Morning journal and courier., 1883-01-18
COMMUNICATIONS.
The Revival in Fair Haven.


 To the Editor Of the JOURNAL AND COURIER: Allow me to give you some items of the re. vival work in Fair Haven under the conduct of Rev. E. P. Hammond, the evangelist. At morning Bible prayer meeting in the M. E. church one day last week large num- Der of men and women, some seventy, ex- pressed each his or her thanks to God for some particular blessing received, as for hay ing had good parents, for having been con- verted when young, for the conversion of a son or daughter in this revival, for oorrec- ton of opinion regarding the conversion of little children, for a removal of a critical preiadieed state of mind respecting the methods or measures used by MT. Hammond, and for 8 now prepared heart to join in the blessed revival work going on here. These morning prayer meetings, with Bible truth unfolded to strengthen faith in asking God fer specific blessings, sometimes for the con version of individuals in response to requests made for such prayers, have been a most im- portant agency in deepening the work in Christian hearts and in the regeneration of the unsaved. And the progress and success of the revival have been very largely due to these meetings.
 Last Saturday morning praise meet ing for children mainly was held A great many children were present, each one thanking God for some blessings, as for hay ing begun to love Jesus on the first Sabbath of MT. Hammond's labors here, e,-several so said. Others during the week past were converted, one saying, '1 have been 8 bad boy, but now I love Jesus ;" another, "I tell boys that love Jesus ;" third, 'I thank God that Jesus died for me ;'' fourth, 'sI thank God that the Holy Spirit is given to convrT11 men ;" fifth, 8 boy, ''thanked God , .t Jesus had come into his heart ;" a little s..rl, ''that she could now pray that her father and mother might become Chris tians :" so of many others. Deacon Loomis, of the Second Congregational church, said that he himself when boy went to meet ing and there gave his heart to God, and that his little daughter had now given her heart to God, while his little boy wasnow thinking about his soul. Rev. MT. Hart said that, converted at two and half years of age, he talked and had prayer meetings with other boys and four were converted, all of whom became eminent men in church or State
 At the Sunday school of the Second church on the 14th nearly the entire school rose and thus expressed their trust in the Lord and their purpose hereafter to serve him.
 large number of children, of the differ ent denominations, have signed a covenant ever to obey and serve the Lord. This is not joining any particular church-none are now asked to do it, this being left with the several peztors, and to this future end the names of such as have given their hearts to Christ are taken, with the age and place of residence, to be handed to the pastors or teachers of the Sabbath schools to which they say they belong, with view to have them looked after and when properly trained to be received, when found to be true Christians, into the churches of their own choice. This I do consider very wise measure, since, if left unknown or uncared for, they would suffer neglect and its consequences. The wisdom of this course has been shown in the permanence. growth and usefulness of the great numbers so cared for and received into the churches in this country and in Great Britain
 Mir. Hammond, on the 14th, preached very practical sermon to the members of the Second Congregational church in the morn- ing; and in the afternoon he preached p6werful sermon in the First Congregational church, after which, at p. m., he addressed the children of the Cedar Hill Mission Sun day School, the effect of which on the some eighty to 8 hundred children was very marked Most of them wept for their sins and looked to Jesus to be forgiven and saved.
 While children are especially daressed and wrought upon by truth and the Holy Spirit, many in youthhood are deeply affected, and others in manhood, some of whom have found peace in the pardon of their sins.
 The meeting for this week areprayer meet ings at 10 8. m. in the Second Congregational church the first three days and in the First church the last three days; the chiidren's meeting at p. n. in the different churches,