The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-02-20


water" therefore, will correct moral
influence be in these places
Third. Revivals of religion in our col
leges will furnish us, most speedily, with
the candidates for the ministry so much
needed by our Church. Suppose that
$4,000 students will be sent out from
these institutions in from three to eight
vears-of these scarcely one-third will be
Christians and scarcely one-6fth will
enter the ministry. But if Gods people
will arise and ask Gods Spirit to descend
on these young men, who can estimate
the glorious result? 1t is said there
must be an annual increase of Is 900 can
didates to furnish one pastor to every
1000 of our population, increasing at the
rate of half million yearly" Yet we
are told that while our population has
increased Is per cent during the past de-
cade, the ministry has increased, during
this time, only 6 per cent But Gods
promise is, If We then being evil, know
how to give good gifts to your children
how much more will your heavenly
Father give the Holy Spirit to them that
ask Him"
Fourth. Revivals of religion in col
leges, as in churches, show when Gods
people are importunate in prayer. 1t is
said 1.-The first revival in Princeton Col
ege in 1857, under the labors of the
Tennents and their brethren, was sancti-
fed by the sending forth of many laborers
into the harvest" In 1862. during an
other such season, one-half of the stu
dents are said to have been converted
n, 81,
two-thirds of one of the classes gave them
selves to the preaching of the Word
Other colleges, as Jefferson, Washington,
in Virginia and Pennsylvania, Ogle.
thorpe, Yale, Amherst, have borne wit
ness to the same gracious coincidence.
In Davidson College, in 1872, soon after
the day of prayer" there was wonder
full work of grace. 1t was said there was
but one student who did not manifest the
deepest interest in the salvation of his
soul. There are many, now useful men
in the ministry, who were brought to
Christ during that gracious season.
And now, at the risk of making this
article too long, an incident in the history
of that noble and honored institution,
Hampden Sidney College, will be cited,
which will be read with the deepest in
terest by all.
The late Rev. DIR. William Hill, of
Winchester, Va, on a public occasion
gave the following history: " l lost my
sainted mother when I was youth, but
not before the instructions which | re-
ceived from her beloved lips had made
deep impression on my mind, an impress
sion which carried with me into col
lege, Hampden Sidney, Prince Edward
county, where there was then not one
piOuS student. There l often reflected,
when surrounded with young men who
scoffed at religion, upon the instructions
of nv mother; and my conscience was
frequently sore distressed. had no
Bible, and dreaded getting one, lest it
should be found in my possession. At
last could stand it no longer, and there
fore requested particular friend, youth
whose parents lived near and who often
went home, to ask his pious and excel
lent mother to send me some religious
book. She sent me Alliene's Alarm, an
old black book, which looked as if it
might have been handled by successive
generations for one hundred years.
When l got it locked my room, and
lay on my bed reading it, when a student
knocked at the door. And although l
gave him no answer, dreading to be
found reading such book, he continued
to knock and beat the door until had
to open it. He came in, and seeing the
book lying on the bed, he seized it, and
examining the title, said, Why, Hill, do
you read such books?' I hesitated, but
God enabled me to be decided, and to
answer him boldly, but with much emo
ton, Yes, do The young man said,
with deep agitation, oh, Hill, I envy
you You may obtain religion, but I
never can. came here a. professor of
religion, but through fear l dissembled,
and have been carried along with the
wicked until fear there is no hope for
me-. He told me he believed there were
two others who were somewhat serious
We agreed to take up the subject of re-
ligion in earnest and seek it together
We invited the other two, and held
prayer meeting in my room on the next
Saturday afternoon. And oh, what a
prayer meeting We tried to pray, but
such prayer / never heard the like of,
We knew not how to pray, but tried to
do it. 1t was the first prayer meeting /
had ever heard of. We tried to sing, but
1t was in most suppressed manner, for
we feared the other students. But they
found it out, and gathered round the door,
and made such a noise that some of the
officers had to come and dispense them