The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-02-11
CORRESPONDENCE.
Revival at Hampden Sidney, Va,

Revival at Hampden Sidney, Va.
Messrs. Editors, Many of your read
ers have heard of the work of grace with
which Hampden Sidney and the sur
rounding neighborhood have been blest.
Possibly it may be well to give more
full account of that work than has vet
appeared In the columns of your paper.
AS has happened in so many similar
cases, the awakening in College was pre-
ceded by long season of spiritual
dearth-a dearth accompanied Seemingly
by spiritual coldness in the Church of
God. Not that the coldness was univer
sal, or that the dearth amounted to alb
solute barrenness, Occasionally astudent
of College would profess conversion; and
would afterwards bear witness by his life
to the genuineness of his change, and no
doubt there were in the community, es-
pecially among the young men of the
Seminary and of the College, some who
mourned over the desolations of Zion, and
We're praying for her revival
Now it has pleased God, chiefly through
the instrumentality of the Rev. DR..
Wharey, to renew and crown the hopes of
his people here. In accordance with an
arrangement made some time before, DR..
Wharey commenced series of services
with sermon preached in College church
on Sunday morning, the 11th of January,
followed by one at night in the chapel Of
E the Seminary. Every succeeding night
of that week till Saturday, he preached in
the College chapel. In consequence of
the crowd attending the chapel, the SER
vices were transferred on Saturday night
to the church, where they were held till
the closing sermon was preached on Mon
day night Of the week following. From
the first the congregations were interested
and impressed by the sermons. After a
day or two, it was found that some of the
students OF College were under conviction
OF SIN, and that protesting Christians, es-
Peclally some theological students, were
deeply interested in their salvation. I'm
medlately after the preaching on We'd
nesday night, a prayer meeting was held
IN the College chapel, in which all present
were invited to take part. Nearly the
entire congregation remained, and uni,
versal solemnity seemed to prevail. Still.
1t was not thought best the next night to
protract the services by prayer meeting
to succeed the sermon. 1t was deter
mined instead, to invite the people to
associated prayer at sunset of the next
day-prayer to be offered in private in
the family or in the College chapel, as
might be found most convenient and
agreeable to the several classes of wor-
shippers. This concert was observed it
is believed, by nearly the whole commu-
nifty, and with very manifest interest.
Throughout the'whole series of services.
prayer meetings were frequently held
sometimes In a recitation-room of the Col
Iege, sometimes in dormitories of the Col
lege or Seminary.
Never during the whole progress of
the work, was there the use Of any means
but the public preaching of the Word,
the presentation in private conversation
OF the claims Of the gospel, and meetings
tor social prayer, at which there was
sometimes given special instruction to the
awakened. There was no calling out the
anxious to take a designated seat. no in
vltation to make known their feelings to
the congregation in any way whatever.
nor indeed to speak of their convictions
to any but persons from whom they might
hope to derive instruction and enconr
agement. They were indeed invited to
speak freely, but in private, to the pastor
OF the College church, or to any one of
the ministers of our Hill, with the as
surance that it would be most gratifying
to any of these gentlemen to give them
counsel and instruction Moreover, they
were exhorted most earnestly by the
preacher and by others, to repent imme-
dlate y Of their sins and to resort inanae-
d'oteY to Christ Jesus for pardon and
sanctiiication. Many yielded to those
entreaties. Some twenty of the College
students, and perhaps half as many in
the nnInrnnniIr nnhniIn L. Il -