Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-02-04
A GREAT REVIVAL
In the United Brethren Church, West Mari
ettA.

In the United Brethren Church, West Mari
4 special correspondent, IS" writes us
as follows:
The Church of the United Brethren in
Christ, in West Marietta, has been the
scene OF the greatest revival that has ever
taken place in this community. Up to this
writing upwards of fifty persons have beer,
Soundly converted and ten arc ut present
at the altar seeking, and many more are
deeply convicted, So that. Judging from
present appearances, it is safe to saw the
Sood work will continue until all the up-
converted Of this immediate vicinity are
brought into the fold Of God. The revival
services We're commenced on the 9th of
November, 1880, and continued regularly
every evening for six weeks under the
leadership OF the Rev. ]. VI.
Lesher, of the L. 3. church, at
present stationed ut Middletown. Pa,
and during that time twenty-s seven We're
converted. Then the spirit OF the meet
Ing seeming to lag somewhat Mr.. Lesher
thought it best to close the service, which
he did on the Sth Of January last. But
at the end of two weeks the spirit Of
conviction seemed to spring up stronger
than before, and Mr.. Lesller determined
u reopen the services, which he did on the
22d Of January, under the leadership of
the Kew. Christopher Miller. OF Middle
town, local preacher Of the i. b. church ::
he (Alr. Lesher) having in the meantime
opened revival services in his church ut
MlddletoWn. Since the rccommencement
OF the services here about twenty
five moro have been converted. and
the altar is still crowded with
seekers. The highest number at
the altar, on any evening was on Friday
evening last, January 2Sth, at which time
there We're eighteen at the altar This
church Or chapel was built in the year 1874
by the Methodist Episcopal church of
Marietta, and that denomination held ser
vices only once in 4 while, but Sunday
school regularly until the latter part of
the year 1878 when it was closed up cn-
tlrely, except twice or three times that the
River Brethren held services in it durin"
the winter of 1878. Late in tho sprin.. of
1879 the Rev. J. w. Geiger, Of the VI. Z.
church OF Marietta, held services quite a
long time-in fact nearly to the end of the
year 1879 on "Wednesday evening Of
each week, and frequently by childrcn's
meeting on Sunday But people
not seeming to appreciate his
efforts to do them good, he ut length,
ceased his efforts almost entirely. partly
on account Ola lack of interest ANA zeal
ON the part OF the people, and partly on ac-
count Of press OF labor in his regular
charge, tic having besides the chapel, two
churches, viz, Marietta and Maytown.
Thus matters remained, until June, 1889,
when the Rev. J. VI. LesI.er, passing
through this place and making inquiries
in regard to the chapel, and also the com
munlty, learned sufficient to satisfy him,
that there was an opening here for 4 great
work, and at once proceeded to make ar
to hold service here. Which
he carried into effect at once
by having services every two weeks, on
Saturday evening and Sunday morning, re
turning by train to MiddIetown and filling
his appointment there in the afternoon
and evening. In this way he kept matters
moving until the 9th of November last
when, as already stated, he opened revival
services. the foundation for which he laid
by visiting the people at their homes, and
talking to and praying for them; the re-
suit OF which was, as might reasonably
be expected, the sound conversion of
nearly all the unconverted and that these
people may be steadfast in their new life
and labor earnestly and diligently in the
Of the Master until He shall re-
ward them with an abundant entrance |
into the ''rest that remains to the people |
Of God, is the wish and prayer of every |
good Christian. n Sunday school has been
and is in 4 nourishing cond-
ion, with the following newly-clected
,iliccrs: secretary, Samuel Ney Secretary
Walter Sharp; assistant secretary, Joseph
Linton Librarian, James McAfle a. Sis.
ant librarian, Joseph Mcfarland; treas
lrer, Aaron II. Lutz. And SO the good
york goes on, and We hope will go on un-
il the entire community is brought to a
aving knowledge Of the true religion.
The L. i. denomination have pur-
hascd the chapel and it therefore belongs
0 them now.
In your issues of Monday and Wedncs-
ay your correspondent at Marietta, in
peaking of this place and tho revival, per-
lists in calling it '1rishtOwn." Would he
OF please indulge lis so far as to call it
y its proper name, West Marietta ,