It's subjects from those who
have never pissed through il. II anything
calling itself conversion. he less than this.
il Is as nothing, from the Scriptural point
OF view.
One OF orr Port Jervs correspond
ents saws that the revival there, men
toned by Mr.. MrNRoE. has produced
no such fruits. He has been in daily
contact with the people who. in tins
visitation of rcvivalism, have joined the
church, but he cannot see that there has
been any transformation IN their lives, or
any radical change of their habi :. prac-
tees, and ways. He cannot see any rcvo-
luton in the social ar business world, or
in the community at large. He has gone
So far in his Investigations ns to bc able to
give us some account of humber OF the
converts claimed by Mr. MUNRoE; but Of
course the Information thus given is not
OF a kind that We could publish. They are
of both sexes; some Of them are business
men; Others are mechanics; ~ few Of them
are connected with the railroad; aud
several are employed in the maohine shops
ana manufacturing establishments. They
are al so situated as to have an oppar-
tunty OF displaying the practical results
Of religion. But If what our correspond
ent says DO correct, these results are not
as manifest 10 the observer ms they ought
TO be. II IL not our business 10 point out
the nature or evidence of the failure IN
any case; but IT is Mr.. MUNRoE's duty to
look into it, in every case and find out
what can be done about il. A clergyman
must take pains to see that his converts
are properly instructed, that they do not
give way to sclf-dcccptIon, and that they
practise those Scriptnral precppts which
they profess TO believe.
IT Is 20 be hoped that the mon ana wo-
men Of Port Jcrvis who entertain the
opinion that they have been converted
during the revival. viii row undertake
the business Of determination. Are
their lives true: Are their hands clean
Have they loisabcn their evil ways: DO
they eXemplify the principles TO Which
they have suhscrlbedl Is their tran for
nation manfesti These are hard qucs-
tion-; but thcy are fundamental aud un-
nVoidnble.
When they have had time to answer
them. we hope to hear better account Of
the visible triumph Of the moral reyolu-
tion In Port JerVie