The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-25
ELDER MIrrIr.s rREIcnINc.
The Eloquent Revivalists Wonderful success
bcforc he Fell from l:rnce.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-Sr: During
the years from 1854 to 1877 the great revivalist Of
the time, John Newland Manit, preached fer
and wide throughout the West, traversing Ohin,
Indiana Illinois Mississippi, Arkansas, and
Texas, holding forth In the shadnwed leofy
woodland Hs no passed through the sparsely
settled country and In churrues, when their
capacity was SUM lent 10 accommodate tho
crowds. IL the house. n worship. either IN
village or town. failed to serve the purpose, a
camp near bS w..s hastily arranged. Tie people,
some coming from great distances, slel ia wag-
ons, on tho ground, aud even In the treo
houghs, The froil wooden sheds thrown up In \
day being insufficient for those who tocked to
listen 70 the God Inspired the great and
The magnetism of the exhorter was most
wonderful. Combined with voice both sweet
and powerful, he electrified those rough back
woodsmen with an cloqueuce which rendered
them as feeble as the little children VINO gazcd
with wonder upon the man of God.
After thundcrous thr, atenin-s OF dire pun
ishment upon the unoelicNei and castaway, the
gradually changing tones would softly and per-
suasiyely plead with the hating sinner to come
to Jesus. Aud while the thrill Of the speakers
power stil neld the audience spellbOund, he
would burst in;2 a ringing, tri lmphepI pymn Of
praise to the Holy One on hi.h, which So en-
trnnced the hearers tuat even the simply
spoken, almost whispered benedctioDs hardly
availed TO rouse tnclr bewildcred senses. And
ere their soboiugs and si:hings had ceased he
would descend from his simple platform and
welk through their midst singing with mervel-
lous sweetness words Of his own to some old
familiar tune, exhorting at I'M rivals, with a
touch OF the hand here and there, all those who
were weary or longing.
Could the untraiucd souls In that vast ex-
panse OF wild woods Qor there were only three
cities In all those Statesl fail To be thoroughly
overcomef liy scores from the multitude OF "a
thousand souls they pressed forward, gathering
around the great disciple and clinring in their
mbling terror TO the ~ ords that fell from his
iips wnile grovelling at his feet and praying IN
fRonlzcd entrcaty for pardon and peace.
- tiat revival Of for'y years ago, Is there p
likeness to the present one In our sister city -
BROOKLYN and which cue was or Is the more
successful John Maflit preached ana prayed,
san. and eXhotted; no helper had he, no sur
roundngS OF comfort or convenience eased his
ptth. no prcarranged dwellings received him
for he went where he listed, ana bore the whole
burden Of Gods good cause, the song that
Issued with such thrilling power and sweetness
being but one Of the adJuucts that brought
hundreds land often morel to their knees, cry
ing for mercy aud aid IN their misery and dis
tress. He mad not "A Messrs. Moody ana Sinkey
have, the presf Of a l. lrop AN trip.
hsd Elder liafiit IN the days of h.s power ho-
fore he fell from g'ace, come from the wild
West to the civilized East, how would he have
been receivedf Would Messrs. Moody aud
sankey have been listened tO In New York h Id
thev not first been ahroadr HEsrOs.
NEW YORK, Nov. !, 1876.