Smyrna times., 1876-01-26

THE RELIGIOUS REVIVAL now going on in
this State has become so wide in its range,
so sweeping in its results, and so earnest in
its march forward as to call forth far more
than q passing interest from the public
mind. Generally, these revival seasons,
common to the Peninsula every winter, are
confined to one Church and to limited
localities. But on this occasion they seem
TO have outgrown local significance and
denominational confines, so far as this
| State is concerned. The Baptists and the
Preslyterians are vying with the Metho-
dists, in Wilmington especially, in carrying
| the good work forward. Indeed, the Bap-
tist revival in that city, at the Delaware
Avenue Church, Rev. Mr.. Haldeman, pas
tor, has no Methodist precedent, so far as
we know. 1t was carried on for three
months consecutively, until the pastors
strength gave way, two or three weeks ago,
and now it is renewed, under the manage
nlent of another minister. During this
consecutive season over 300 converts were
baptised. And now nine churches in that
city are conducting revival meetings-fve
Methodist, two Baptist, one Presbyterian and
one African Methodist. And all of them,
Judging from the reports, draw immense
congregations. Never before, it appears
was there such popular interest mani
tested in such meetings by the people al
large. Our Wilmington exchanges speak
frequently of how hundreds are nightly
compelled to retire from a number Of the
revivals there for lack of room in th'
churches similar result is recorded al
down the State, wherever meetings are il
progress. 1t has been a very rare circum
stance that the church here-the mail
audience room-has been crowded nigh
Rfter night for weeks together, as on tn
present occasion; and never before, W
believe, was the interest so absorbing as
bet business aside during the meeting hou
During many of the largest revivals here
Fears past, the lecture room was suficier
10 seat the audiences that were drawn I
hem. At Dover, so intense is the interes
hat two meetings have been carried on
he same time, and two sermons al
preached to separate congregations.
diddletown, we learn from private source
he church is hardly equal to the needs
he crowd that nightly throng it. Frol
|lilford we have no definite reports, exceI
hat the meeting has been inaugurate,
It Seaford the meetings have closed wit
n unprecedented number of conversion
so.
Attention has been called to one especi
bature of these revivals, viz: that in mar
ases they have been carried forward by
pecial class of ministers, or evangelists
they are called, who seem to have pee
pr aptness for this field of religious wor
xe Moody and Sankey. 1t may be tn
be effective PLAN of the two last-nam,
|vivalists will call out distinctive line f
hich persons-women as well as men
ay be fitted into as their particular groo
the ministerial work. Asbury N.
Vival, Wilmington, has been conduct
Rev. Mr. Insl1ip, who is a speciality
is work; St. Paul's has been charmed
nanda Smith, negro woman, who al
yes her entire labor to such meeting
OFT Church has secured the services
ss Stewart, of Philadelphia, while Re
essrs. Moore, of Ohio, Bartlett, Of V
bnt, Wood and Roberts of Pennsylyan
others, have been laboring in t
esbyterian and Baptist Churches. Smyr
d Dover seem to have evangelist a
Facher combined, and have relied mair
their OWN strength.