Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-04-13
THE REVIVAL.

The rejecting mind will see in the re-
vival now taking place in this city, the
elimination of several causes which have
come into action during the past winter.
One thing which has been exceedingly
conducive to the result, is the spirit of
inquiry and desire of something more
soul satisfying, which has been devel-
oped in the popular mind during the last
few months. This was particularly man.
ifested in one form by the interest dis
played in the meetings during the week
of prayer, and also the interest taken in
neighborhood prayer meetings. held with
more or less frequency, until the temper
ance meetings, conducted by Messrs. Cur
It's and Rickel in the latter part of Febru
ary. There was much interest taken in
the temperance meetings. The final
meeting held in the Opera House, was at
tended by one thousand people. Over
five hundred signed the pledge But the
result of these meetings, good as they
were, showed too plainly that some pow
er greater than human, was required to
renovate Independence both spiritually
and morally. Union meetings were COM
menced by the Presbyterian, Congrega-
tional, Methodist and Baptist churches
Immediately upon the termination of the
temperance work.
The interest in the meetings deepened.
The attendance increased Professors of
religion began to awake somewhat from
their dormant condition. The pastors
became most anxious, not only for re-
vlval in the churches, but also for the
gathering into Christ's fold the multitudcs
in this place, who were going down TO
ruin They sent two of their number to
see if the aid of the distinguished evangel-
lists, Messrs. Graves and Leland, who
were then in Waterloo, could be procured.
The answer to the committee was that
the evangelists were engaged for every
minute of time for some time to come;
they could give no hope of having them
with us. But upon looking over their
list of Engagements a second time, they
discovered, providentially, that by prev
ious mistake in calculation there were
eight days unprovided for, and they
promised to devote them to this place,
beginning on the 4th of April.
The pastors kept up the union meet
ings until the coming of the eyangelists.
The interest increased. Christians be-
came aroused more and more to sense
of their duty, and the feeling took strong
hold ON the hearts of many praying souls,
that God must save the place; that his
blessing could not be put off any longer.
The churches appointed an executive
committee to make arrangements for the
coming of the cvangelists. The commit
tee engaged the Opera House Mt very reas
enable terms through the kindness of Mr..
King, and did every thing in their power
which would facilitate Messrs. Graves
and Leland in their labors A music
committee organized chorus choir of
nearly two hundred members The plan
by which Mr.. Graves proposed to labor
here, consisted of a prayer meeting to
be held every morning at half past nine,
a three o'clock P NJ Bible reading, and
preaching in the Opera House in the eve.
ming. This order of meetings was COM
mepced by the pastors Monday April end,
and Wednesday evening, April 4th. the
evangelists held their first meeting in the
Opera House. The congregation num-
bered over eleven hundred. The sermon
was directed especially to christians,
warning them of the evil consequences
of lukewarmness, and indifference in the
service of Christ The preacher strongly
pressed upon christians the fact that they
must labor faithfully, praycrfully and
unitedly if they would have the meetings
productive of great results,
The crowded prayer meeting of the
next morning in the Baptist church gave
evidence of the earnestness with which
christians were reconsecrating themselves
to the service of Christ. Many requests
were made tor the prayers of Gods peo-
pie for husbands, sons, daughters, broth
ers, sisters and friends And so the
work has gone on widening and deepen
ing, until the largest church edifice in the
city will scarcely contain the morning
prayer meeting, and many have been
turned away from the hall in the evening,
unable to find room. Sabbath morning
the presence of God was wonderfully
manifested In services at the different
churches, and but few were found in the
Sabbath Schools who had not either
found hope In Christ or were seeking
what they must do to be saved. Sab
bath afternoon, at the mems meeting in
the hall, one thousand men were assem-
bled to hear the word of life as preached
by Mr. Graves, and great many slgni-
tled their desire to become christians
At A. o'clock P. NJ, of the same day, the
young peoples meeting crowded the NJ.
E. church to its utmost capacity. The
meeting was conducted by Mr.. Leland,
and was intensely interesting. About sew
enty five arose for prayers. In the eve
ming the hall was crowded by sixteen
hundred people, and after the sermon
nearly one thousand remained to the in
quiry meeting. Surely the prayers of
Gods children are being answered in
marvellous way. A large number have
come to saving knowledge of Christ
Jesus, and many more are interested or
inquiring.
The work is wonderful and we can hard
ly comprehend it in its fulness. Truly the
works of God are marvellous and be-
You'd human understanding. We can only
praise Him for what He has done, and so
order our footsteps that we may have His
blessing on the further prosecution of
the work, and Gods grace assisting, hun
dreds more will be brought to Christ
BY request, BETA.
r,f